I teach English in Kinmen, Taiwan, a rural island home to beautiful natural beaches, large evergreen pastures of land, tropical birds and lots of cows—lots and lots of cows. Kinmen’s nature is very well preserved, and when I want to get away from the stresses of the classroom, I am just a five-minute bike ride […]
Taiwan
Taiwan Is a Great Place to Teach English
Rewind two years ago I would have never thought I would be in Taiwan teaching English to students. However 10 months into my experience, I’m convinced that Taiwan is a great place for Americans to get a break from home and experience a vibrant culture and education system. Culture of Appreciation for the Teaching Profession– […]
Special Needs but No Special Resources
In Taiwanese society, the “group” is more important than the individual. This is very salient in the classroom. At my school, students are given IQ tests to measure their academic abilities against their fellow peers (because here, everyone needs to be on the same level) and when students perform subpar they are often classified, quite […]
Teaching Gender Equality In Taiwan
On January 30, 2016, I had the pleasure of attending a social justice workshop with my co-teacher. While I was initially upset that this workshop would take place on a Saturday for 8 hours, in the end, I was delighted to have attended such a substantive professional development opportunity. The purpose of the workshop was […]
They’re Just Not That into Learning English
As educators, we all know that teaching has its ups and downs. Some days you love it, some days you feel defeated. Although the teaching profession here in Taiwan is widely revered and respected, and being an English teacher is a highly coveted role, the truth is that sometimes my students just aren’t that into […]
Diaries of an English Teaching Assistant in Taiwan: Christmas is Love in Action
During the writing workshop that I facilitated last Friday, a participant shared with me that she’d almost committed suicide, but that one of her best friends had helped her out of depression to find happiness. To this day, Macy (name given to protect her identity) is determined to become a social worker, so that […]
Precision is the Key: My Experiences as a Fulbright Teaching Assistant in Taiwan
At JinNing Elementary School, there are no custodians. I arrive on my bike each morning around 8:15 to find students, from pre-school to sixth grade carrying out their daily morning cleaning chores, frolicking throughout the school yard raking leaves, mopping floors, or collecting trash. It’s funny to see the students playing in the sudsy […]