5/1/13

English Teachers from TECO in Houston Ready to Launch for the 2013 Teaching in Taiwan Program


July 23, 2013

In an effort to provide better English language learning environments for school-aged children in Taiwan, the Ministry of Education, R.O.C. (Taiwan) has been actively bringing qualified foreign English teachers to teach in primary and secondary schools, especially those in the rural areas throughout Taiwan. 

Right 1: Ms. Judy Fang, Teacher
The goals of the program are to broaden the experiences of Taiwan’s young minds and to create lifelong international goodwill between the United States and Taiwan.
To achieve the goals, the Ministry of Education of R.O.C. (Taiwan) has signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Educational Cooperation with the Education Department of Arkansas State and the Texas Education Agency.

Contracted teachers will be compensated with the cost of round-trip airfare, housing stipends, and monthly wages in accordance with their educational background and teaching experiences. The intangible benefits to the teachers are even more appealing, including intimate exposure to the rich heritage, natural beauty, and diversity of Taiwan. Moreover, Taiwan’s world-renowned cuisine, wealth of historical landmarks, and unique cultures await exploration.

The program was introduced to qualified (holding a bachelor or higher degree with valid educator’s certificate) teachers who are interested in sharing their passions and professional in Taiwan by the Education Division of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston since year 2007. Up to year 2013, there will be a total of thirty three qualified teachers landing in Taiwan’s English language classrooms. The statistical table is as indicated below.

Statistics of Teaching English in Taiwan Program 2013
Year
Number of Teachers
2007
3
2008
1
2009
1
2011
8
2012
13
2013
7
TOTAL
33

As of year 2013 alone, there are eight application submissions, seven teachers are approved by the Ministry of Education of R.O.C. (Taiwan), and are assigned to nine schools over five counties respectively; the list below shows schools and counties to which those teachers will be giving English lessons.

County
School
Hsinchu County
Chu-Bei Elementary School
Fu-Long Elementary School
Miaoli County
Wen-Hua Elementary School
Wen-Feng Elementary School
Jao-Hu Elementary School
Hualien County
Tzu-Chiang Elementary School
Feng-Lin Junior High School
Chiayi County
Affiliated Experimental Elementary School National Chia-Yi University
Nantou County
Ying-Pei Junior High School

The program not only takes advantage of the pedagogies, resource materials, and curriculum expertise that foreign teachers have to offer but also creates great opportunities to students, local school teachers, administrators, parents, and even communities with genuine intercultural exchange with those from different language and cultural backgrounds.


Left 1: Mr. Robert Gunn, Teacher
As the program continues, the increasing number of teacher recruitment speaks the endeavors that educational correlated units between the U.S. and the Education Division of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston had been put in to make the program come to reality. Moreover, the Colorado State has made an agreement on the Memorandum of Understanding on Educational Cooperation with the Ministry of Education of R.O.C. (Taiwan) with strong belief that more qualified teachers will be recruited for the Teaching English in Taiwan Program in the year to come.