Reflections on Jan’s presentation

Reflections on Jan’s presentation
By Iris Chiu 090317
We were happy to have the opportunity to invite Dr. Jan Z. Tiangco to visit our school and make a formal presentation: regarding the organization of a curriculum-integrated with principles and steps. Two core questions were brought up in this workshop. One was how to organize a good 10-minute drama. The other was how to improve the students’ English reading habits. The following reflects how we hope to apply what was learned in Dr. Jan’s presentation:
We could have a 10-minute English play competition for the 8th grade students every year. To facilitate this, the schoolteachers still think we need some special guides in acting and composing the script. And Dr. Jan suggested that we could ask the English Village teachers to help the Taiwanese teachers. They will teach students to speak English more fluently in the play; that is, the English Village teachers would become a strong backup for the Taiwanese teachers. On the other hand, we could look for some college teachers to guide us or use the webcam to observe the college teachers’ teaching. Using tools such as Facebook and Movie Maker, we could make and share our films with others or another group of teachers.
Surveying the books in the library, Jan suggested three ways we could help students in their reading skills:
1) We may design a passport for students in order to make sure students to read these books.
2) Jan also expressed that he is willing to support his post-graduated students to guide our students to read in the extra-curricular activities. Along those same lines, we would like to open a reading class on any given third Thursday to assist students for with outside reading.
3) Jan envisioned the English Village teachers working side by side with the Taiwanese English teachers, enabling us to build a framework that would guide students in reading some fairy tales, storybooks and etc.
I’d like to thank you for Jan’s coming. Even though we did not have much time to get to know each other, Jan still tried his best to bolster us. Jan’s honest suggestions are a plus for us to encourage our students to read and compose a good drama. Under diligent teachers guiding them and with the modern technology, we believe students will get the maximum benefit. Without dedicated people, our learning in ICT drive would never get off the ground.
Lastly, the technology has made the distance of once remote East to Western countries seem much shorter. Using the new ways of communication, we hope we can be as hands-on or hands-off as we care to be in this project, ICT. The more we integrate new technology and teaching methods, the more likely students are to grow in their ability to face the challenge of the future.

A snapshot of Australia

A snapshot of Australia
By Chen Xin Chi, translated by Iris Chiu
It’s truly incredible that I went abroad to Australia on the afternoon of August 7th, 2007. Fearfulness and excitement had stalked me at the airport. But, finally, after flying 12 hrs, the airplane landed in Australia. Glancing at the surroundings, I found many differences between Taiwan and Australia. For example, the bus driver looked neat and trim, and was very kind to carry the heavy luggage for me. The houses were big and glorious and the air was also very fresh.
The University of Queensland was the first place we wanted to visit. On the way to the university, there were two rows of trees, just like in the fairy tales; and the houses were so splendid that I was perfectly enchanted. The university displayed old European architecture and grass as smooth as cushions filled the campus. I was sitting on the grass, eating my lunch, smelling the fresh air, and feeling like a bird in fight.
Next, I went to a supermarket. This was the first time that I used English to buy something. I was very embarrassed because I accidentally spoke to the clerk in Chinese! After shopping, I went back to my hotel, taking a shower and lying lazily on the balcony. I felt I was in the lap of luxury. From my vista balcony, I could see many shoals in the sea. Pelicans were flying casually all over the place. My accommodation was very cozy; I slept like a log after a big meal.
The next morning, I attended a class which was about basic manners and how to introduce myself to others. After the lecture, my friends and I went shopping at the biggest supermarket on the Sunshine Coast, but I did not buy anything since I could not afford it.
On the third day I had to go to live with my host family, the Homes. I was a shy girl who was visibly uncomfortable with other people. Separated from my friends and teachers in Taiwan, I trembled, felt my heart pounding, and had butterflies in my stomach. In the beginning, I must admit that I felt ill at ease and nervous, so I did not understand what they were talking about. But, gradually, we began to get to know each other, and I felt they were a friendly and loving family.
Mrs. Home was a babysitter. She took care of a couple of kids in the day time. I was amazed at what I saw in this Australian family; for example, many dolls were on the bed, and it had a beautiful canopy over it. The courses were finished at three every day, so Mrs. Home took us to the sports field to see a great basketball game. Her son also played basketball there. The next day, Mr. and Mrs. Home took me to the dance class. Her daughter was good at dancing, especially to rock music. She taught me how to dance and then we danced together happily.
Later, I joined a wonderful dance class and learned to dance in public. There were many international students there. At first, everyone was so shy that no one wanted to dance. But, a few minutes later, everyone cheered up such a rapturous atmosphere. We danced, we laughed and we almost forgot ourselves.
One afternoon, Mrs. Home asked us to go to their strawberry garden. I took some, but I still thought the strawberries in Taiwan were the best in the world.
I had so many unprecedented experiences there. One was the chance to communicate with international students. It was a fresh experience because I had to talk to them in English. Another was that we got to attend different classes during this week. The teachers and teaching methods in class were all different, so I could practice my listening. Another experience was demonstrating for the class, how to communicate with others and how to express myself in public. My language ability was challenged!
Far beyond my imagination, they emphasized the importance of acting something in our class instead of just sitting at my desk writing notes. I remember two experiments: one was when the teacher gave us play dough and asked us to shape it. The aim of this experiment was to evaluate if the clay could float on water. The other was when the teacher gave us a ball of Styrofoam, two steel wires and a string to weigh it in the balance. Having tried the experiment for a long time, I eventually had it done successfully. Though I was glad about my own results, I was annoyed by two foreigners who worked in the same group, but did nothing.
We took an excursion to the zoo where I touched a koala and saw the kangaroos. The fur of the koala was so soft that it reminded me of a sweet memory: my younger brother in Taiwan whose hair felt just the same.
Best of all, I met a friendly and scholarly Cantonese. Becoming close friends, we shared some experiences with each other between Taiwan and Hong Kong such as education, an entrance exam and the famous sights there. On the one hand, she came here earlier than me, so she spoke English more fluently. On the other hand though, she liked to swim, so we often swam together in the morning. Her eloquence and excellence in swimming impressed me and that was why I was glad to be her friend.
One day, I-Chi and I visited to the seashore with the Home family. Their daughter was very naughty, throwing sand and spraying some water on my face on purpose. In turn, she pushed us into the sea unexpectedly, so I swallowed some water. Moreover, Mrs. Home showed me the traditional market there; surprisingly, they sold few things like accessories, decorations and flowers, no food and no meat.
“All good things will come to an end.” they say. After 13 days of learning, I said good bye to the Home family. I was so touched that I could not help crying. I went through many wonderful experiences that I had never had in Taiwan. I believe that will become an important part of my life. And I would like to say thank you to my parents and teachers. Without them, these marvelous Australian memories would not be a reality.

Iris's response

Hi Shin-Ling,
Thanks for your mailing.

I am afraid that we won't go to New Zealand this April. Partly because some students are worry about their studies, and partly because the finicial problem has raised some problem in Taiwan. So far, four students are willing to join the group, but we still need EIGHT. That is why we cannot go now. We hope we can make another trip this summer vacation. In addition, we have announcing this trip from now on. I believe we will make a new group in July.

My principal and dean ask me to say sorry to you this time. They hope we still can talk with each other, between students and teachers by skype, messenger or email.

Keep in touch! Thanks.

Cheers,
Iris

Shin Ling from Golden Valley (New Zealand)

Shin Ling - Golden Valley
Hi Iris,
How are you? I got four students' details so far. Will you be providingmore students' details? I have passed the student details to Jill. Shewill work on the homestay and buddies.
Any confirmed information about how many students will be coming?

Regards
Shin-Ling

Iris's response

Hi Jill,
I am glad to talk with you this morning even though the sound was not so well. But, at least, we had gotten some ideas between us. I have discussed with my principal and my dean, and hopefully we will try our best to fulfill this project. My colleague will email you my students' profiles asap, too.

Keep in touch.

Cheers,
Iris

Hello from Katikati

Hi Iris,

Lovely to chat with you both today via skype. It seems the quality of sound is not so good in a 3 way conference, but it was good with just 2 of us, so we look forward to doing it again soon and hopefully getting some students involved too. I look forward to getting the details for the 5 students so I can start getting homestay families arranged.
regards

Jill Jack
International Student manager
Katikati College

Questionnaire and Assessments

Questionnaire and Assessments
By Iris Chiu 090224
I am currently doing a special program, ICT. For this, I need to carry out a research project which will be presented as a teaching material next time. This research questionnaire aims to focus upon important aspects of learning English in this program.
I would be extremely grateful if you agree to participate in this program, and hope we can ignite some interests to speak English. This program will put into practice for six to eight weeks; hence, I’d like to get your honest suggestions. That is, the more input you can submit, the more likely I can improve the program.
There are sixty-six teachers in my school. After the training course, fifty-eight teachers handed in this questionnaire. Eventually, I can adapt some teaching materials based upon your suggestions to set the benchmark. Our team hopefully can outline an illuminating way to enhance three levels’ lessons.

Questionnaire
1. According to the lesson that we taught in the end of last semester, please write down which sections impressed you most favorably?
(1) Wesley’s report
Over all, his report was very captivating; teachers were highly inspired. His lesson was active, communicated with teachers efficiently, and offered high-end technology on protecting the environment. In addition, the course provides teachers with many valuable insights into the relationship between man and the environment.

Comments:
(a) The words in the slide were hard to read because they were too small.
(b) It would have been helpful to have pictures included in Wesley’s slides.
(c) Nearly fifty percent of the teachers, especially the basic level teachers, asked to add some Chinese translation which would help them to catch up to speed during the class.

(2) Teaching material
In the beginning, there were some vocabulary, phrases and terminologies, so teachers were left high and dry. Also one third of the teachers found it difficult to recognize the terminology with the short time they were given.

Comments:
(a) Teachers should put some dialogue in the essay if possible. That would especially help the topic of global warming be more easily understood.
(b) On-the-job training is a good way to polish teachers’ language ability. But, it is so hard to have a routine training course with the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
(c) The length of the essays are too long to read for the hour that we had in each group.

(3) The class atmosphere (include the three levels’ teachers teaching methods and expression)
All teachers worked hard in order to scrub us eagerly for our language ability. All the teachers were willing to join the training course next time if they got adequate language support.

Comments
(a) Teachers thought the course book was too tough to read because there were some big words.
(b) Eighty percent of the teachers considered it difficult to read this essay in this period.
(c) Looking up the words in a dictionary beforehand, teachers were going to get everything ready easier.

2. Do you think it is a good way to take the handouts before the class?
Fifty percent of the teachers will prepare the course before they got the handouts. Therefore, they all gave the positive responses. But, few teachers still wondered the press of time every day. As starting to work, they will leave little time to read. They could not get much progress.

3. What was the most difficult part for you during your experience in this class?
Ninety percent of the teachers said they had not studied English for a long time. It was the hardest work that they have encountered. Many teachers, more than half, had no idea what the guide teachers were trying to express.

Comments:
Given these experiences, teachers perhaps will become more tactful during this semester.

4. What will you do for your language learning in the future?
After the stimulating class, sixty percent of the teachers dusted themselves off, picked up some books and then began to study hard. Even more exciting was that one teacher said she will make it a rule to listen to the English radio program while driving her car to school every day.

5. Some tips in learning English
(1) We can find the overdue magazines to keen to get some knowledge.
(2) Don’t be afraid to make a mistake. If you are afraid to make a mistake, then that is your biggest mistake right there. To be a kid while you learn languages, try as much as you can since the kids have no limitations on themselves. So, keep working! You can make it someday!
(3) English Village teachers are all our good friends. They will always be willing to assist us whenever we need it.
Assessments
The principal unveils plans to cooperate with English Village teachers that will make new language support for each teaching area. Our ideas are:
(1) Short term
Starting with a routine meeting on Wednesdays, we plan to teach a short English poem or an English essay to help teachers get some ideas. Teachers will get more time to read some easy essays and know some foundational vocabulary and phrases. Our team hopes to reach a deal with teachers and students to learn English so that it becomes routine work in this semester.

(2) Long term
Improved ties with vocabulary and reading essays will benefit the habits of reading English. For example, the team of ICT would like to get English Village teachers together and then guide our school teachers in each teaching area. Expectedly, our team will kick both students and teachers into high gear in learning English. We hope to not only offer some opportunities for learning, but to lay a new foundation for growth.

Conclusion
I am impressed to see that every teacher gives me so many positive feedback and constructive suggestions. On the other hand, much of my appreciation for my principal comes from having spent part of my time having her to guide me through some trifling work.
Indeed, globalization has made the distance of once remote East to Western countries become much shorter. Learning English has become an essential work for us. However, the fact is that learning English takes a bit of time for us to know the ropes.
Today I would like to suggest to all teachers that the challenges in learning English in the beginning can be difficult to overcome. We have to face it even though it will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But we know this: learning English is not an overnight job. There is no short cut in language learning. Studying hard and practicing frequently make it possible to speak English well.