Closing Ceremony on Friday, July 31

San Sin High School's Closing Ceremony for the Summer English Program was held on Friday, July 31. The ceremony was opened by the principal, Mr. Pan. Each of the American student teachers spoke about their experience in Taiwan. Then, certificates and medals were awarded to outstanding students and groups with excellent PBL projects.

Each class performed skits and dances, followed by a skit called "Chinese 1101" by the American student teachers. It was a joyful and funny celebration illustrating how much the San Sin students have improved their English. The students also expressed the respect, appreciation, and love they have for their American teachers! The American student teachers learned the true meaning of the country's motto: Taiwan touches your heart!

Farewell Dinner on July 29

On Wednesday, July 29, a Farewell Dinner was held at the Hotel Kingdom to show appreciation to the American student teachers and their host families. In addition, the San Sin teachers, administrators, and Mr. Shih were presented with gifts and many hugs of appreciation!



Skylar Carlson thanks Summer English Program director Helen Lie for her framed Certificate of Appreciation (above, left). Becky Wu, Sister School Liaison, and Jeanne O'Kon, TCC-San Sin Sister School Program Director, share great friendship at the Farewell Dinner.

Week Four: July 27-31

During Week Four, the student teachers reviewed their last unit on "World Games" with the San Sin students, and prepared to administer their final test and evaluation forms. The group conferred over a Hot Pot lunch about their teaching plans and their upcoming performance on the final day of the Summer English Program.

The San Sin students made English presentations on Wednesday, July 29 as part of San Sin High School's Project-Based Learning (PBL) initiative. Dr. Jeanne O'Kon, Mr. John Gelabert, and Becky Wu served as judges and evaluated many student presentations to determine which ones would receive award recognitions!



The student teachers were invited to meet with Dr. Tsai, Commissioner of the Education Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government. Dr. Tsai was kind and welcoming, and he spoke to them about their visit to Taiwan, the World Games, and other English teaching opportunities in Taiwan. It was an honor to meet him and speak with him!

World Games 2009 in Kaohsiung

One of the privileges of being in Kaohsiung at this point in time is getting to experience the 2009 World Games. The student teachers traveled with busloads of San Sin students to watch the World Games international frisbee competition during the week. They watched the Closing Ceremony on Sunday evening, July 26, with at least 40,000 others in the Kaohsiung Arena. They were treated to a "Parade of Nations" with flags and athletes from almost 100 nations. The ceremony included fireworks, a rock concert, and numerous performances, including one by the San Sin High School Dance Troupe!

Mayor Chen Chu delivered an enthusiastic and touching speech, stating how proud she was of the city of Kaohsiung for the excellent job they did in hosting the World Games!

Travel to Tainan July 23

On July 23, San Sin students from Class B took the American teachers on a trip by train to Tainan, the oldest city and 4th largest in Taiwan. Taiwan's modern history begins with this city. They visited the oldest fort in Taiwan, Anping Fort, which was built by the Dutch in in 1624 and used as a base for their trade with China and Japan. The student teachers also shopped in a lively outdoor market where wonderful souvenirs were purchased. Then, the San Sin students treated the American teachers to delicious bean curd pudding, a special Taiwanese tofu treat that comes in many different flavors!

Week Three: July 20-24

During Week Three, the student teachers instructed the San Sin students on the topic of "Global Citizen." They emphasized new English vocabulary words as they compared the Taiwanese and American practices of recycling, and they discussed preserving the environment for future generations. As they approached the curriculum topic of the "World Games" for the upcoming week, the San Sin students and teachers went to the World Games here in Kaohsiung, and spent the morning as spectators in the the international frisbee competition!

Week-End Travel to Taipei on July 18-19, 2009

Entrance to the Taipei 101 Observatory.

The National Palace Museum in Taipei.

Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall in Taipei.

Helen Lie and Michael Chiu led our group to Taipei on July 18 and 19, and we traveled by by high-speed rail. We visited Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, a tribute to a great leader who led the wars against the Chinese Communist Party. He died in 1975, and this beautiful memorial hall acknowledges him and to his efforts to modernize the Republic of China. The inscriptions on the side walls describe Chiang Kai-shek's philosophy: "The purpose of life is to improve the general life of humanity", and "The meaning of life is to create and sustain subsequent lives in the universe."

Next, our group visited the National Palace Museum. The Museum was originally founded in 1925 in the Forbidden City in Beijing. In 1949, the government shipped 600,000 treasured works of art to Taiwan to protect them from the impending war. The collection has been stored in the current museum since 1965, and the pieces document more than 8,000 years of Chinese history. The exhibits include vessels, weapons, ceramics, calligraphy, documents, rare books, antiquities, and paintings going as far back as the Neolithic Age. Incredible!

Our trip to Taipei also included a visit to the Taipei 101 Observatory, one of the tallest buildings in the world. We traveled up to the 89th floor in a high-speed elevator and viewed the extensive city of Taipei in all directions. The Observatory holds the world's largest wind damper, and is built to resist the strongest earthquakes and gale winds. A stop at the Taiwan Handicraft Promotion Center gave us the opportunity to purchase special Taiwanese gifts and souvenirs for friends and family, and off we went on the high-speed rail back to Kaohsiung (a 90-minute ride!).

See our "Sleep Gallery" at this link: http://tcctaiwan2009sep.blogspot.com/

Living with Taiwanese Host Families

Ray Harless and Skylar Carlson with their host families.

Folayan Wright, Ryan Young, Morgan Helton, and Abe Reising with their host families.

Perhaps the deepest cultural exchange occurs between each American student teacher and his or her host family. The host families provide each American visitor with meals, transportation, a cell phone, activities and trips, and a special "home away from home." Their kindness and consideration is typical of the Taiwanese with their welcoming and friendly personalities!

Learning about Taiwanese Culture

As part of the cultural exchange, San Sin High School teachers and administrators provide our American student teachers with a variety of special Taiwanese experiences. On July 14, we traveled with Mr. Pan, the school principal, to the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts. The unique architecture of San Sin High School in its Wave Building and Student Center was featured in a display called "Nostalgia and Maturity: An Exhibition of Postwar Taiwanese Architectural Documents." On July 15, all went to the Jade Market, where they learned about jade quality, negotiating for prices, and the many true bargains available in Taiwan!

During their stay, our student teachers visited traditional Taiwanese markets, where very "fresh" foods can be purchased. They also frequented the lively night markets throughout the city, where they discovered many items at bargain prices!

Week Two: July 13-17

Morgan's students sing "Happy Birthday" to her on July 16!


San-Sin teacher Julia Liu assists Abe Reising with his Unit Plan.

During the second week, the San Sin students overcame their shyness. The American student teachers made excellent progress with their lesson plan on Holidays and Festivals, and San Sin students learned to sing songs like "America" and "Jingle Bells!"

Week-end Travel July 11-12

The student teachers enjoyed their visit to Fo Guang Shan!

At Fo Guang Shan, the student teachers were treated to a special session of learning calligraphy. Writing Chinese characters is delicate, complex, and intriguing. They all want to continue to practice their calligraphy.

On July 12, we traveled to Fo Guang Shan Monastery, the biggest Buddhist temple in Taiwan and an internationally renowned Buddhist site of pilgrimage. The temple hosts magnificent shrines and museums, and the monastics and lay disciples promote the Buddhist principles of peace, harmony, selflessness, and compassion. Our guide Mr. Hue Shou, shown above with Jeanne O'Kon and John Gelabert, was originally from Austria. He spoke fluent English and Chinese. He showed a wonderful sense of humor and great patience with our group!

On July 11, the student teachers traveled by bus to the Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Culture Park in Pingtung County. It is located in a mountainous area with beautiful natural scenery. The park provides a history of 14 different tribes of native aborigines. The students enjoyed seeing the Harnivalval Suspension Bridge and traditional songs and dances in the Naluwan Theater. They also visited the traditional city of Meilong, where they shopped for souvenirs and learned how to "bargain" for lower prices!