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| Summer Camp July 2013 |
The children of Taiwan, including the families, or as we call it at school, the "parent picture," has forever changed my expectations in teaching and how we should behave and raise our children (our future) in every day society.
Taiwan's student standards are overall higher than anything I was taught or experienced while in the USA. In my opinion, Taiwan does better in childhood education, teaching respect, and building children's talents and their citizenship responsibilities. However, as always, there are two sides to the debate of whose doing it right.
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Daban Pirates Class 2016
B E S T C L A S S E V E R ! |
The children in Taiwan have classes morning, afternoon, and sometimes in the evening. Many of them are learning a second language, spending weekends practicing an instrument, learning to swim, dance, or helping clean up grandma's house. Some would say that the kids don't have enough free play time, or that they're missing out on their youth. While others would say they're becoming thoughtful, determined, and global citizens.
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| Jungban Little Critters in their graduation performance outfits - June 2013 |
So instead of going into that debate, I'll stick to why departing from these impressively well-rounded kiddos is going to be one of the hardest parts of leaving Formosa.
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| Yoyoban Koalas Class 2017 |
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My Loves ^^
I'll never have a class quite like them again. |
First and foremost they are absolutely adorable. While I have heard plenty of Taiwanese woman make the claim that caucasian babies are the cutest, my vote goes to their porcelain- like skin, sparkling dark eyes, sleek black hair, and cute chubby cheeked babes. – Okay maybe I’m describing all babies. So let’s talk about the youth.
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| Girls from my Grade 1 Fireflies Class 2014-2015 |
Since university, my main experience has been working with elementary students (7-11yrs). In Taiwan, I've continued to, while also working a majority with kindergarten students (2-6yrs). And of course, a good handful of pre-teens (12-16yrs- who are often painfully shy), usually in public speaking classes.
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| Grade 3 students and Little Cornel CT's after 5-7 class. -2013-2014 |
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| Yoyoban Students July 2016 |
Most teachers can easily tell you what their favorite age is to teach. In the states, I preferred working with students in grade 1-3 and that was it. It seemed that by 4th or 5th grade students were already lacking respect for adults, while below kindergarten seemed to have no set expectations. Here in Taiwan it's difficult to pick a favorite age since many of the “issues” I didn’t like with kindergarteners and adolescents seem to disappear here. In Taiwan, students start learning responsibility as young as 2 or 3!
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| Yoyoban Students 2017 |
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| English name is Raptor, it's fitting. |
Never did I realize that by the age of 3, a toddler could take off and put on their own shoes, they could put their shoes away, as well as their backpacks, snack bowls, and toothbrushes. They can find their name, recognize classmates names, greet teachers, drink water on their own, wash their hands with soap and water, feed themselves, clean their bowls, push in chairs, and even ask simple questions, such as “May I play?” when they’re finished. It’s astounding! My expectations for a 3 year old will never be the same.
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| Pi-Ka-Chu |
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| Yoga Love |
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| Baking in Grade 1 ^^ |
It takes
some patience and persistence, but these kids can get a routine down within a week. Moving on through kindergarten,
by age four they begin having polite conversations, learn their letters and
letter sounds, start to recognize words and even begin reading CVC and other
sight words! By five years old they are writing simple sentences. By six they
are creating their own stories and writing as if they were in the second grade
already.
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| Students begin reading their own sets of books in the 4/5 year old kindy classroom. |
On through 3rd, 4th, 7th, 8th, 10th, these children have been instilled with hard work. The respect they have for their elders is also worth mentioning. Whether it’s walking them across a street, accompanying them to their doctor’s appointment, holding up an umbrella, or giving up their seat on the bus.
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| Participation Nation |
It is truly amazing to be involved in these students lives and see the landmarks they're able to achieve in one school year. Yes, they do still play on ipads and cell phones, and yes, even with their rigorous schedules they do play outside
(parks are always full of families). However, most children do not get much TV time, and they
don’t get to be picky eaters or wasteful with food or other materials. Students are even taught to recycle as early as 3 years old!
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| T. Sabrina with our Grade 3 girls - June 2014 |
Chinese teachers discipline firmly, and there is no problem with making students re-do, re-read, or re-write. The children are encouraged to problem solve on their own, as well as being motivated from an early age by adult approval.
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| Finishing the year strong! Grade 3 2014-2015 |
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| Grade 1 Fireflies 2014-2015! |
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| Best Friends |
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| Daban students enjoying Children's Day April 2017 |
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| Dr. Seuss Week with Grade 3 2016-2017 |
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| Pajama Day with Grade 2 2016-2017 |
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| Pixies Xiaoban Christmas 2017 |
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| Jungban Foxes Class 2017-2018- Our "international" class. ^^ |
Along with everything else, children who attend English schools will participate in loads of field trips, such as a trip to the fire station, train station, bakery, ice cream shop, science museum, and earthquake museum, to name a few. Learning so much about their community and not to mention sparking new skills and interests.
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| Silly Loves |
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| Lesson on feelings - Daban 2015 |
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| Yoga Thursdays |
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| King Cobra |
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| Sweet Andy |
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| Most mature 6 year old I've ever met. |
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| My boy Curtis wrote the sweetest good-bye letter to me at the end of the year. |
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| Pirates and I taking a nap on Dr. Seuss Pajama Day. |
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| G R A D U A T I O N 2 0 1 6 |
A huge part of schools in Taiwan is the graduation performances.
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| First time seeing Cornel Kids at Graduation 2013. |
And school-wide contests!
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| Chen Boys always placing #1 at the Cornel events. ^^ |
Teaching Elementary in Taiwan
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| WE ARE FIRST GRADERS ! |
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| Grade 1 Fireflies 2014-2015 |
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| Good-bye Yoyo! |
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| Grade 3 Stars went wild meeting Deric January 2014 |
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Turkey Day with Evening Stars 2013
(Thursday nights were the best with Joanna, Janet, Jenny, Janny, & Benson ^^) |
BEST of all....WE ARE SUPPORTED by the parents!
This is what it all comes down to. What makes these kids just so darn amazing? The parents! What makes night and day in a child’s (and a teacher’s) life? The parents and their involvement in their child’s life. This is not only my opinion after working 5 years in Taiwan (at a private school), and 5 years in public school systems in the USA, this is also the opinion of countless teachers in the surveys they've filled out over the years. Taiwan's 'parent picture' goes hand in hand with why these children are so unforgettable.
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| Arts and Crafts always a blast! |
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| Subbing Jungban Little Critters July 2013 |
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| Subbing Jungban Happy Hippos July 2018 |
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| Nan Men Campus Cornel Crew 2014-2015 |
In every school I've worked in, (Taiwan and USA) working with incredible people who've dedicated their lives to children is always a huge bonus!
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| Shang-An Campus - Cornel Crew 2017-2018 |
I love teaching the children of Taiwan because they are eager to learn, they are creative, kind, and curious with an amazing drive to reach exceptional goals (if you’re willing to challenge them). My students in Taiwan have made me more confident in my teaching. They have made becoming a great teacher with high standards easy. The cherry on top, I've spent the past five years with some of the most adorable children!
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| Kindy Kiddos on Tuesday Nights |
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| Knew these boys when they came to school at 2 years old. Now they're off to 1st grade! |
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| Last Day of School with Yoyoban Koalas 2017! |
Taiwan's children top off my final five of what I'll miss most about living in Taiwan. They (along with the other top five) have become so closely tied with my daily life and my daily happiness that it's going to be quite an adjustment for me to get used to the standards, practices, and in general LIFE anywhere else.
Wo Ai Ni, Taiwan. You and your children will always have a piece of my heart.
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