CPS in Taiwan

WOW, what a ‘ride’ today has been! It’s Saturday, October 6th, and weather forecasters had been predicting a typhoon to hit Taiwan in a big way this weekend. In the United States, they were calling it a ’super-typhoon!’ Well, were they ever accurate. Several other ‘foreign’ teachers and I were going to meet this weekend in Kaoshiung to celebrate a birthday but Mother Nature had different plans. I’ve lived in Chicago and know about stiff winds but after deciding to venture out anyway, a cellphone call turned me back as I waited for a bus to take me to Chiayi High Speed Railroad Station. Trees were on the ground south of me in Pingting and Kaoshiung so I shouldn’t try to make the trip from Puzih City. By the time I reached my apartment, I was thoroughly soaked and not too unhappy about having to postpone our venture.

The winds have howled all day and have been measured at about 70-80 mph in my area. Northern Taiwan wind’s are being clocked at about 100+ mph. Not many people have ventured out today as few cars and scooters are on the road. On the local news, they showed many scooters and riders blown over. Now, I can say that in the month that I’ve been living in Taiwan, I’ve experienced both an earthquake, although centered in Japan, as well as a typhoon. What an adventure I’m having but rest assured, I’m not regreting a moment of it!

As an aside, instead of ’snow days’ here, schools will close for typhoons!

A Busy First Week Of Teaching

My first full week of teaching first through fifth graders at Siange-He Elementary was an extremely busy one. I teach 24 classes weekly with various co-teachers. Andrew is my co-teacher for 4th and 5th grades, Melody and Werysw for first and third, while I co-teach with Cerita and Jenny for second grade. Siange-He has over 500 students so I have four 1st grades, four 2nd grades, three 3rd graders, two 4th grades and three 5th grade classes. My school is four levels so I am getting into shape going up and down stairs daily according to which class I’m headed to.

Mr. Huang, the principal of Siang-He is pictured in front of the school.

A typical day for both the students and me begins at 7:30 a.m. when the gate opens. Ours is a secure campus with rolling gates operated with remote control devises. Although the first class does not begin until 8:40 a.m., the students arrive and immediately begin to do chores about the school. There is sweeping, dusting, cleaning of the restrooms and other chores about the grounds to enable the children to gain a sense of ownership and responsibility. Each period throughout the day lasts for 40 minutes with 10 minutes in between for quick exercise, instrument practice, playing with friends or having a quick oral review of a quiz with a respective co-teacher, me included. Lunch/Rest Time begins at noon with lunch being served in each classroom. Older students serve the younger children and after eating and cleaning up, the children have a period to again play and/or rest until the afternoon classes begin at 1:30 p.m. Teachers also have a time for resting. This rest time is part of the culture probably due to the extreme heat and humidity. All of the children are permitted to bring and drink liquids at their desks throughout the day.

From what I have witnessed thus far, academics include Chinese, Taiwanese,
English, math, science, social studies, ethnics, art, music, PE (which includes swimming at a University pool nearby) and I’m sure I’ve missed something. There are even afterschool programs which commence at 3:50 p.m. until 4:50 p.m. such as orchestra, tai ji, and additional English lessons. Quite a schedule so I’m sure you can understand my feeling tired at the end of my day which ends around 5:00 p.m.

I live about one block from Siang-He Elementary so that is very convenient. My school has also furnished me with a bike so between walking or biking, I’m getting long overdo exercise.

The Taiwanese Schools are under the control of the Minister of Education, thus everything and everyone is held accountable to the MOE. The students are constantly quizzed on materials and all of their work is in the form of respective workbooks. Each unit is tested, scored, and recorded by teachers onto forms on their respective computers. Even I am responsible for checking, grading and recording test results on an Excel spreadsheet for the co-teachers I am working with. Believe me, there is never a spare moment here…even during Rest Time, I find others and myself working to stay ahead. Example, I give an oral assignment on Quiz 2 in the 5th grade English classes and within 30-60 minutes, students are waiting for me to return to my cubicle to orally share, by memory, what they had to learn on the English Quiz 2. …More to come.

A major event happened on September 11th, Carolyn’s birthday. Carolyn said she was surprised to have, what she said is, her first surprise birthday party. I would like to give thanks to Amanda and Leah, two of our consultant/Taiwanese teachers who helped me find the flowers and Italian cake. They also helped to coordinate all the teachers and staff arrival at the surprise party, where Carolyn was working on lesson plans for her presentation the next day.

Carolyn watches Derek as he helps to prepare the cake to be cut.

Carolyn slicing her cake.

Marilyn, (left) from Rogers, and Betty (second left) from Canada, look at the flowers as everyone else waits for their slice of cake.

Still September 8, now at a potters workshop where several activities took place.

Pictured from bottom left clockwise: Betty Magnus from Canada, Carolyn, Marilyn from Rogers, and Kris from Indianapolis, all individualizing their coffee cups that will later be fired in a kiln.

All watch the instructor before taking their turn at a wheel.

Carolyn, Suzanne, Sean, Irv and Marilyn all work at their wheel forming clay into their individual masterpieces.

Suzanne putting final touches and inscriptions on her pottery.

Two Taiwanese females individualizing the pottery they made.

The following photos show our trip to Lin Family Tea Garden. No captions will follow, so just enjoy the tea garden.

Riding bus 916 to the MRT train for an evening excursion to Longshan Temple and Snake Alley Night Market. Buses are like American highway buses with comfortable seats, but unlike American buses, these have televisions, personal air conditioning vents and are more spacious.

We are now on the MRT train headed for Longshan Temple. Access to the train was easy. The train has information in both English and several other popular far east languages.

We finally arrive at Longshan Temple. That is Irv Granderson’s head, with a ball cap, in the left lower corner.

Sorry, I forgot to load my Photoshop software onto this laptop before leaving Rogers. So you must look at the shots sideways on a couple of photos. All of the photos at the temple were ambient light shots so on some you will see a little hand motion. This large polished brass ceremonial vessel inside the temple was quite spectacular and beautiful. Used to place burning incense inside the vessel.

Another brass urn, only smaller.

People praying and burning incense before their gods inside the temple.

Snake Alley Night Market. Everything you want to buy, including snakes, can be found at this market.

People walk, ride bicycles and mopeds, did not see any cars driving inside the market. Carolyn, lower right, looking at some of the local products.

The following are photos of the NAER (National Academy of Education Research) campus located in Sansia, Taiwan. The photos are thumbnail photos, that you can click on to make larger.

The internal dormitory courtyard, used by those staying on campus.

A view, from a balcony, of the entrance to the NAER facility.

Another view of the front of the facility.

One of the many covered walkways around and connecting each of the buildings.

A sign post to guide you around the campus.

A bell structure in front of the dorms.

Tai Ji master teaches art form to students during one of the orientation classes at NAER.

Group shot of American teachers, family members, Taiwanese counselors/teachers and two ladies, front center, from the Ministry of Education, and a gentleman from NAER. The event at NAER was the welcoming of foreign teachers to teach English in Taiwan.

Carolyn Scott receives a welcoming gift during the ceremony at NAER.

The entire group spend a evening of Karaoke and eating pizza. Singers are: Rose from Indiana; Amanda, teacher/counselor; Kris, daughter of Edi (a teacher) and Carolyn.

Gene karaoke’s a love ballad song to his wife Carolyn. Notice the Arkansas Razorbacks tee shirt.

All of the guys (teachers, family members and consultants) karaoke a song. Notice singers wear no shoes.

We are here and without much ado. The trip was wonderful…no delays,
problems or concerns. Luggage arrived with us, in tact, and the Arkansas
teachers together. Taiwan is truly beautiful with lush green countrysides.
The temperature is hot (88 F with high humidity)…so if hot and humid
is not your thing, you’re in the wrong place!

We are staying in Sansia which is not far from the Taipei airport. We
are on the campus of the National Academy of Educational Research (NAER),
staying in dormitories and have met our four instructors and one
administrator here at the Academy. Although Taiwanese, their American
names are Amanda, Leah, Joanne, Richard and Derrick. Couldn’t begin to
share their native names…yet :-}. There are ten foreign (USA) teachers representing Michigan, Indiana, Arkansas, and one Canadian.

Yesterday, upon arriving at 6:00 a.m., we immediately went through immigration, customs,
money exchange and finally met our driver, who would transport us to the NAER. Sunday was an extremely long day as our travels began on Friday evening, we skipped Saturday (International Date Line) and hopped to Sunday. We joked that it was the longest night we’d ever spent. Fortunately, flying China Airlines was a treat. Almost all the amenities of home…pillows, blankets, wonderful meals, personal tv screens for watching news, movies, playing games, et al. and opportunities to hear the four Chinese dialects in the safety announcements.

Sunday continued with breakfast at MacDonald’s (taste of home), brief informal meetings with our instructors and other guest teachers, walking tour of Sansia, visiting temples, quick shopping, and finally, dinner at Taiwanese restaurant which featured Italian food! As you can tell, our instructors are very lively and have a great sense of humor!

Monday morning, after being told we could ‘sleep-in,’ we were aroused at 7:30 a.m. to be ready for a walk to get a Taiwanese breakfast. One group selected ‘American’ egg and meat sandwiches which had surprise veggies in them. Another group chose a sidewalk vendor who prepared egg foo young-type sandwiches. Both groups said their choices were delicious. This afternoon starts our ten days of concentrated orientation. I know I’m really looking forward to this introduction to working with my Taiwanese students and their culture.

Second day, Monday, Sept. 3, 2007, deciding what to eat for breakfast at one of the local restaurants near our ten day indoctrination home, the National Academy of Education Research (NAER), located in Sansia, Taiwan. Pictured from left are: Edi, back to camera, from Indiana; Suzanne also from Indiana; Richard, one of four Taiwanese consultants who are also teachers and speak English; Leah, consultant, me and Sean, also from Indiana.

Early morning before all the mopeds were awaken.

After breakfast, a Cafe Latte and cakes at 85 degrees, a coffee shop, Pictured are: Richard, Amanda, Leah and Derek, our four consultants and Edi, from Indiana.