South Jeolla Province Chinese (Mandarin) Teachers Association of South Korea members come to Taiwan for a Chinese language study program

A Chinese language study group from South Jeolla Province Chinese (Mandarin) Teachers Association in South Korea undertook a two-week Chinese study program at Shih Chien University from January 9 to January 22, 2018. This program was supported by the Ministry of Education and the Education Division of Taipei Mission in Korea. Fifteen Korean teachers who teach Chinese in senior secondary schools in South Korea participated in the two-week study program which integrated many innovative creative and cross disciplinary components. It consisted of 12 courses, covering such content as comparison of the Chinese and Korean languages, intercultural communication, mobile apps and making use of multimedia, integration of singing activities, language teaching and learning using picture books, multiple assessment techniques, as well as visual communication and expression courses and cultural visits. Visits were arranged to National Keelung Senior High School to have first-hand experience of a Taiwan senior secondary school campus environment and learning styles, and also to Ri Xing Type Foundry. This is one of the last few remaining places that still do traditional Chinese typography, i.e. printing using the movable type that has now been replaced by digital printing, and the teachers were able to enjoy the graphic and esthetic beauty of traditional Chinese characters. One of the highlights of the program was a forum on January 19 for the visiting teachers from Korea to interact with Chinese language teachers from Taiwan, working at university Chinese language centers, international schools, and private sector Chinese language learning institutes. The goal was to promote Chinese language teaching in both Taiwan and Korea by exchanging details of different teaching experiences and techniques, and the teachers also look forward to maintaining future cultural exchanges. Photo:Dr. Michael J.K. Chen, President of Shih Chien University welcoming the South Jeolla Province Chinese (Mandarin) Teachers Association of South Korea delegation.