College students teach elementary students: students of the Department of Applied English,
Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, became qualified for the Reserved Teacher Training by the Enjoy Learning English Workshop—a positive
response to the government policy of making English the second official language in Tainan City

In response to the trend of globalization, Tainan City Government has been pushing the policy of making English the second official language. The government and FLOMO Education Foundation cooperated in organizing the Enjoy Learning English Workshop on February 3 for reserved teacher training program as well as its press conference. The purpose is to promote English education to students and children under 12, making it a foundation work for nurturing English teachers. Of all the interviewed college students, 26 were recruited, among which 5 came from Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, ready for the coming intensive training.

【Enjoy Learning English Workshop reserved teacher training program: Mayor Lai (middle in the second row), FLOMO Educational Foundation members, and student qualified for reserved teachers.】

As President Chien Tai said, STUST encourage students to participate in the Enjoy Learning English Workshop Reserve Teacher Training Program, in response to the government’s second official language policy and also in line with the government’s introduction of various types of language courses, such as "Little League Championship WBSC third U12 World Cup" and the "Crazy for Little League Baseball and learning English,” which are community English teaching programs to encourage people to learn English; "English Courses for Masters of Ceremonies” to strengthen their English language skills;" to enhance the English proficiency of public servants; and "English for Tainan snack food and beverage industry and service" to design English menus for Tainan gourmet and create a friendly environment to attract more foreign customers. Meanwhile, there are "Basic Courses for English Proficiency Tests," public servants’ "English Seed Learners’ Review Classes," etc.

【Mayor Lai of Tainan City (left) presented qualification certificates to students Yi-Ching Zheng from STUST (right)】

After the Enjoy Learning English Workshop was launched by the end of last year (2015 year), the second official language office of the city government and FLOMO Tainan City Education Foundation have intensive called on English departments of many local universities for recruitment of excellent English students and those who are enthusiastic for English teaching to join this program. The first recruitment has collected a total of 26 students to take the three-day intensive training from February 17 to 19. After the selection and intensive training, the reserved teachers will be sent by the city government to libraries or district activity centers to teach All-English classes or tell stories in English; they may also be sent by the FLOMO Education Foundation to conduct after-school supplementary classes for poor children. They will surely become a young force to promote the policy of making English the second official language for Tainan.

【Yi-Ching Zheng (right) and Hui-Lin Zheng (left) from Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology become qualified for reserved teachers and recruited by the Enjoy Learning English Workshop. They had the picture with Kun-Chiao Shen, Chairman of FLOMO Education Foundation.】

Yi-Ching Zheng, a sophomore student from the Department of Applied English, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, said that for an English major like him, the program would provide him internship opportunities. Through interviews and participating in the three-day training, FLOMO teachers offered to share practical experiences and discuss classroom management for situations actually encountered in class, such as how to handle student fights. To be able to listen to teachers sharing their practical experience was very helpful to developing their teaching practices. Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology has actively participated in the promotion of English as the second official language of Tainan City, making learning English a public campaign. The workshop in the future will also plan to expand recruitment to local high school students for them to teach English to local children through the "teaching and learning" program. This will enhance the ability of high school students in English as well as inspire children's interest in English.

【Mayor Lai (middle in the second row) and the qualified trainees】