The Ministry of Education held a press conference on November 5 for the achievements of its "Friendly Taiwan--International Students Homestay Program" over the past 8 years. The precious event was chaired by Minister of Education Chung-Wen Pan, with 20 warm-hearted families from Taiwan and 10 international students invited to join the festival, which was warm and touching.

【Minister of Education Chung-Wen Pan (middle in the back row), Director Zu-An Bi of International and Cross-Strait Education Department of the Ministry of Education (left in the back row), Acting President Lu of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology (right in the back row), Vice President Change of Southern Taiwan University of Science (second from left), with international students and host families】

Minister Pan said in his speech that the Ministry of Education is not only actively expanding and recruiting foreign students, trying to build an international brand image for study in Taiwan, but has also placed great emphasis on the care and service for international students who come to study in Taiwan. Since 1999, the Ministry has been working on the "Friendly Taiwan--International Students Homestay Program" and the establishment of a planning office to provide training courses to help families in Taiwan who are willing to receive training and obtain their licenses. Since the project was launched, a total of 3,753 families have completed their training. This year it is in line with the government's new Southbound Policy; as a result, new homestay students have been enrolled in the hospitable families. So far, 17 new students from Vietnam, Burma and Singapore have been successfully received. Thanks to the reception based on students’ nationalities, international students are not alone in this foreign land. The program to promote the 3,898 international students so far successfully matched 2,207 reception families. As a result of the gratuitous reception by Taiwanese families, the program has led many international students to take Taiwan as their second home.

【Minister of Education Chung-Wen Pan (middle), Director Zu-An Bi of International and Cross-Strait Education Department of the Ministry of Education (fourth from left), Director of International and Cross-Strait Education Department, Ministry of Education, and Acting President Lu of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology】

At the press conference, the film with the achievements of the 8th anniversary of the project was first reviewed, followed by the presence of three groups of invited reception families and international students to share their experience. Najim Ibrahim, who has been in Taiwan for two years, said, "I am really grateful o the scholarship provided by Taiwan to give me the chance to study here. This is really a very rare opportunity in my life. After coming to Taiwan, I found that Taiwan is very friendly to international friends. It is a country very suitable for studying and learning, and the program made me know Miss Liu’s family. I know more about Taiwan, including the superstitions here. I remember once at dinner when I inserted chopsticks in the middle of the food in a plate, Miss Liu's father and mother was very nervous, asking me not to do it that way, because it signifies death. I was really shocked, but it was also because of this, I learned more about traditional Taiwanese etiquette. What is most memorable to me is that my home dad taught me how to play mahjong, and now we would play mahjong together. What I really want to say is that I'm really lucky to have such a great family in Taiwan. As he finished his sharing, he took out a small bouquet and dedicated it to the great family to express his gratitude to the family.

【Minister of Education Wen-Chong Pan was delivering a speech.】

Another group of homestay family and international student greeted that audience in Vietnam as soon as they went upon the stage. Doan Thi Thom, a Vietnamese student currently studying at National Taiwan Normal University, said: "I am so happy In Taiwan that I can have a host family with the same cultural background as myself. In particular, in my host family, there is a 96-year-old grandfather. He is really good. Even though he is old, he still takes part in the family activities. Because I have always been interested in the wisdom of the elderly. I feel super happy to talk to him and to know him as the first Taiwanese elderly person I have ever come across in Taiwan. " As the family host Mr. Cheng also mentioned, they are grateful to the government for promoting the New Southbound Policy and for the Ministry of Education to have such a program, so that families could have the opportunity to become homestay host families. After receiving Doan Thi Thom, they have enjoyed much more laughter and fun. After the sharing, Doan Thi Thom gave the big family a big hug to show her gratitude for their selfless dedication and care. Ms. Sun of the homestay family also took the stage to share memories her Vietnamese daughter over the past five years. To her surprise, after her sharing, a film was played in the conference to show her Vietnamese daughter in Japan, Fan Qiu ho, who would like to take this opportunity to express her thankfulness to Taiwan government and the host family. The scene was warm and touching.

【Acting President Lu of Southern Taiwan University Acting Principal Deng-Maw Lu was having a speech】

This event came to an end along with the joy and laughter of the Minister, international students, and homestay families. It is hoped that in the future more families, international students, colleges and universities, and communities will join this homestay programs and open their doors to the world .

【Vietnamese student Doan Thi Thom (second from right) shared her experience with the reception family.】

【Najim Ibrahim (left) from Burkina Faso and the mother in host family】