Hualien and Taitung English Reading Project

History 

In the face of globalization, the government has announced policies to improve the English proficiency of citizens to enhance international competitiveness, with the goal of making Taiwan a bilingual nation by 2030. On the other hand, Hualien and Taitung boast world-class natural and cultural environments that continuously attract many international tourists. However, the construction of an English-friendly environment is still incomplete, making it urgent to cultivate talents in the Hualien and Taitung areas with international communication skills.

The Alliance Cultural Foundation has long focused on education in the remote areas of Hualien and Taitung. To address the shortage of English teaching materials and manpower in these schools and tutoring centers, since February 2020, the foundation has been assisting these institutions by introducing the online English self-learning system (Reading A-Z, also known as RAZ) and designing competition activities to boost children's motivation to learn English. By leveraging technology and the internet, the initiative aims to shift from the traditional mode where students solely rely on classroom learning from teachers to developing daily English reading and self-learning habits among children.

Goals 

1. To reduce the burden on teachers and staff at schools and tutoring centers in the remote areas of Hualien and Taitung, and to address the shortage of English teaching materials

2. To make good use of technological tools, designing simple learning models to inspire confidence and motivation in English learning among Hualien and Taitung students, and to cultivate their ability and habit of self-learning.