Hualien-Taitung English Reading Program
Every summer since 2010, high school and college students from Taipei take the train to Taitung to volunteer at the Hualien-Taitung English Camp. The familiar journey is filled with enthusiasm to bring new inspiration to the remote region. Schools in Hualien-Taitung's remote are short of English teachers and learning materials. After ten years of conducting the Hualien-Taitung English Camp, The Alliance Cultural Foundation (ACF) learned that the annual camps were insufficient to sustain children's learning enthusiasm. In 2019, under the proposal of ACF Advisor and Hualien-Taitung English Camp volunteer Debra Lin, ACF launched the Hualien-Taitung English Reading Program. This online program supports Hualien-Taitung children's learning journey long-term through one-on-one volunteer coaching.
Introducing Reading A-Z
Designed by engineers and child psychologists, with more than 1,000 audiobooks, Reading A-Z (RAZ), the online reading program has been used by Lin'sLin'sation company, BigByte Education, for many years with great effects. Every book therein has lively colors, interactive materials, and precise pronunciation by native speakers. These books have proven to improve children's pronunciation accuracy through the visual and audio connections between words and things, as well as listening and repeating after the instructor. The volunteer reading coach enhances the effectiveness of the program. Reading coaches are the key success factors of the Hualien-Taitung English Reading Program, where coaches read virtually with children once a month.
In each encounter, reading coaches carefully consider what the children need and how to improve the time quality together. Reading coaches learn to be observers and leaders. Their words of encouragement help build confidence and motivation, and their monthly reports provide school teachers with an understanding of students' online learning.
Taitung County Taoyuan Elementary School
Reflecting on the early stages of introducing RAZ to the Taitung County Taoyuan Elementary School, Director Ming Zhi Hu questioned whether students could truly learn English by listening and reading alone.
English class was held twice a week. Once the campus bell rings, children return to the classroom to line up for their tablets and earphones to begin their RAZ learning. With a vast sea of thousands of books, children curiously select books like choosing a present. Teachers walk patiently, respond to each raised hand, and help students with problems and pronunciation. They encourage students who are afraid to speak English to keep trying, listen to students, and give them confidence and affirmation.
In December 2020, Lin brought reading coaches to Taitung County Taoyuan Elementary School to host a two-day Spelling Bee. The reading coaches, many of whom were volunteers of the Hualien-Taitung English Camp, looked forward to meeting the students after coaching them virtually for six months.
Spelling Bee
Around 80 wood stools are placed on the lawn by the playground. In the front, a stage is made from longitudinal wood pieces. In the corridor behind the stage are posters with vocabulary, presents prepared by teachers, and layers of contest prizes shipped from Lin.
One volunteer who was a former volunteer of two Hualien-Taitung English Camps expressed, "Every student on stage is a star, and all the audience applauds for her/him. Some are shy, some are naughty, and some are like natural-born athletes praying for victory."
After the winners were announced, contestants, teachers, students, and volunteers applauded and cheered. Though there were only 80 students, the applause sounded like thousands, and behind the applause was two semesters of hard work.
When the contestants on stage think hard to spell the words accurately, the audience shows nervousness, with some even more nervous than the contestants. They excitedly mouth the words. The moment the words are spelled correctly, the audience cheers loudly.
All questions were answered before a winner could be identified. Not only were the contestants on stage surprised, but their exceptional performance impressed teachers and volunteers. Children can only change when we believe in their abilities.
Before Director Hu presented prizes to the winners, he asked for the winners' names and applauded enthusiastically. To involve all students in the contest, teachers grouped them into two teams. Each team reviewed vocabulary together and supported each other in the contest. To the teachers, winning the contest was not the most important goal but rather the steady, hard work the students put into it.
The confidence shown in the contestants propelled Lin to run a spelling bee in Taitung and another again at the Taitung County Taoyuan Elementary School. Lin hopes students learn the power of "I can" through the spelling bee and that confidence will empower them to face future challenges in their studies and life.
Due to rising COVID-19 cases in Taiwan, the spelling bee in Taitung and the Taitung County Taoyuan Elementary School were canceled.
Chenggong Church
The Pastor and wife from Chenggong Church, who were supporters of the Hualien-Taitung English Reading Program, continued the reading with coaches twice a month to keep the children at the church's reading ongoing. They worked hard to resolve student and internet issues. Initially, the volunteer team planned to complete their volunteering by the end of June. Twelve volunteers continued supporting summer learning in small groups, each coaching four to six children with similar English proficiency.
They will read English books together and continue their interactions during the pandemic. They insist on using accompaniment to overcome the pandemic. This enthusiastic dedication predicts more and greater potential in the next stage.
In 2021, ACF will pass on the knowledge of the Hualien-Taitung Reading Program project experience to Chengzhi Education Foundation, the founder of six schools in the Taiwanese KIST school system. ACF plans to expand to KIST schools and hopes to witness more life changes.
Video: 2020 Hualien-Taitung English Reading ProgrProgram'sling Bee
Original article written in Chinese by Ting, Yu Hsuan (English translation by Wu, Ai-Chu)
Photographer: Hsu, Yin Shan
Cinematographer: Wang, Min
Editor: Chu, Yenlin
