Taiwan’s Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) is dedicated to holding various kinds of activities for overseas compatriot students to come to Taiwan for observation and study. Every year around 3000 overseas compatriot students come to Taiwan to study Chinese culture and language. 15 young overseas compatriots from New Zealand, Australia and Argentina have come to Taiwan to take part in the 2019 Southern Hemisphere Overseas Youth English Teaching Volunteer Service Program in Taiwan organized by the OCAC. This activity started on January 10 and will end on February 1 this year. Schools that participate in this activity are located in remote areas in Miaoli County, and it is estimated that there nearly 300 people will benefit from it. To equip these young overseas compatriots with full English teaching competence, the OCAC specially arranged a 5-day teaching training course at Chientan Overseas Youth Activity Center. With the of preparing properly for English teaching at elementary schools in remote areas, the Ministry of Education specially invited lecturers to teach courses such as camp course planning, teaching course practical design, camp operation and management…etc.

When qualified, these young overseas compatriots will go to Miaoli, using the teaching skills they have to provide interesting English courses, encouraging students in remote areas to learn English and showing them how to do it better. The visiting high school and university students are giving up part of their vacation to teach our children for two weeks.  

This program will benefit our children, expanding their awareness of the world through English. To honor the efforts by the participating overseas compatriot students, and to express the gratitude of the benefitting schools, the OCAC will host a closing ceremony on February 1 at Chientan Overseas Youth Activity Center to award the 15 volunteers. We hope our friendship will spread worldwide year by year.

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