All students in Taiwan also study English as a foreign language. In the States, it is more common to study languages like Spanish or French instead. Lastly, many schools in Taiwan teach a class called Scouting. They learn outdoor skills like how to build a fire, how to be safe on the road, and how to tie knots. I get to help teach the seventh grade scout classes and they are always so much fun!
I have loved learning about all of the differences here in Taiwan. For instance, I think it is wonderful that the students get to know each other so well since they are with the same classmates for all three years of junior high school. Since students are the ones to clean the school, they do a great job of taking care of it. They never leave garbage on the floor of the classroom and always tidy up their messes quickly. They do a great job of taking responsibility for their school!
My school is so beautiful and I am very grateful to work in a different country. I have learned so much from my students and the other teachers here that will help me be a better teacher when I return to the United States. I have also been able to share some of my own teaching knowledge with the other teachers at my school and I think it is so neat to be able to support each other to be the best that we can be! My students always want to help me with my Chinese and my friends at work tell me about new places to visit and have even taken me to see different parts of Taipei. I think that being a teacher in a new country is a great way to learn a lot about the local language and culture!
