Elementary English Education in Taiwan

The Journey in the Past 16 Years

Yaming TaiDepartment of Children English Education

National Taipei University of Education

１

Launch of English Education

• Educational Reform: Grade 1-9 Curriculum

– School year 2001→5th and 6th graders

– School year 2005→3rd and 4th graders

２

Learning AreasGrade/

Learning Area1 2 3 4 5 6

Language Arts Mandarin

Mandarin

English

Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics

Health and Physical

EducationHealth and Physical Education Health and Physical Education

Social Studies

Life Curriculum

Social

StudiesSocial Studies

Arts and Humanities Arts and Humanities Arts and Humanities

Science and

TechnologyScience and Technology Science and Technology

Integrative

ActivitiesIntegrative Activities Integrative Activities Integrative Activities

３

Length of Learning Periods

Area Learning periods(20% ~ 30% of learning hours)

Alternative Learning Periods

Grade 1 ~ 2 0 0 ~ 2

Grade 3 ~ 4 1 0 ~ 2

Grade 5 ~ 6 2 0 ~ 2

Grade

Learning periods

４

• The Policy of Recruitment

• English Proficiency

• Pedagogical Content Knowledge

Obstacle: Shortage of Qualified Teachers

５

Qualified English Teacher

• Teacher Preparation

• On-job Teacher TrainingEquity in English

Education

Qualified English

Teachers

Optimum English

Learning Context

６

• Mixed-ability Group

• Rural-Urban Areas

• Social-economic Status

Obstacle:Adverse Conditions

７

Starting Year of every County / City Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6

North

Taipei City

New Taipei City

Keelung City

Taoyuan City

Hsinchu County

Hsinchu City

Yilan County

Central

Miaoli County

Taichung City

Changhua County

Nantou County

Yunlin County

South

Chiayi County

Chiayi City

Tainan City

Kaohsiung

Pintung County

EastTaitung County

Hualien County

Offshore Islands

Penghu County

Kinmen County

Lienchiang County８

Equity in English Education

• Remedial Program

• Adapted Instruction Equity in English

Education

Qualified English

Teachers

Optimum English

Learning Context

９

Obstacle:Lack of communicated context

• English as a Foreign Language

• Student Motivation

１０

Optimum English Learning Context

• Native English-Speaking Teachers

• English VillagesEquity in English

Education

Qualified English

Teachers

Optimum English

Learning Context

１１

NEST (Native English-Speaking Teachers)4

35

55

12

3

8

26

1154

21

20

67

13

55

20

6

4

5

3

30

１２

English Villages3

12

5

34

2

11

51

2

1

3

21

4

6

3

１３

The Changing World

Equity in English Education

Qualified English

Teachers

Optimum English

Learning Context

• From Globalization to Glocalization

• Advance of Technology

１４