Language and Culture E-Zine

Fwd: china post LETTER TO EDITOR

2007-08-25T04:32:00.001-07:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Taiwan Calling <danbloom@gmail.com>
Date: Aug 25, 2007 7:31 PM
Subject: Fwd: china post LETTER TO EDITOR
To: kalumi_155@yahoo.com.tw

http://chinapost.com.tw/cp/opinion/letter1.htm#L286

here is my letter to editor, can you read it and add it to your blog.?

--
丹布隆:

--
丹布隆: Chinese
http://danbloom888.blogspot.com
http://www.epochtw.com/5/9/3/10258.htm

English:
http://www.taiwanho.com/people/dan

IF YOU NEED A SMILE:
http://www.dobhran.com/greetings/GRchildseyes.htm

OU SONT LES NEIGES D'ANTAN:
http://www.seraphicpress.com/images/10y01.jpg

GREEN LIGHT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=392BpLzgSQQ

"NULLA TENACI INVIA EST VIA"
(for the tenacious, no road is impossible)
http://www.gocenter.com.tw/main/images/mail.gif

--
丹布隆: Chinese
http://danbloom888.blogspot.com
http://www.epochtw.com/5/9/3/10258.htm

English:
http://www.taiwanho.com/people/dan

IF YOU NEED A SMILE:
http://www.dobhran.com/greetings/GRchildseyes.htm

OU SONT LES NEIGES D'ANTAN:
http://www.seraphicpress.com/images/10y01.jpg

GREEN LIGHT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=392BpLzgSQQ

"NULLA TENACI INVIA EST VIA"
(for the tenacious, no road is impossible)
http://www.gocenter.com.tw/main/images/mail.gif

Letter to Editor

2007-06-01T10:24:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone, this is my letter to editor.i've seen my
paper posted on the mail (and re-send one again to
aiden on 5/31), but i can't see that from e-zine. So
now i tried to post it again.

Dear Editor,
I would like to express my opinion on the recent
disputes on rectification, and thank you for your
time.

Name: Trisha, Ying-ting Hsiao
Address: 12F-2, No.9, Da-fu St., San-min District,
Kaohsiung, 807, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Mobile: 0928733392
E-mail: kalumi_155@yahoo.com.tw

Actions speak louder than words
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recently, in the heart of many name rectification lies
the usage of language and the hunt for cultural
identity. Harboring the hope for clear distinction
from China, the government promotes a series of
rectification campaigns to abate the bond with China.
Thus, Chiang Kai-shek International Airport became
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport; Central Bank of
China altered into Central Bank of the Republic of
China (Taiwan); Chinese Petroleum Corporation was
added Taiwan afterwards, and recently, Chiang Kai-shek
Memorial Hall has turned into National Taiwan
Democracy Memorial Hall. Everything is "Taiwanized."
However, the modification of the names does not unite
the bipolar national identities and somehow increase
the confusion among the citizens of Taiwan and the
foreign tourists.
According to Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, language shapes
one's culture and identity. The rectification voices
Taiwanese identity worldwide but is it the pursuit of
national recognition or simply a political strategy?
It is becoming clearer to Taiwanese when KMT converted
Ketagalan Boulevard into Anti-corruption Boulevard.
This contention with language results in another
combat between pan-blue and pan-green.
Instead of amalgamating solidarity via identity
labels, the government should endeavor to useful and
practical language policies to protect the minority
languages and to form a unique and solid cultural
pride among Taiwanese.

____________________________________________________________________________________
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Wait a minute! I always know I am Taiwanese!!

2007-06-01T01:29:00.000-07:00

Wait a minute!I always know I am Taiwanese!!
Submitted by Cassidy

As a post-colonial country, Taiwan has always been struggling in searching for its own identity. Especially when the DPP(I��(Bthe so-called "real Taiwanese" representatives(I��(Bwon the election, they claimed that their first aim was to make Taiwan become an independent country. This, therefore, became a great expectation for their constituents, even until now, after 7 years of the "Bien government". In order to reach this goal, they asserted that rectification of names is inevitable, for fearing of being treated as an affiliated nation and furthermore, for wiping out the dictator's cult of personality, who had retrieved from China in 1949.

However, there is a myth here. Does the government now suggest that "Taiwan is not an independent country?" In the past, people know that there was a group of people who retreated from China in the hot war time. And the leader of this group then became the leader of Taiwan and then established ROC government in this place. However, Taiwanese identity, because of the claims and the rectification of names, suddenly becomes a real blur. Seeing the Chiang Kai-shek statues being torn down and cut in pieces and the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall being changed in order to not to "memorize" him, as a country urging for democratic independence, especially in this modern time when other countries are putting their efforts in protecting their cultural legacy even including China, we are actually going to an opposite way. If one is cultivated enough, he would immediately notice that we are in fact going through another "Cultural Revolution", fortunately, in a less bloody way, or unfortunately, in a more insidious way. Is it really possible to root our identity by destroying the other culture, or rather, our history? In other words, without the history of being one part of China and the culture derived from it, can we really find our identity? These are indeed, considerable questions needed to think about before pursuing further action.

Is the native speaker the better teacher?

2007-05-31T11:22:00.001-07:00

Dear Editor,
I'd like to share my opinion about whether the native speaker is the better
teacher.

Sincerely,
Amy Tsai
___________________________________________

Name: Yi-Hua Tsai

__________________________________________

Is the native speaker the better teacher?

Every time parents want their children to learn English, they always ask
the cram schools the same question: Is the English teacher a native
speaker? It¡¦s almost the most important thing the parents consider about.
If the clerks say no, some parents may just turn around and go away.
Actually, there¡¦re some reasons. One of the main reasons is that parents
may compare the English pronunciation of friends¡¦ children. And no matter
the intonation or fluency, the student of native speaker often present
better than the student of non-native speaker. However, there are more
factors the parents should give attention to. Does the English teacher have
ability to control a class of students? If the teacher cannot make the
student listen to him or her, there is no classroom rule in class. Does
teacher have the skills to teach students? If the teacher doesn¡¦t know
have the skills to teacher English grammar, learning English becomes a
boring activity to the students. Is the teacher patient, responsible, and
stable? If the teacher¡¥s individuality without those qualities, he cannot
be regard as a good teacher. There are lots of factors more important than
that the English teacher is a native speaker or not. Parents should not
only focus on the native speak or not issue. Moreover, leaning English is
a long way for the students.

_________________________________________________________________
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[language-and-culture] about Amy's letter to editor

2007-05-31T11:07:00.001-07:00

Dear Aiden,
I am Amy Tsai. I've sent the letter to China Post twice and sent to you
with the mail adress-researchwriting.languageandculture@blogger.com before
10p.m.. But my classmates said they didn't receive my letter. I don't know
the reason. Therefore, I sent it to you again. I am sorry about it.

Is the native speaker the better teacher?

Every time parents want their children to learn English, they always ask
the cram schools the same question: Is the English teacher a native
speaker? It's almost the most important thing the parents consider about.
If the clerks say no, some parents may just turn around and go away.
Actually, there're some reasons. One of the main reasons is that parents
may compare the English pronunciation of friends' children. And no matter
the intonation or fluency, the student of native speaker often present
better than the student of non-native speaker. However, there are more
factors the parents should give attention to. Does the English teacher have
ability to control a class of students? If the teacher cannot make the
student listen to him or her, there is no classroom rule in class. Does
teacher have the skills to teach students? If the teacher doesn't know
have the skills to teacher English grammar, learning English becomes a
boring activity to the students. Is the teacher patient, responsible, and
stable? If the teacher's individuality without those qualities, he cannot
be regard as a good teacher. There are lots of factors more important than
that the English teacher is a native speaker or not. Parents should not
only focus on the native speak or not issue. Moreover, leaning English is
a long way for the students.

_________________________________________________________________
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Good to see Cabinet finalizes draft law on nat'l language development

2007-05-31T08:44:00.001-07:00

by Han Chen-Ying, Kaohsiung City

Taiwan is a beautiful place with plenty natural sceneries and various ethnics. It will be really a pity if we lose the diversity of the aboriginal culture. Therefore, the finalization of the draft law on national language development is really a good news for the aboriginal culture in Taiwan. I remember I was taught there were 9 aboriginal ethnics in Taiwan when I was in elementary school; now we have over 13. As a result, I know our country does put some efforts on preserving the aboriginal culture, or there wouldn't be so many aboriginal ethnics now. Although language for someone is just a media for communication, the preservation of the aboriginal languages or other languages is actually like protecting a culture. Without a language, a culture of that ethnic will not be complete. I'm glad to see our government finally does something meaningful. Also, not only the government, the minorities strive for it a lot. I see more and more singers singing Taiwanese songs; in many activities held by the government in Kaohsiung, I see Taiwanese and Hakka rappers performing on stage. I can see the whole nation focusing its ethnic culture more and more!

Letter to Editor

2007-05-31T08:24:00.001-07:00

Dear Editor:

I would like to give comment on the news " Cabinet

finalizes draft law on nat'l language development" which

posted on May,17.

sincerely,

Connie

Name: Yi-Ting,Dong Connie

Address: No. 10, Nan-Ko Rd, Chiao-Tao Village, Kaohsiung County.

Mobilephone: 0912982218

Taiwanese parents' attitude toward the national languages development draft law and nativist education

The nativist education has been promoted and implemented for years. In order to protect the equality of languages, the government had approved the national languages development draft law. The policy and law benefit Taiwanese resident because the younger generations will be able to understand the natural history, geography, dialects, arts and local diverse culture of their homeland, respect the different culture and ethnic groups, and build their personal identity.

The nativist education, however, is not supported by parents due to their concern of limited usefulness of native languages. They might consider the language policy in Taiwan is just a political trick. Once the language policy contains political interest, there is no meaning to implement it. Moreover, based on the pressure of test-oriented and competitiveness concern, parents prefer English or other "useful" language education rather than nativist education. As a result, the national languages development draft law may be just an addition pressure for their children.

Native language is the language spoken in the area we live, especially in daily life. Language itself includes the local and ethnic cultures, customs, spirits and personal identity. Those are the core values of a language which deserve to be protected and preserved. Parents are responsible with constructing the correct concept of language and recognition of native languages, or their children will lose in the struggle of who they are.

Parents' attitudes toward language development and nativist education are important because family is an effective language environment as well. The government should express the essence of language preservation to have the citizens understand why instead of enforcing nativist education. With this in mind, I believe the goal of language development and nativist education could be achieved.

___________________________________________________
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to the editor

2007-05-31T08:14:00.001-07:00

Jess Liou
500-5 Heti Rd.,
Sanming District,
Kaohsiung City
Taiwan (R.O.C)
Zip Code: 807
Phone number: 0919888074

Reply for the topic of Cabinet finalizes draft law on nat'l language
development

Indeed in recent years the language policy in Taiwan is especially
focused on the native languages and it do encourage people to learn their
own mother tongue. Acts such as supports of some famous singers or
politicians shows that DDP government does try their best to fulfill this
task before 2008.
However, language policy may help the misunderstanding occurred among
people when DDP uses it as a weapon to provoke the cultural contrariety.
Furthermore, to win more support from people especially for the
presidential election in 2008, DDP has tactically provoked angers of
Hokien, Hakka and aboriginal people to Chinese while they were promoting
the language policy, such as appropriate speeches for the 228 event,
removing the statue of Jiang and the issue of re-name the national company.
All these t events that are related with language policy will just
overgrow the social harmony.
Moreover, weakness still exists in the process of language policy in
school. School and parents acclaim that language policy disturbs the
teaching order. For parents, they complain that it will just give more
burdens for their children as they are in a furious studying environment in
Taiwan. As the policy and the reaction of people can not match with each
other, government should find ways to solve it but make it even worse.

_________________________________________________________________
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Letter to the editor

2007-05-31T07:49:00.001-07:00

To whom it may concern:

    I'd like to give opinion on the news "Fed up with identity game".

Lisa Hsu
Phone: 0912439469
Add: 15F,#231,Dajhong 1st Rd,
         Sangming District, Kaohsiung 807
         Taiwan, R.O.C.

Exaggerating Identity Politics Endangers the Integration of Ethnic Groups

Advocating clear identity for Taiwanese is a good deed but overplaying identity politics and creates the subsequent woes that haunt the citizens can be seen as shouting wolf which cause panic over the diverse ethnic groups in the Island.

Near 70% of the population identify themselves as Taiwanese thus ethnicism is no longer a priority for citizens instead nation's global competitiveness, economy power, and political stability are more of the crucial concerns among Taiwanese. However, Chen Shui-bian's administration neglects the preference of the citizen and kept detruding new menu.

Diverse ethnic groups in Taiwan, however, are not suitable for an Exaggerating ethnicism tactic playing by the DPP. While promoting Taiwanese identity or rather say "Southern Fujianese" identity can be seen as playing down the position of other ethnic groups in Taiwan. People are classified strictly by their own ethnicity as the result of over playing identity politics; therefore, it creates conflicts between ethnic groups.

The ruling party DPP is acting like an old dog which can not play new tricks, endless identity upheavals since the political shift in 2000 up to now panic the society. The DPP won the ruling position by its identity campaign and afterwards the concentration focuses on identity as if other pragmatic issue is out of concern. Other than that, patriotism is judged by being a Taiwanese or being a Chinese descendent instead of the patriotic saga which a politician contributes. Using the identity politics against its rivals gradually creates its own obstacles in wining the next presidential election because many are fed up with identity politics.

As a whole, Taiwanese people are having their own, clear identity in their hearts. It need not be disturb by a newer exaggerating political tactics over such an issue.

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Letter to the Editr

2007-05-31T07:44:00.001-07:00

Jess Liou
500-5 Heti Rd.,
Sanming District,
Kaohsiung City
Taiwan (R.O.C)
Zip Code: 807
Phone number: 0919888074

Reply for the letter of A New Language Equality Drawns in Taiwan

_________________________________________________________________
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Reply for the letter of A New Language Equality Drawns in Taiwan

2007-05-31T07:39:00.001-07:00

_________________________________________________________________
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Letter to the editor

2007-05-31T07:25:00.001-07:00

Dear Editor, I would like to express my opinion about
the freedom of expressing the idea of Taiwan's
independence.

Name: Wendy Chen
Address:高雄市三民區延慶街137號10樓
Phone:0989634475

Do we have freedom of speech to express the idea of
Taiwan's independence?
Again, the announcement of Taiwan's independence of
President Chen upset the US officials. Again, the US
officials worried about whether the announcement would
influence the status quo in Taiwan Strait or not.
Certainly, another familiar consequence is that
Beijing asserted its anti-secession position.
This kind of news is really not "news" to most
residents in Taiwan; we all can predict what will
happen next. Actually, the idea of independence seems
to become a "taboo" within Taiwan's society. Except
some advocates of independence, most of us avoid
mentioning and expressing any comment related to the
issue of independence. From many cases and events, we
perceive that we are under the threat of Beijing and
pressure of Washington; therefore, we don't have
freedom to express the idea of independent, but have
freedom to express the idea of unification or
maintaining status quo.
In addition, we realize and acknowledge the fact that
Taiwan can not match mainland China. By degrees, the
atmosphere of being threaten and the feeling of
helpless oppress many Taiwanese's will of free
expression on the issue of independence. Even though
the advocates according to their free will bravely
propose the idea of independence in public; they are
treated as the trouble makers and not valued for the
aspect of freedom of speech.
If we are already deprived of free speech of any
determination, such as the idea of independence, I
doubt that we can determine Taiwan's future actually
according to our free will. Because of the reality of
survival, in fact, we are forced and bent to certain
orientation of Taiwan's future.

____________________________________________________________________________________
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Letter to the editor

2007-05-31T07:06:00.001-07:00

Comment on "Freedom of the press is being taken for granted"

By Nicole Juan

0928998448

高雄市三民區鼎金後路420巷101號8樓

News we are watching everyday, which are supposed to provide accurate and balanced information, no longer stay neutral. Due to the freedom of the press that is protected by Taiwanese constitution, media is able to report what they want and what they discover. As Taiwan has become the freest nation of the press in Asia, it should be a good thing. Yet the media takes it for granted.

I agree with local media is biased. Every news channel has their favor in parties. Therefore, when they are reporting the same news, we will have different aspect because different angles are used to protect their favorite party. It is reasonable but when the media fabricate the news, it is another story.

Another interference that makes media not trust worthy is watching rate. The press has to follow the favor of the audiences in order to attract them. People love watching scandals and gossip, so it becomes a trend. The more and dirtier news the journalists find, the better the watching rate is. Gradually the freedom of the press is abused.

Maintain balance report is definitely not easy yet it is a challenge. I expect to see more true news.

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Letter to the editor

2007-05-31T07:03:00.001-07:00

Connect to the next generation of MSN Messenger Get it now!

2007-05-31T07:00:00.003-07:00

Name: Lee Tsai Tien Address:6F-1 631# Bo-Ai 3rd Rd. Zuo Yin Zone Kaohsiung City. Phone:0963117846 Dear Editor, I would like to expresson my opinion about Asian Beauty

The crown of miss universe 2007 was placed on the 20 year old Riyo Mori from

Japan

. What is special about this second Japanese beauty ever won the title is that contrary to the traditional Asian idea of feminine beauty, Mori shines with her much tanned skin.

In most of Asian, women are obsessed with having white skin. Not only millions of beauty product sales are based on selling whitening products, you can also see girls walking on the street with giant masks that make them look like characters from the star wars. Or girls cover themselves so completed when they go out as if they have a third degree burn. As I ponder on the phenomena of Asian women dying to the white but white women dying to be tan, I find it is more about showing the status of life style more than anything. If a white woman can lie under the sun, sipping juices, and putting coconut oil on her so she can get the perfect tan everyone would envy about, that becomes the beauty standard white society purses. On the other hand, if an Asian woman doesn't have to go out to the field to work and can stay home to develop the traditional feminine traits, then she will have the white skin to show her privilege. So now we see the other side of the grass is always greener, people keep wanting what they do not have. But has it gone too far? As we see all the whitening beauty products fill the market and every open space, what is it really telling us? When using a white person to be the model for whitening beauty products, as in my opinion, is so manipulating. Is it saying that by using this whitening product you will be so white that even become a different race? Or is it simple encouraging people to buy more products to achieve this impossible task. When having white skin becomes the only beauty standard in this society, people become even more narrow minded. They follow and obey blindly any vales society wants them to carry, instead of learning to accept all kind of beauty and possibility. Most important of all, they don't want to be themselves. Having only one standard for beauty is only a small example of how media controls people's mind in this society, as we see plenty more examples in fashion, politics, and so on. I think it is important to acknowledge this condition and learn to be an independent thinker.

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Letter to the editor

2007-05-31T07:00:00.001-07:00

Dear editor,

I would like to express and common on the issure of "free speech in media"

Name: Annie Lin

Address: 高雄市左營區天祥二路111巷50號3樓

Phone #: 0932-005037

Free Speech in Media

As time went by, the free speech in media is getting more and more open and liberal today without the strict regulation and suppression compared with the old day. From the media, we audiences receive a variety of news, messages from a good number of media --- no matter it is in the forms of newspaper, magazine, TV station, broadcasting station and so forth. However, it is seemingly obvious that almost every media take their standpoint and have a political prejudice or preference while reporting the news towards the mass. Although the respect and freedom of speech should be given to media, how to convey and inform correct and neutral news to the audiences is quite crucial as well since the readers or audiences deserve the right to receive what it is true in the messages we are given. Sometimes, it is quite disappointing to see the same circumstances got various distinct conclusion or consequences from different media; as a news-receiver, at times we can't help

wondering the authenticity and objectivity of the media since it certainly causes confusion and more doubt for the audiences. Thus, we expect true and no-biased news from the mass media while the media implements their freedom of speech properly.

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Letter to editors

2007-05-31T06:52:00.001-07:00

Dear Editors,

Hi, I would like to give commends on " War over renamed CKS memorial
continues" on May 29th.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Constance, Yeh Fang-Chun
No. 12 Minde Village, Tashi, Taoyuan
0989474197

Taiwan's politics are very interesting, actually. Every time when
there is election coming up, "playing with name" or "Code war" this
kind of old trick will just pop up again and again. It is like using a
Taoist magic figure to cure disease, unreal, but very useful. This is why
our government, the DPP, keep doing the renaming from CKS International
Airport、China Post to CKS Memorial Hall, because it just works!
DPP try to use the ideology behind the action of renaming to enlarge
the opposing position between people, or I should say between
pro-independent or anti-independent on this island, in order to reduce its
responsibility to the people for making them wait years and years. When
politics had become cheap enough not to have any principles, moral standing
or prospective, Taiwan, actually are moving forward to "third world-lize"
, just like South Africa or Albania.
When will this game stop? Perhaps let's wait for the next ruling
party, maybe they will give us answer.

letter to editor

2007-05-31T06:49:00.001-07:00

Dear Editor, i want to espression my opinion about Asian culture The crown of miss universe 2007 was placed on the 20 year old Riyo Mori from

Japan

. What is special about this second Japanese beauty ever won the title is that contrary to the traditional Asian idea of feminine beauty, Mori shines with her much tanned skin.

___________________________________________________
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letter to the editor

2007-05-31T06:01:00.001-07:00

Name: Lai, Jou yu (Zoe)

Address: 5F-1, #154 Ping-Teng Rd. Fong shan city, Kaohsiung

Mobile: 0960005417

Dear editor: I would like to comment on the recient serious problem of the false reports in Taiwan.

Freedom of Speech and the Responsibility of the Media

The Media are the main source from which the public gains fresh pieces of information. However, they do not seem to realize the power and the responsibility of theirs, refusing to face the fact that rights enjoyment also involve the payment of duty. To pursuit high circulation has become their main and nearly the only goal. Moreover, most of the presses have a clear political stance. People in Taiwan are overwhelmed by un-neutral news.

The media bears the responsibility of educating. In Taiwan, we enjoy the freedom of speech, but it's a pity the Media makes a very complete use of their freedom by representing astonishing, catching false reports even false ones, which has set a ill model for the pubic and as well change people's value. They indeed have the right to report the news that they favor due to their political stance, but they can not neglect the responsibility of the effect of their reports. Un-neutral reports have constrained Taiwanese's thoughts.

The general quality of the reporters is lower than it used to be in terms of moral level. In my opinion, the media need to be re-educated so that, while owning the freedom of speech, they can learn more about bearing the duty of transmission of massages and educating, rather than seeing benefits only.

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opinion letter to the editor

2007-05-30T23:16:00.001-07:00

Dear editor:

I would like to respond my opinion about the article Taipei celebrates Africa Day posed on May 26, 2007.

Name: Hsu Yun-Chen
Address: No.1, Lane 532, Dingjhong Rd., Sanmin District, Kaohsiung City 807, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Phone No.0919038066

Thank you very much.

Cultural Interaction is not A Slogan.

Africa Day was held few days ago in Taipei . When I ran through this news, I felt surprised because I had no idea about Africa Day, and never heard that our government promoted this celebration. As the friend-nation of Taiwan , Africa is not familiar with Taiwan 's people, either do I. From my point of view, people in Taiwan are too less chances and experiences to contact with other different ethnic groups in the world.

Therefore, I suggest the government should hold more culture- interactive activities and encourage people or students to participant. The parents should join more cultural activities with their children. Students should learn the difference of ethnic groups in the school as well as family. The most important thing is that adults should set a good example of respect each other to show to the next generations instead of talking gossip in TV.

Taiwan

is a small island. Competition among big countries to catch up with them is intense. The thing we can present ourselves is our cultural enlightenment in really action of everybody's mind. Every person and group has its unique culture to be respect no matter what kind of groups, Africa, America , or Asian are. We have to maintain our curious and respectful mind toward everything. With curiosity, we will find the answers or get more information through the Internet or books. "Equal of ethnic groups" is maybe still far away. Hence, as humans, the citizens in the world, have to take responsibilities to achieve the common goal.

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Letter to Editor

2007-05-30T21:43:00.001-07:00

Dear Editor,

I'd like to express my opinion about the article 'why Taiwan students' English skills are embarrassingly poor' posted on Dec 23rd, 2006.

Sincerely,

Wang Yi-Ping

Name: Wang Yi-Ping (Rita)

Address: No.260, Ming Tzu Rd., North District, Taichung City 404, Taiwan

Phone No.:0923725480

What happened to our students' English?

There is a fact that our students' scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) are inferior to those achieved by those from most other Asian countries. Among them, some were colonized by English countries; some have fewer test-takers than Taiwan. The accuracy of Taiwanese students' English proficiency hasn't yet to be seriously taken. Despite the accuracy, what we need to pay attention to is our poor English proficiency.

Reading, writing, speaking, and listening are the four ways to master English. Unfortunately, our education of English only focuses on reading and writing. When it comes to speaking and listening, it is said by some foreigners in Taiwan that our ability to communicate in English is inadequate. There must be something wrong with it. At school, what students learn about English is reading and memorizing grammar and vocabulary. The chance to speak out and listen to English is poor. Moreover, the pronunciation of some teachers of English is really awkward and the teaching method makes students sleepy. When they face with unfamiliar words or sentences, they always ask the teachers to translate. As a matter of course, the teachers translate for the students but their translation weakens students' solution-finding ability. This is the common failing between students and teachers of English which results students in becoming passive learners of English.

As far as I am concerned, our students just lose the motivation and enthusiasm for learning English. They have to know English is more than an academic subject, a tool to enter a prominent school or an international company. They have to know English is the lingua franca of the world and the instrument to see the world. At the same time, our government and teachers of English have to create an English learning environment for students. If possible, I think having conversation classes is the easiest way to make students practice and speak out their English. No more than ten students in a class, the teacher can talk in English with students on one hand. One the other hand, the teacher can take the opportunity to teach students to how to apply their English to daily conversation. With the chance to speak English, students may start to confront and manage to deal with their English proficiency.

No matter what educational system we have now, what chaos it is in, English is the production of globalization. Our students should know globalization makes English becomes the passport to the world. Without good English proficiency, our students cannot go anywhere. Cheer up! Our painstaking students!

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Letter to Editor

2007-05-30T08:20:00.001-07:00

Opinion on English proficiency key to foreign firm
jobs.

Name: Liang-Chun Li
Address: 高雄市苓雅區武慶三路32巷6號4F-1
Mobile: 0963008840

Dear Editor

It is true that English proficiency is a key to
foreign firm jobs. And what makes employees so urgent
to enter such foreign companies is that they provide
good salary and welfare to their workers compared to
other local companies. However, I don't really
recommend learner of English just to learn the
language simply for the basic need of a job.
Languages are more likely to be the key to the world,
not just a key to foreign firm jobs. The definition
of English proficiency should be focused on the common
knowledge of English cultures and the ability to
express one's own culture to the rest English
speaking groups. This is what learners of English now
in Taiwan lack. It would be a waste just to learn a
language for getting a better job instead of using the
language to explore the world. How nice would it be
to explore the world while having a good work in
English.

____________________________________________________________________________________
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Letter to the editor

2007-05-30T08:10:00.001-07:00

Dear Editor,

I'd like to express my opinion about the article ¡§English proficiency key to foreign firm jobs¡¨ posted on May 5th.

Sincerely yours,

Lin Yu-chiou

Name: Lin Yu-chiou

Address: No.183, Jhongshan 1st Rd., Sinsing District, Kaohsiung City 800, Taiwan

Phone No.:0958061125

English proficiency now becomes the major and common need among those employees. It is necessary to require language proficiency certificates in job-hunting market. In my opinion, language could be as a tool when people are communicating, but certainly it cannot be one¡¦s expertise. Language can be a process which can help the employees to get much knowledge. The reason bases on the situation of the interview. Imaging that, the managers cannot discover that their candidates are without the proficiency, but they can find out whether the candidate can speak English fluently or not.

Ten years ago, when I studied in the elementary school, few students had the ability in English. Moreover, most of them could not figure out the ABC letters. Then, nowadays, the elementary school or the kindergarten both will have the program of learning foreign language. BUSHIBAN locates everywhere. Learning English becomes a trend. Concerning the reason why our kids or job-seekers want to speak English fluently is the economic reason; English proficiency could mean that they have more chances to get a better job. Nevertheless, people will prefer to learn foreign language instead of our native language. Although, the government tries to keep our mother tongue (Taiwanese, Hakka, and aborigine languages) alive, if there is no such economic consideration or other interests for learning those languages; it is true that our language will disappear.

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Letter to the editor

2007-05-30T07:17:00.001-07:00

Dear Editor,

I would like to offer my opinion about the article -- Council plans to revitalize languages on May 23, 2007 .

Name: I Wen Chen

Address: 1F., No.16, Lane 70, Yufong St., Gushan District, Kaohsiung City 804, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

Mobile: 0952738517

As is known to all, the geographic location of Taiwan is exceptionally gifted. Owing to the unique geographic location, those who live in Taiwan have an environment of multi-culture and different languages, including the aboriginal language. The culture is like a big history book which records the people's live style, the way people think, of course, the way of communicating, and so forth. The culture and the language are important treasure for people to understand their origins. Therefore, we should preserve the culture and the language, and keep them from extinction.

The relationship between the culture and the language is like chicken-egg, and the best way to preserve the culture and language is to transform into written texts just like what was mentioned by Wang Chiou-i. The transforming job depends on lots of people, who know the language, but there are not many people who know the language, and the truth is most people do not think the native language is worthy to learn, except English. The reason that people do not want to learn their native language is that most company require employee with English proficiency. The purpose of launching six-year indigenous language revitalization plan is good for saving the language and the culture from extinction, if integrating with inculcating the importance of the native language. The preservation of culture and language does not only belong to the government or historian, but for every one. The government should infuse the importance of preserving the language and the culture to people, and have all the people strive for cultural and linguistic preservation together.

letter to editor

2007-05-30T04:14:00.001-07:00

Dear Editor,
I would like to offer my opinion on ¡§All-English
Learning Environment in Taiwan's English Language
School¡¨.

Name: Liu Chao-Jie
Address: Room 208, 2F, No.302, Minzu 1st Rd., Sanmin
District, Kaohsiung City
Mobile: 0958584045

What Taiwanese English learners need the most is the
chance to speak English. As we all know, schools in
Taiwan tend to give students tons of tests; a lot of
teachers tend to stuff students with endless tests.
Students go to school to take tests; they don¡¦t have
to open their mouths. What they need to do is to
write, write and write. Maybe it sometimes works, but
in terms of learning English, it¡¦s not a right policy
to apply.

We use English to communicate with others. Practice
makes perfect. If we rarely have chance to speak
English at school, how can we communicate well in
English. Maybe we can read English newspaper and
answer confusing grammatical questions; we know a lot
English words and are good at taking tests. But when
encountering real conversation, we stammer because of
lack of practice. It is a common phenomenon in Taiwan.

However, in recent years there are more and more
all-English learning environments in Taiwan, which
allow students to improve their oral abilities.
Students can apply what they learn from textbooks in
daily conversation. Bring knowledge to reality. Only
through that can students improve English proficiency.
Taking tests may increase scores; it¡¦s speaking that
makes you really learn languages.

____________________________________________________________________________________
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letter to editor

2007-05-30T01:44:00.000-07:00

Dear Editor,

I would like to offer my opinion on English proficiency key to foreign firm jobs.

Name: Yu Ju Wang

Address: 8F., No.101, Lane 420, DinjinHou Rd., Sanmin District, Kaohsiung City, 807, Taiwan

Mobile: 0952087746

According to the article on May 7^th, the survey found that over 96 percent of Taiwan's white-collar workers wanted to work for foreign enterprises, and with English proficiency at all aspect, was the priority skill to be chosen to these foreign enterprises.

It sounds attractive especially to those who will be graduating in June (including me), since entering a foreign company relates to better benefit by all means, yet how do these people succeed in winning their "dream job" has become the question. What I would like to stress further is that in fact the language ability in today world is not examined for white-collar-workers only, but the process has begun even earlier before entering to working field. For example, as a student major in English, our school has asked students to pass CSEPT (大專英語能力檢定) with required score in order to achieve the graduate qualification. Although this policy does cause some disagreements to non-English major students since they consider the requested score for them is hard to accomplish, however, the result of taking test is indeed helpful when it comes to hiring practices. What will be the decisive factor for you to get selected for the job if you can not meet with the need to English ability in all aspect, and moreover, to use it naturally as if you are speaking your mother tongue? The experiences could be accumulated, and the skills could be improved, but all these come with the premise that your English is good enough to do all the communication and to receive information.

This may sound threatening, that English is such a crucial element in job-searching market. What we can do now to get ourselves a ticket into this trend is to bring our potential into full play, which means to learn as much as you can at any time, and get ready for every possibility.

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letter to editor

2007-05-30T01:43:00.001-07:00

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Letter to the Editor

2007-05-29T23:02:00.000-07:00

Dear Editor,

I would like to offer my opinion on promotion of Mandarin.

Name: Kuan-His Lin

Address: 5F., No.64, Lane 144, Sec. 2, Nanya S. Rd., Banciao City, Taipei County 220,

Taiwan

(R.O.C.)

Mobile: 0963276943

Along with the globalization and raise of Taiwanese native identity, people in

Taiwan

nowadays are eager to achieve a higher linguistic level. We pursue English and Japanese which are the most influential foreign languages for this island, we encourage Taiwanese, and we legally protect aboriginal languages. They are exactly right but does Mandarin- our official language- not deserve our respect anymore?

In the past several years, Mandarin class in elementary and high schools has sharply reduced. Mandarin composition test originally included in senior high school entrance exam has been abolished. And young people¡¦s ability of thinking and linguistic organization, as many teachers of Mandarin have claimed, is destroyed and most of their expressions are ¡§devoid of substance.¡¨

Many nativists of Taiwanese have considered Mandarin as a foreign language introduced, or enforced by KMT government and associated it with

China

¡X the country considered as our enemy since their political oppression on us internationally. Some of them are even hostile to those Taiwanese-born Mandarin speakers. However, at same time they reject Mandarin, most of them send their kids to cram schools for English- another foreign language- in hope their kids can be more competitive in the future. Isn¡¦t ironic?

The fact is, we are not respecting for our official language as much as for other foreign or local languages. And, at some level, that means we have more respect for certain regions than for our country. Mandarin is our language officially and educationally. No matter it is related to

China

or not, no matter how other languages favor our economy and culture, our official language should never be depreciated.

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dear editor

2007-05-29T20:52:00.000-07:00

Dear editor: I would like to suggest two measures
concerning the topic of students' essays need
improving.

Name: Nick Liu劉家鴻
Address: 北縣土城市延平街62巷1弄1號5樓
Phone Number: 0912504044

I would like to suggest two measures concerning
the topic of students' essays need improving,
which posted on 29th May. Firstly, school could
make compulsory rules asking students for the
extra-curriculum reading. Secondly, school could
provide students with writing class or personal
consultation or teacher.
By compulsory extra-curriculum reading, students
can learn good sayings, idioms, and words from
books, which are highly recommended by school.
Once they read a lot, they could use them
properly in writing. Most of the students now are
mainly depending on the Internet reading, which
often contains many vernaculars or Martian words,
(though they are not harmful to read.) but few of
the teenagers read in books. By surfing the
Internet, they could hardly acquire the usage of
these writing skills. If school could force them
to read in books, they may learn a lot good
sentences, using them well in writing.
After reading, students may start to write or
criticize only by hand what they have read. Only
through constant writing do students make
progress in it. But, they are not just write,
their essay should be revised and commented on
the structure, the phrase, and the coherence. At
the same time, teacher or consultant should
severely prohibit their writing from Martian
words, and ask them revise essay.
If the two methods could be applied, they will
help students make progress in writing, at least,
they will cultivate them the habit to write.

____________________________________________________________________________________
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dear editor

2007-05-29T20:43:00.000-07:00

____________________________________________________________________________________
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Charlene's letter posted on China post

2007-05-29T20:33:00.001-07:00

Click here to read the letter posted on China Post.

Here's a copy of the published letter. Congratulations, Charlene!

Foreign English teachers must understand local culture
2007/5/30
Wu Hsiao-ling Kaohsiung City

As everybody knows, the topic of whether hiring foreign teachers is good or not is popular one in Taiwan. Some people say that foreign teachers are beneficial to the children's English pronunciation and writing, but some say it's difficult to examine the foreign teachers' moral standings and qualifications. In this verbal battle, the cultural difference between the nonnative teachers and Taiwanese students tend to be neglected.

　

Foreign teachers' expectations for the students are different from Taiwanese teachers' expectations because of the cultural differences.

　

Sometimes the different understandings of culture and English deficiency cause unfortunate misunderstandings between teachers and students. The misunderstandings might in fact not only diminish students' interests for learning English but also disappoint foreign teachers teaching overseas.

　

Language and culture are inseparable. Assisting those foreigners who want to teach English in Taiwan in understanding Taiwanese culture is urgent and essential. Only by knowing the nation's culture, can a foreign teacher guide local students to understand his or her own culture and language. The department of Education in Taiwan should offer courses that are related to Taiwanese culture and moreover, require foreigners to be intern teachers before they can officially be teachers of English in Taiwan. All of these are helpful ways for both nonnative teachers and students to adapt to each other since, after all, teaching is a way of communicating.

Here's Ada's published article

2007-05-29T20:22:00.000-07:00

Click here to go to China Post (You need to scroll down to look for Ada's work)

Due to the positive effects of the national languages development draft law, endangered languages in Taiwan such as Hakka and aboriginal languages have started reviving. The government now wants to build up a society which welcomes every variety of languages because a language is valued as the important heritage of culture, and there should not be judgments on different cultures.

Retrieving the Taiwanese history and the memories of citizens who received education in the early period of restoring Taiwan, languages except Mandarin were suppressed by the government at that time in order to unify the lingua franca and enable the government to release policies. However, the consequences of this strategy brought out serious damages of the balance or the equality between the languages. The local languages such as Taiwanese, Hakka, and aboriginal languages were considered inferior languages and represented subordinate cultures.

　In recent years, the public and the government awakened to the great significance of varied languages. Each language conceals its own remarkable character and uniqueness which has been conveyed from generation to generation, and these languages and cultures are essential to form a genuine Taiwan. After understanding the essence of language equality, the government established the national languages development draft law, and carried the plan out by promoting Hakka Television and Taiwan Indigenous Television, and also encouraged all levels of schools or institutions to provide various national language courses.

In order to create a society with respect for different languages and cultures, citizens in Taiwan must work together with the government. Taiwan will be an ideal country for its residents.

The opinion from Monica Huang

2007-05-29T15:09:00.001-07:00

Dear Editior:
I would like to share my opinion about children's
English with you.
Thank for your time.

Name: Monica Huang 黃佳仁
Address: 高雄縣鳥松鄉明湖路81-6號 4F
Phone Number: 0919174376

_______________________________________________

Is the good decision or just the desire?

In the elementary school, the children from fifth
grades to six grades need to learn English
becaue of the policy of MOE in 2000. The parents
mostly put their children into the English cram
schools for further improvement after school time.
Moreover, some children even lerant
English at the kindergarten period.
The parents simply hope that their children's
English won't fall behind others'. Or, they
think the sooner start of learning English, the better
result of it. However, this kind of thought would
influence the children's interest of learning English.

The children have already endured the pressure that
they have to learn English well from the expectation
of thier parents' hope. If the children didn't learn
English well, their parents may scold at them first
and stop their learning of English in the cram school
for saving money. By doing so, the children may start
to hate English this subject and lose the interest of
learning English.
That is just one kind of situation of children's
English learning. Here I would like to point out that
the parents usually think about the hope on their
children first and then if it reveals the opposite
effects of children's English learning the parents may
awake to that their decisions are not suitable for
their children.
In oreder to lift the children's interest of
learning English, the parents in Taiwan should tell
the reason of learning English to the children first.
Moreover, the parents also pay much attention on
children's mind for learning English not just on the
effect ot learnig English. To care what the children
want is more important than to ask what the children
do.

____________________________________________________________________________________
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Language Policy in Taiwan

2007-05-29T08:17:00.000-07:00

Dear editor:

I would like to express my opinion towards National Languages Development Draft Law.

Thank you!!!

By Henry Wu 0933648558 高雄市鼓山區雄峰里九如四路二○一一號二樓之四

Language Policy in

Taiwan

Following the establishment of National Languages Development Draft Law, language policy in

Taiwan

makes a breakthrough. It also means the equality of language. However, some people regard it as political issue with subjective thought. From the point of "localization and internationalization", the draft law have reached the localization goal in language policy. Internationalization would be the next step.

From the geographical and historical view, Taiwan is an island which has contained multiple languages and cultures. In the early era, some languages, except of Mandarin Chinese, such as Taiwanese, Hakka or aboriginal languages were suppressed by the powerful authorities. And some of them were almost suffered from extinction. The draft law can just retrieve them. It's not something relating to independency, but correct language policy.

With increasing economic development, internationalization has become the fever. English is the global language which more people are learning. Chinese, especially, has been another fever in the world. Taiwanese government should seriously look upon real situation and adjust its strategy in languages. English is second language in Hong Kong and Singapore and it lets them internalize. But people in two cities can still speak Chinese well. They are good examples for

Taiwan

The draft law is a great starting step in "localization". The point should be emphasized is that localization and internationalization are both important. And the authority should search for correct language policy instead of votes.

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letter to editor

2007-05-29T07:29:00.001-07:00

Dear editor ,

I would like to share my opinion with you about "the language policy of Taiwan makes

a burden to Taiwanese student", thank you for your time.

Josie 0910109404 高雄市三民區寶興街36號7樓

_______________________________________________________________________

The language policy of Taiwan makes a burden to Taiwanese students

Taiwanese and other aboriginal languages had already being oppressed for almost one century. Recently, our government has being awake that Taiwanese people has been gradually losing our native languages and our heritage. Therefore, the government actively legislate some language and education-related policies in order to prevent from losing our native languages. Unfortunately, English has gradually become the second language in

Taiwan

and plenty of people deem English as more useful language than our native language.

Although Our Ministry of Education constantly practices revival-language policies and subsume Taiwanese into compulsory subject in school, many of Taiwanese students still consider Taiwanese, Hakaa and other aboriginal languages useless, they even don't know why they have to learn it. It only makes another burden to Taiwanese students. In my point of view, I suggest our government that to reward speaking native languages at homes, in tribes or using their native languages to communicate with their parents or grandparents instead of forcing students to learn native languages and making native languages compulsory subject in schools. The school or government should give the new generation a notion that learning our native languages is simply for maintaining our heritages and preserve our own culture. Making people active in maintaining our native languages is better than making them passive in learning our own languages.

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Language Policy in Taiwan.

2007-05-29T07:13:00.001-07:00

Dear editor:

I would like to express my opinion towards National Languages Development Draft Law.

Thank you!!!

By Henry Wu 0933648558 高雄市鼓山區雄峰里九如四路二○一一號二樓之四

Language Policy in

Taiwan

Following the establishment of National Languages Development Draft Law, language policy in

Taiwan

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Education is not a doll played with the politics

2007-05-29T06:59:00.001-07:00

Dear Editor: I would like to express my opinion about "Gov't to extend

compulsory education to 12 years in 2009: Su" posted on February

28^th, 2007.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely yours,
Helen Tai, Chi

Name: Tai Chi

Phone Number: 0982961390

Address: No.12, Alley 34, Lane 120, Fonghua St., Pingtung City, Pingtung County 900, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

Education is not a doll played with the politics

I believe many people were impressed a lot that President Chen Shui-Bian proclaimed his policy of prolong the obligatory education period to 12 years when running for president in 2000. However, nothing has happened while many of the problems in the current nine-year compulsory education have yet been solved. And now, the same plans just announced by Premier Su, who just officially proclaimed his decision to seek the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's candidacy for the 2008 presidential race, are nothing but "empty plates" without substance. The so-called "Compulsory Education" possess with the intension and spirit of "No Entrant Exams, Free and Obligatory Education." Yet, looking back at our country's financial dilemma, under the straitened circumstance of national financial affairs, I really wonder whether the government has conducted the cost effective analysis or not. If the government has no faith in providing its citizens a good and qualitative education, then stop exploiting education issues with its sights set on the forthcoming presidential election in March next year. Otherwise, it will be a doll-like educational policy mocked by its citizens and do harm to our country.

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Taiwan Quick Take

2007-05-29T06:33:00.001-07:00

Dear. Editor

Responding to the article English course offered　Taipei times　posted on May 27, 2007,

Erika Harada

Kaohsiung city, ling ya district

#14-7

0915-291-455

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/05/27/2003362636 http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/05/27/2003362636

The Ministry of National Defense's Language Center will recruit and train 80 officers to strengthen their English comprehension skills and help the nation in future talks with the US on arms procurement. The ministry said it expects to recruit more military officers who can speak fluent English to facilitate communication with their US counterparts.

In my opinion, this is a great challenge for the Taiwan Government.

Nowadays in Taiwan, many kids start to study English. Their parents spend much money to let their kids learn English. However, there are many Taiwanese who are over 40 years can't speak English actually, even thought the policemen are neither.

From my experience, the policemen catch the foreigner on the road, if he or she just can speak in English. They won't to be report the foreigner. It's because of that the policemen can't speak English and it's so difficult for them to communicate with foreigners.

The military officer train to strength English comprehension skills would be great influence of Taiwanese English studying for elders and women.

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letter to the Editor

2007-05-29T01:18:00.001-07:00

vitachien <vitachien@yahoo.com.tw> 說：

日期: Tue, 29 May 2007 16:15:57 +0800 (CST)
寄件者: vitachien <vitachien@yahoo.com.tw>
主題: letters to the Editor
收件者: opinion@mail.chinapost.com.tw

Dear editor:

I would like to express my opinion about National Languages Development Draft Law, thank you.

BY Vita Chien, 簡婷婉, 0918450329,高雄市三民區大豐二路56巷8號1樓

Can the draft law protect the indigenous languages?

As DPP is in power, they propose several draft laws step by step to protect indigenous languages which are used by variety of ethnic groups in Taiwan, such as acquire elementary school students to learn native languages. However, there are over 20 indigenous languages in Taiwan, if the young generation must learn all of them, it will cause more educational problems.

If languages are not used by human, they will be disappeared. Although our government wants to protect those indigenous languages by laws and acquiring primary school kids compulsorily, those kids don't use native languages which they learn in school in daily life. Parents prefer theirs children's having good English skills to indigenous languages skills. That's the reason why there are plenty of English cram schools. In most of the Taiwan people's minds, having perfect English skills means having competence. We always admire those who speak fluently English, but nobody envies people who have good native languages skills.

English is used around the world but indigenous languages just are spoken in few groups in Taiwan. Taiwan government acquires the young generation to study native languages by force, but the older generation doesn't have any idea about indigenous languages. In my opinion, that our government proposed the national languages development draft law can't solve the problem of extinguishment of indigenous languages. This draft law just scratches the surface of this problem. How to teach the Taiwanese to pay much attention to our own cultures and languages is more important than to draft the laws to protect languages.

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letters to the Editor

2007-05-29T01:15:00.000-07:00

Dear editor:

I would like to express my opinion about National Languages Development Draft Law, thank you.

BY Vita Chien, 簡婷婉, 0918450329,高雄市三民區大豐二路56巷8號1樓

Can the draft law protect the indigenous languages?

As DPP is in power, they propose several draft laws step by step to protect indigenous languages which are used by variety of ethnic groups in Taiwan, such as acquire elementary school students to learn native languages. However, there are over 20 indigenous languages in Taiwan, if the young generation must learn all of them, it will cause more educational problems.

If languages are not used by human, they will be disappeared. Although our government wants to protect those indigenous languages by laws and acquiring primary school kids compulsorily, those kids don't use native languages which they learn in school in daily life. Parents prefer theirs children's having good English skills to indigenous languages skills. That's the reason why there are plenty of English cram schools. In most of the Taiwan people's minds, having perfect English skills means having competence. We always admire those who speak fluently English, but nobody envies people who have good native languages skills.

English is used around the world but indigenous languages just are spoken in few groups in Taiwan. Taiwan government acquires the young generation to study native languages by force, but the older generation doesn't have any idea about indigenous languages. In my opinion, that our government proposed the national languages development draft law can't solve the problem of extinguishment of indigenous languages. This draft law just scratches the surface of this problem. How to teach the Taiwanese to pay much attention to our own cultures and languages is more important than to draft the laws to protect languages.

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My opinion about Cabinet finalizes draft law on nat'l language development

2007-05-28T22:58:00.001-07:00

Dear Editor,

I'd like to express my opinion about Cabinet finalizes draft law on
nat'l language development posted on May 17th, 2007.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely yours,
Poki Hsiao, Fang-Chia

Name: Hsiao Fang-Chia
Phone No.: 0956445870
Address: 6F.-2, No.321, Guanghua 1st Rd., Lingya District, Kaohsiung
City 802, Taiwan

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
　　　　　　　　A renaissance of endangered languages
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Poki Hsiao

People in Taiwan often underline the importance of Mandarin,
and ignore the importance of any other national languages, such as
Taiwanese or Hakka etc. Even worse, they (especially teenagers) look
down on national languages and think national languages are vulgar
languages. It shouldn't be done like that. Therefore, making the laws
related to the development of national languages is an important way
to avoid this kind of condition.
Taiwan is the country of freedom, so it's impossible to make
national languages suppressed. Languages are an important cultural
heritage. When a language dies, it means that the culture of a
language will disappear. So it's necessary to protect the equality and
variety of languages.
Besides making the laws, education is an important way to
promote the development of national languages as well. If students are
not taught to emphasize on the importance of developing national
languages, how could students respect language variety? If students
are not taught the speaking, writing and listing knowledge of national
languages, how could students preserve the heritage of endangered
native languages? It's everyone's duty to promote the development of
national languages.

letter to editor

2007-05-28T12:13:00.001-07:00

Dear Editor,

I would like to share my opinion about the article " All languages are equal, Su says" posted on 2007/3/21

Fang Hung-Ning 方虹甯

高雄市三民區鼎力路197號5樓 0934055969

*** *** *** ***

All languages are equal.

Mandarin has been taken an important part in

Taiwan

for 50 years. The Government which directed by the Chinese Nationalist Party treated Mandarin as an official language. People at that time were abridged not to speak other language expect Mandarin in the language policy. People used Mandarin to communicate without any choice. Because of this policy of against all languages apart from Mandarin, many languages and dialect had been died. Many ethnic groups like A-mei or Tai, their mother tongue could not preserve by the generations.

Several years passed, the language policy was not administered anymore after the political changing. The government also tries to preserve the native languages in Taiwan or the Aboriginal languages with a series of policies. The government promotes the native languages in the country should be preserve instead of replaced although there's only one official language. In nowadays, Mandarin is not the only one native language which flowing in Taiwan. There are several native languages been spoken in Taiwan such as Taiwanese, Hakka or other ethnic group languages. They are equal in Taiwan. People freely to use the language they belong or they prefer.

Furthermore, the identity of the language and culture are raised gradually. For instance, Local Taiwanese style( 台客風) has been a hot issue in recent years. Many young people even older people tend to approve the style. This pheromone in the past wasn't popular in Taiwan. People had the stereotype that the more similar behavior of local style; the lower impression you would have.

However, in nowadays, people tend to explore their own identities and proud of the language they use. No mater which language you use, that is the unique identity you provide and the way you live with. The language you speak is based on which culture you share with. It shows your own value, spirit and specializes. To sum up, the native languages could show the background culture of the country. Therefore, all the languages in Taiwan are equal and should be protect by people. People would learn the respect of different languages or dialects.

___________________________________________________
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my opinion

2007-05-28T09:58:00.000-07:00

Dear Editor,

I would like to share my opinion about the article "Teaching other classes in English not very practical" posted on 2007/4/7

Huang Yen-Chia 黃彥嘉

台南縣七股鄉看坪村3-10 號

0929050051

I agree that speaking English in classes should help lift Taiwan's general level of English proficiency. To ask students to communicate in English in English-related subjects, or where English is needed, such as hotel management or international trade, is perfectly acceptable as well as expected. However, I personally believe that to ask that of students in other class subjects is virtually unrealistic.

Of course all occupations require some English, but only to a limited extent. So what about those who don't need to use English? To ask those students to use English as their main form of communication in all classes is basically torture. Most have given up on English. By instructing them to spend so many hours listening and speaking it is intimidating and demeaning. That kind of stress will only lead to loss of faith in oneself. Is that what we really want our future generation to be like?

Also, we must also take into consideration - for an island so small, we have too many universities. Almost anybody can go to university. If we could somewhat return to basics, in which only those who are bright enough, who work hard enough, or who are serious enough can get a university degree. Maybe then, our government funding can be centered solely on those students.

However, Taiwan being as it is now, perhaps if schools instituted English conversation classes as "required" classes, along with requiring all students to pass internationally acclaimed exams such as the TOEFL or TOEIC in order to get their diplomas, maybe then students will take their education more seriously. If students are serious about their education, only then will Taiwan have hope. And maybe we shall be pleasantly surprised to see Taiwan's general English proficiency and skills gradually lift and soar

my opinion

2007-05-28T09:54:00.000-07:00

opinion about "English exam for candidates aj oke?"

2007-05-28T09:09:00.001-07:00

Dear Editor,

I would like to share my opinion about "English exam for candidates a joke" by Daniel J. Bauer.

Chen, Shou-Chen 陳守真

600嘉義市嘉北街12巷20號六樓之二

0922500789

"Education" or "English learning" is always the topics that would be mentioned in election campaign. What have mentioned about English Education really touched my heart. In my opinion, English proficiency is over emphasized here in Taiwan. Moreover, people have wrong consumption about English proficiency. Even though English is an important language or a medium for people to communicate, our government has made language policy that students should start to learn English in elementary school. I totally agree with what Mr. Bauer has mentioned about the English education here in

Taiwan

. Students are asked to remember complicated grammar and vocabulary when learning English, instead of really put what they have learned into practice. Most parents care about whether their children perform well in the test or not, they even send their children to cram school in order to get an earlier beginning of English learning. That is the reason why our students gradually became the world class athletes in The Examination Olympics. However, is performing well in English tests equals to good English speaker? I really doubt about that. Therefore, learning English is important but should not be over emphasized. English learning styles should be changed. Instead of learning complicated vocabulary or grammar, students should learn English in practical uses. Instead of only performing well in English test, they should learn to perform English well in daily life.

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Language Right in Taiwan

2007-05-28T04:56:00.001-07:00

Here to talk about the "Language Right" in Taiwan, I can't help thinking about the fallacy of native speakers in

Taiwan

students and people's mind. As an English teacher in cram school, I feel that the students are sometimes misled to misconception of foreign teachers are more professional and have good pronunciation than teachers who learn the language in their own country. Therefore, there are many cram schools now hiring typical white American-accented foreigners as a mean of attracting more students. Because the demand of the market, employers hire those foreigners base on their born places and races. Parents in Taiwan want their children to take the best education and have the chance to associate with foreign culture by contacting with foreigners. The question is, do foreigners, especially "Americans", really have more vivid teaching experiences and grammar teaching skills than teachers who had their education in specialized schools? I think valuing a person's ability doesn't depend on his/her races or identity. People who aren't born American can speak English well, and maybe they can teach English well, too. Although America now is on of the dominant countries leading in the world, we still have to respect people's abilities in English of other countries. Everyone has the right in speaking language whether he/she is a native speaker.

Name: Alice Chen

Address: 2F., No. 12-1, Lane 574, Jhonglun 2^nd Rd., Fongshan City, Kaohsiung County 830, Taiwan (R.O.C)

Phone number: Home: (07)7535740

Mobile Phone: 0989114733

Alice is EVERYWHERE!!

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letter to the editor

2007-05-28T02:21:00.001-07:00

Comment on "Public figures should have the right to privacy"

by Chou, Chiu-yun

073818832

高雄市三民區應安街211巷32號

Should public figures have the right to privacy? The answer is definitely yes.

Even though the media has its duty and function to monitor the public figures, I do not think anyone should have the unlimited freedom of speech. In my opinion, the freedom of speech should be based on the principle that no one is hurt. This includes both physical and psychological condition.

Maybe a person's private life style to some extend represents his/her characteristic and morality, and would have impact on the performance of his job, it does not mean that the media has the right to overly trace their private lives. Imagine the scene in the movie "The Truman Show", how terrible and sad if the character become ourselves one day!

I strongly recommend that everyone should treat each other as the way you want to be treated. Only with the limited freedom of speech, can everybody learn to respect each other and be responsible for their own words.

All-English Learning Environment in Taiwan's English Language School

2007-05-28T00:37:00.001-07:00

Dear Editor:

I'd like to express my opinion about the situation of Taiwan's English language school of all-English learning environment.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely your,

Irene Lin, Su-Juan

Name: Lin Su-Juan

Phone No.: 0912985765

Address: 5F-3, No.302, Yin-Yi Str.,Lin-Ya District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan

All-English Learning Environment in Taiwan's English Language School

"No Chinese, English only." This is always heard in Taiwan's English language schools. Now, this kind of policy also applies in Taiwan's universities where both teachers and students are supposed to speak English in classroom.

This would be a good way for students to speak more English since they can only use English as the communication tool in class or during the break time. But, it would not be an efficient way to really lift students' English level of proficiency.

One of the biggest reasons is that students' ability to understand English. When teaching or explaining the contexts' meanings or grammar points in English, it is always a concern that whether students can catch on the points. If not, teachers may use English to do it all over again, or just explain in Chinese which would be a fast way. After all, there would not be 100 percent all-English learning environment.

On the other hand, some students are afraid of making mistakes when speaking English thus they do not talk more in class. Then, would this kind of policy reduce their willing to speak or talk in classroom.

Moreover, for some younger English learners, wouldn't it be possible that they have an idea that speaking Chinese is bad thus we are forbidden to do so. Namely, is Chinese inferior to English?

What is important is that students' ability to comprehend the language. There are other ways to improve their speaking ability, such as more conversation practice in class. Students would be much happier and willing to speak English.

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Letters to the Editor

2007-05-27T09:48:00.000-07:00

the Opinion about Hiring Foreign Teachers in Taiwan

2007-05-27T09:31:00.001-07:00

Dear Editor,

I'd like to express my opinion about the problem of hiring foreign teachers in Taiwan. Thank you for the time.

Sincerely yours,

Charlene Wu, Hsiao-Ling

Name: Wu, Hsiao-Ling

Address: No. 2-1, Lane 17, Alley 635, Ting - Chung Rd, San - Min Area, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan

Phone No. 0919343359

Another Viewpoint of Hiring Foreign Teachers

As everybody knows that the topic about hiring foreign teachers is good or not is popular in

Taiwan

. Some people say that foreign teachers are beneficial to children's English pronunciation and writing, but some say it's difficult to examine the foreign teachers' moral standing and qualification. In this verbal battle, the cultural difference between the nonnative teachers and Taiwanese students tend to be neglected.

Foreign teachers' expectations for the students are different from Taiwanese teachers' expectations because of the cultural difference. For example, not raising hands in class could be regarded as undedicated and inactive and not to mention the students have to use a foreign language to communicate with their nonnative teachers. Sometimes the different cognation of culture and English deficiency could cause unfortunate misunderstandings between the teachers and students. Actually, the misunderstandings could not only diminish students' interests for learning English but also disappoint foreign teachers for teaching overseas.

Language and culture are unrepeatable. To assist those foreigners who want to teach English in Taiwan to understand Taiwanese culture is urgent and essential. Only by knowing the nation's culture, the foreign teacher could guide the local students to understand his own culture and language. The department for Education in Taiwan should offer the courses that are related to Taiwanese culture and moreover, require the foreigners to be intern teachers before they can officially be teachers of English in Taiwan. All of these are helpful for both nonnative teachers and students to adapt to each other since teaching is a way of communicating.

___________________________________________________
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Responding to "Taiwan parents want English as official 2nd language"

2007-05-27T08:52:00.001-07:00

Dear Editor,

I am going to respond to the news "

Taiwan

parents want English as official 2nd language."

According to findings of a survey that released last year, up to 80% of Taiwanese parents want government to make English the second official language of

Taiwan

. However, although this result shows that most of Taiwanese have already recognized that English is very important in

Taiwan

now,

Taiwan

students, compare to the other students in Asia, still do not have outstanding TOEFL scores. Beside that, Taiwanese do not perform well in the TOEIC test as well, which shows that we have many English cram schools in Taiwan and children start to learn English on the 3^rd grade of elementary school, but the English ability of Taiwanese are still not improved.

In my opinion, Taiwanese always lack of competitiveness in English ability, because our English education policy has many flaws. Many English cram schools are teaching English just for helping people pass the exams. Therefore, people memorize a mass of vocabulary, and grammar rules, but most of them don't really know how to use it in their daily lives, and they don't even have chances to use it. Accordingly, Taiwanese do not have good scores on TOEFL, because it divides into many different parts, like speaking, writing and so on. Even if people have learned abundant of vocabulary and grammar, they don't have fluent English speaking and writing ability, so they still cannot have high score on this kind of professional English exam.

Therefore, I think, our English education policy cannot just focus on passing exams. It should be livelier and more useful. For instance, we can give students not only writing tests, but also oral tests, and they can learn how to use English among themselves other than just "on the paper.", which can not only enhance their English ability but also increase their confidence to speak English. We can start to do it from now to ensure that our next generation can have higher competitiveness in English ability.

By 陳怡靜 0937365894 高市左營區文莊路72

所有手機流行鈴聲、可愛彩圖和精采遊戲，一手搞定！

the Ideological Language Policy in Taiwan by Richard Lin

2007-05-27T06:02:00.001-07:00

Dear Editor,

I'd like to express my opinion about the Ideological Language Policy in Taiwan .

Thank you for the time.

Sincerely yours,
Richard Lin Ren-Jia

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --

Name: Lin Ren-Jia
Address: No.147, Sec. 3, Baoda Rd., Gueiren Township, Tainan County 711, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Phone No. (06) 2710766
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -

(responding to the article Su wants action on language bill posted on March 21nd, 2007)

The Ideological Language Policy in Taiwan

Richard Lin

Language is usually regarded as a political topic in Taiwan . The fact is even more obvious when it comes to election in Taiwan . Many politicians try hard to learn as many local languages as possible to win their election. Some politicians also considered that they can build a good relationship with local residents or aboriginal tribes by learning local languages. Thus languages can be served as a kind of identity as well as nation's cultures. In the past, we were not allowed to speak our own mother tongues other than Mandarin Chinese under Chiang's ruling. Due to the fact that government compels all the citizens to use only one language, Mandarin Chinese, many languages including Taiwanese, Hakka or aboriginal languages were oppressed. It is this policy that makes us feel confused about the meaning between "national language" and "official language." Also, after the length of time these languages were being suppressed, many original languages in Taiwan nearly suffered from extinction. Especially in modern society, many Hakka speakers turned out that they cannot speak their mother tongue fluently. I believe that it is the wrong language policy made by former ruling party, KMT.

However, when DDP was in power during 2001, they started to promote Southern Min as Taiwan 's national languages, and intending to elevate Taiwanese dialect to the status of "national language." The DDP government also established a bill called the "national languages development draft law," which is aimed at protecting the equality and variety of languages used by different ethnic groups. Still, the attempt to make Hoklo, Hakka and Aboriginal languages become a course in elementary and junior high schools nationwide seems to arouse complains and critiques among KMT officials and parents. The revival of mother tongues has become such a controversial issue that many even doubt the policy is another political concern regarding de-Sinicize Taiwan, winning support of ethnic minorities, or getting rid of guo Yu. Yet, the most difficulty to impose the "national language courses" on school curriculum is lack of qualified teachers and the rooted idea that only those subjects for college entrance exam should be valued.

The language policy in Taiwan suffers from political ideology seriously both under KMT or DDP's ruling. Either party has its own reasoning or persistence in what should be the language that best represents and symbolizes Taiwanese identity. Taiwan 's language policy is now falling apart. Thus, as a citizen on the island, we should trace back to the essence of our mother tongue. The continual arguments about which language is better are totally useless and may make the problem worse. Actually, language should not be treated or discussed from political point of view.

___________________________________________________
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The opinion of language policy in education system

2007-05-27T02:46:00.001-07:00

Dear editor:

I would like to express my opinion about the entrance exam on this weekend. Thanks.

By Lillian Huang 0953768852 from 3F., No.7, Lane 1, Sanmin St., Xizhi City, Taipei County 221, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

The opinion of language policy in education system.

The burning hot weather has put more difficulty on our juniors, their three-year contemporary future were decided in this weekend. What's different is new composition test. It is the track back to take the score of composition into rank. I would say it's a key point to put efforts on our dying Mandarin. There is nothing overstating on dying, in fact that our traditional beauty of words has faded and simplified on net and dairy usage. The score was evaluated on organization of thinking, the accuracy of word chosen, expressing suitable and also clear and clean in writing. An article piled up what they learn, expressed how their depth and what's missing in inheritance.

The fact of backsliding of Chinese has been the hot issue in education system. Relatively, the timing to learn English or revival endanger language have sometimes became the reasons which resulted in our backsliding. In my opinion, hours of Chinese class are subjected from both reasons. However, the real factors made our Chinese level worsen are the disappearance of our passion for our Mandarin identity and the lost of self-identity in Western culture.

Japanese fashion, American spirit and Korean soap opera have changed youth's preference and invaded our culture. Movie, music and fashion industry replaced traditional ones; magazines replaced books. The trend has became that simple is better and try to be humorous. There is nothing wrong in simplified or humorous expression but in it's occupation on their way of learning day by day. Foreign culture is better than ours then forming their new identity which is open-mined and confident and differs from being medium.

It is good to learn merits from foreign culture but it is shame to lose what's we own and something we should be proud of. Those are our almost six-thousand history and the beauty of Chinese. I really appreciate this development of our language policy in education system and it is a chance to let parents and students face their lack then made up for what's they lost.

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MandyChung's leditorial etter

2007-05-27T01:10:00.001-07:00

鍾慧親 0965796796 高雄縣鳳一市慈暉新村四巷二十八號

Responding to the article Council plans to revitalize languages posted on May 12, 2007,

In recent year, not only Taiwanese language but also indigenous language revitalization plans were launched in most of elementary schools in Taiwan. Taiwan's government also emphasized the importance of learning Taiwanese language. Moreover, when listening to ICRT, I could still learn a few Hakka language from it. I think that it is a good action to pass down that variety of languages from extinct crisis though it was too late for me.

In order to help the students acquire native language or Taiwanese language as they are young, nativist education (鄉土教學) courses are valued highly by every elementary school now. Because the students have chances to know about natural history, geography, environment, dialects, art and culture of Taiwan, they might cherish Taiwanese, Hakka or indigenous language left and arouse their interests to learn one of them actively but reluctantly.

However, this change is too late for me because nativist education was useless for our generation. Since I was an elementary student, nativist education was one of my learning courses in school schedule. Ironically, I never had any actual nativist education class in school, though I paid the same tuition fee indeed as these students nowadays, I also bought the text books for each semesters. Finally, I had no any idea about this course in my memory or proficiency in Taiwanese language.

At that time, this kind of class such as nativist education, Boy Scout classes were frequently replaced by mathematics, Chinese subjects or used to make up classes among the teachers. The students had no choice to say no, and these educators even didn't give me chances to experience Taiwan's varieties and different languages. In addition, the most pity thing for me is that it is too late to realize the importance of Taiwanese language. Therefore, among the peers, I am one of the people who speak very poor Taiwanese language though I keep learning it hard.

As Taiwan government perceived the threat of native languages, the nativist education was eventually appreciated and emphasized by today's educators. At the same time, it opened a door for these young students to take up their own language. Thus, in spite of the mainstream of learning English language, we should be proud of our languages and put the socio-economic of language aside. Only to respect our language legacies can make other people respect Taiwan.

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Ada's Editorial Letter

2007-05-27T00:43:00.001-07:00

A New Era for Language Equality in Taiwan

Due to the positive effects of the national languages development draft law, the endangered languages in Taiwan such as Hakka and aboriginal languages has started reviving. The government now wants to build up a society which welcomes every variety of languages because a language is valued as the important heritage of culture, and there should not be judgments on different cultures.

Retrieving the Taiwanese history and the memories of citizens who received education in the early period of restoring Taiwan, languages expect Mandarin were suppressed by the government at that time in order to unify the lingua franca and enable the government to release policies. However, the consequences of this strategy brought out serious damages of the balance or the equality between the languages. The local languages such as Taiwanese, Hakka, and aboriginal languages were considered as inferior languages and represented subordinate cultures.

In recent years, the public and the government awaken great significance of varied languages. Each language conceals its own remarkable character and uniqueness which has been conveyed from generation to generation, and these languages and cultures are essentials to form genuine

Taiwan

. After understanding the essence of language equality, the government established the national languages development draft law, and carried the plan out by promoting Hakka Television and Taiwan Indigenous Television, and also encouraged all levels of schools or institutions to provide various national language courses.

In order to create a society with respect for different languages and cultures, citizens in Taiwan must work together with the government. Taiwan will be an ideal country for its residents.

所有手機流行鈴聲、可愛彩圖和精采遊戲，一手搞定！

Ada's Editorial Letter

2007-05-27T00:42:00.001-07:00

所有手機流行鈴聲、可愛彩圖和精采遊戲，一手搞定！

How do you treat English, a subject or a language?

2007-05-26T11:41:00.001-07:00

(responding to the article Teaching other classes in English not very practical posted in April 7th)

How do you treat English, a subject or a language?

May

Nowadays English ability has become a very important ability in the education. Parents are willing to pay more as long as it will improve children's English. According to the government's policy, the age of learning English has lowered from 12 to 9. Most children even learned earlier when they are in kindergarten.

We have so many lessons and teaching materials to help people learn English. But why people in Taiwan today still afraid to speak, write, and even listen to English?

As an English major student in a language school and due to my part time experience as an English tutor, I realized that the key point is because we treat it as a subject, not a tool of communication. Even have I learned the language for over 12 years since elementary school, I still feel the same way until I discover how this idea affects our attitude toward learning English. We only use the language when we are at school; we only write the language on the exam paper, we only speak the language during the English speech classes. If we treat it as a subject and don't relate the language to any practical usage, how can we improve anything besides books?

In Singapore or Hong Kong, they use English as their second language which makes them get used to express their ideas in English. I believe if people in Taiwan are willing to use English in daily life, the difficulty to learn a new language will be decreased, or even disappeared.

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Letters to the Editor

2007-05-26T09:57:00.001-07:00

Dear editor:

I would like to express my opinion about the opinion towards national languages development act.

Thanks.

By Ann Lin from Kaohsiung 0933586465 高市三民區建興路123巷12弄4號

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Opinion of Approval of National Languages Development Draft Law

Recently the "national language development draft law is granted by the premier Su and it occurs many doubts. The content of the draft makes people confuse about the purpose of act and the linguists also think that it's a desk study without real actions. Some legislatives even suspect that the act is to get rid of guo yu for solidating the political power of DDP. However, one member of the committee stated that the purpose of restoring and respecting all the natural languages in Taiwan is the continuation of the language equality act because Taiwan has been elected as one of places of vanishing of native languages.

In order to prevent the argument of "official languages", all natural languages are being recognized as national languages. Actually the gradual loss of native languages appeared long time ago, especially under the circumstance of globalization and political influences, the growth and the decline of all native languages in Taiwan can be seen in the daily usage of language by people. And guo yu and English become major used languages in Taiwan.

However, the government once tried to launch policies for restoring native languages, such as nativist program in the elementary schools. The effort doesn't seem work out on the students as far as the utility of native languages couldn't compete with English and guo yu. The approval of the national language development draft law only makes chaos in educational system while the MOE hasn't work out a plan to match it and this also lead the gradual loss of interest in learning of native languages of students. Therefore, the government should establish a united system for people to adjust and preserve the native languages instead of fighting for political power.

Test-oriented policy of English learning suffocates the learners¡¦ creativity

2007-05-26T06:04:00.000-07:00

Dear Editor,

I'd like to express my opinion about the recent fever of English proficiency
tests in Taiwan. Thank you for the time.

Sincerely yours,
Frances Huang Mei-Tzu

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Name: Huang Mei-Tzu

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Test-oriented policy of English learning suffocates the learners¡¦
creativity

The education system in Taiwan is famous for its test-oriented policy, where
students must go on an arduous journey of entrance exams to approach to a
higher level of schooling. Inevitably, this rationale has been imposed upon
evaluating students¡¦ English proficiency level and gradually suffocates
their creative linguistic production. Many of the students become
well-trained test-takers who don¡¦t really enjoy the process of leaning
English, let alone appreciate the beauty of language itself. Alas, that is
indeed a tragedy to me, a lover of English.

The ¡§testing¡¨ phenomenon becomes worse when the government officially
promotes GEPT ¡V general English proficiency test. The ideal purpose of GEPT
was to recognize the importance of English in Taiwan and encourage folks to
learn it well. However, the reality turns into putting the cart before the
horse. Most parents in Taiwan have this fear that their children might not
be competitive with others, so eagerly, they send their children to the
test-training courses where numerous test examples are provided, answering
skills are cleverly taught, and the students are effectively trained.

The test results might be satisfactory, but the competence to master and use
the language would be limited. The weakness comes to the surface when
learners encounter the moments that they need to use English in reality.
Students who study abroad are evident examples. Many of them, with the help
of test-training courses, are able to pass the required tests. Later, they
find themselves grapple with their academic and social lives overseas
because everything goes beyond the materials that they are familiar with in
the tests. Language creativity is much more important than the results shown
in scores. Learning English actively with intrinsic motivation enhances
language creativity. There are efficient ways to learn English well other
than taking proficiency tests as ultimate goals. Let the horse lead the cart
and it will be able to take us to the destination where we are able to
freely express ourselves.

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Test-oriented policy of English learning suffocates the learners' creativity by Frances Huang

2007-05-26T05:53:00.001-07:00

Name: Frances Huang Mei-Tzu

Address: 7F, No. 221, Zhong-Dong St. Xin-Xing Area, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan

Phone No. 0987376668

Test-oriented policy of English learning suffocates the learners' creativity

The education system in Taiwan is famous for its test-oriented policy, where students must go on an arduous journey of entrance exams to approach to a higher level of schooling. Inevitably, this rationale has been imposed upon evaluating students' English proficiency level and gradually suffocates their creative linguistic production. Many of the students become well-trained test-takers who don't really enjoy the process of leaning English, let alone appreciate the beauty of language itself. Alas, that is indeed a tragedy to me, a lover of English.

The "testing" phenomenon becomes worse when the government officially promotes GEPT – general English proficiency test. The ideal purpose of GEPT was to recognize the importance of English in Taiwan and encourage folks to learn it well. However, the reality turns into putting the cart before the horse. Most parents in Taiwan have this fear that their children might not be competitive with others, so eagerly, they send their children to the test-training courses where numerous test examples are provided, answering skills are cleverly taught, and the students are effectively trained.

The test results might be satisfactory, but the competence to master and use the language would be limited. The weakness comes to the surface when learners encounter the moments that they need to use English in reality. Students who study abroad are evident examples. Many of them, with the help of test-training courses, are able to pass the required tests. Later, they find themselves grapple with their academic and social lives overseas because everything goes beyond the materials that they are familiar with in the tests. Language creativity is much more important than the results shown in scores. Learning English actively with intrinsic motivation enhances language creativity. There are efficient ways to learn English well other than taking proficiency tests as ultimate goals. Let the horse lead the cart and it will be able to take us to the destination where we are able to freely express ourselves.

Test-oriented policy of English learning suffocates the learners' creativity by Frances Huang

2007-05-26T05:53:00.000-07:00

Name: Frances Huang Mei-Tzu

Address: 7F, No. 221, Zhong-Dong St. Xin-Xing Area, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan

Phone No. 0987376668

Test-oriented policy of English learning suffocates the learners' creativity

The education system in Taiwan is famous for its test-oriented policy, where students must go on an arduous journey of entrance exams to approach to a higher level of schooling. Inevitably, this rationale has been imposed upon evaluating students' English proficiency level and gradually suffocates their creative linguistic production. Many of the students become well-trained test-takers who don't really enjoy the process of leaning English, let alone appreciate the beauty of language itself. Alas, that is indeed a tragedy to me, a lover of English.

The test results might be satisfactory, but the competence to master and use the language would be limited. The weakness comes to the surface when learners encounter the moments that they need to use English in reality. Students who study abroad are evident examples. Many of them, with the help of test-training courses, are able to pass the required tests. Later, they find themselves grapple with their academic and social lives overseas because everything goes beyond the materials that they are familiar with in the tests. Language creativity is much more important than the results shown in scores. Learning English actively with intrinsic motivation enhances language creativity. There are efficient ways to learn English well other than taking proficiency tests as ultimate goals. Let the horse lead the cart and it will be able to take us to the destination where we are able to freely express ourselves.

test

2007-05-22T16:58:00.001-07:00

test

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Contributors for Androgynous Male

2007-01-08T06:13:00.000-08:00

Trisha Hsiao

Frances

Richard

Contributors for Just Walk on By

2007-01-08T05:54:00.000-08:00

Reluctant Marginalization by Trisha Hsiao

Wendy

Irene Lin

Annie

Lisa

Frances

Richard

Contributors for 'Joy that Kills'

2007-01-08T05:07:00.000-08:00

Cassidy Huang

Trisha Hsiao

Richard Lin

Wei Fu Hsieh

Jill

Gender and Politeness, Politeness Strategies

2007-01-08T05:02:00.000-08:00

Selected Papers for Gender and Politeness, Politeness Strategies are:

Richard Lin

Lisa Hsu

Ada

Trisha Hsiao

Poki Hsiao

Wei Fu Hsieh

Contributors for 'A Crisis of Masculinity and Male Bashing"

2006-11-08T18:42:00.000-08:00

Frances Huang

Richard Lin

Frances Huang's A new definition of Manhood

2006-11-08T18:41:00.000-08:00

Frances Huang
YE4A 1094100030
A crisis of Masculinity and Male Bashing 2006/10/25

A New Definition for Manhood

Things change so the world improves (or corrupts) and especially the ideas related to humanity are always “in flux”. The fixed definition of manhood can be found in the dictionaries - for reference only. Just like the roles of women have changed due to various social factors, the meaning of manhood has also been adjusted to harmonize with the new definition of the role of women. Men used to be the main financial support of the family, but women are capable of creating fortunes now. Men used to be physically stronger then women, but due to industrialization, city men hardly need to use their muscles now. Also, it is very common that men wish to marry financially-independent women so that they can pay the mortgage together. In order to avoid the irrelevant ideas about manhood, the definition of manhood in the dictionaries definitely needs to be revised.

“Medieval knights” and “heroes from movies” sound very romantic and attractive, but are not realistic. Modern women are strong enough to live independently and heroes as saviors to women usually appear in movies only. The popular “male-warrior role models” nowadays is called “Neo-fine man”. This type of men has “the spirit of a knight”. They are not necessarily handsome, but they pay attention to details. They don’t ride horses, but they do housework. They don’t dance with swords, but they take care of children. They don’t wear armors, but they wear smiles. The living style of urban citizens has changed a lot, so have the roles of men and women. It doesn’t matter how the roles have changed. The important thing is that men and women could live together peacefully.

However, male-bashing becomes another challenge for men. The main audience of TV commercials and situation comedies are women. Of course, the producers will produce ideas like male-bashing to please their female target market and make good profits out of women’s consensus of “It’s all his fault! Ha ha...”. Women could somehow express their emotions through making fun of men. These commercials or situation comedies provide a good outlet for women’s anger (or maybe other emotions) toward men. They don’t really do any harm to men-and-women relationships, men probably will also have a good laugh out of it if they ever watch these commercials and comedies.

I’ve done a brief survey (only five subjects and three questions) to understand more about what men think of the feminist movement and male bashing. Three of them don’t think it’s fair to describe all men with “Men know nothing about love.”. One of them agreed that some men actually don’t know how to love. And the last one answered, “I will examine myself if I, as a man, have this problem.” Also, all of them think the feminist movement is quite a positive thing, since it means that women are independent and don’t have to rely on men. Interestingly, opposite to the stereotype of “males aren’t communicative”, four out of five choose to sit down and talk to women when problems occur. From this result (if they are really honest), I think the definition of manhood has really changed and men are less self-centered than in the past.

Richard's Essay on "Crisis of Masculinity and Male Bashing"

2006-11-08T18:37:00.000-08:00

YE4A 1094100028 Richard Lin

A Crisis of Masculinity and Male Bashing

The definition of "manhood" is in flux. Every historical era, in fact, seems to have been conflicted over the correct definition of manhood. In the late 19th century, it was the end of the frontier that was bemoaned as signaling the end of manhood. American men lost their freedom to do what he wants. Second, the industrialization and the great migration from farm to city were also changing men’s relation to their work. Before the Civil War, 88 percent of American males were small farmers or independent artisans or small businessmen. But by 1910, less than one-third of all men were self-employed. World War I represented another crisis for the male image. Americans were shocked when nearly half the recruits were physically or mentally disqualified for military service. American men in 19th and 20th centuries were having trouble meeting male demands. (Dunkel & Pialorsi, 2005, p66-P67)

One of the articles in Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero with A Thousand Faces” mentioned that “ the hero as warrior, the hero as lover, the hero as emperor and as tyrant, the hero as world redeemer, the hero as saint.” Take Shih Ming-teh for example, Shih is a well-known political prisoner from the days of martial law. Shih is currently organizing a political protest seeking to overthrow the ROC president Chen Shui-bian in an effort to force Chen to resign. He is regarded by many pan-blue people as a hero. Shih was also seen as a brave warrior to fight against the powerful government. Actually, the male-warrior role models cannot become popular without reasons. It reflects the fears and desires of men. It is also created to help reproduce a new brand of toughness. It seems that men can get in touch with their inner masculine selves by involving with this issues all together. Wild at Heart is another very popular book by John Eldredge published in 2001, on the subject of the role of masculinity. John Eldredge has become famous for his "Wild at Heart," which says that a man needs "an adventure to live, a battle to fight, and a beauty to rescue." Regardless of the male-warrior models in movies, games, or books, they all focus on the personal triumph of the hero (Odysseus), a tale about the power of the rugged male individual (mission impossible), and rescue of women to gain affection from them (Trojan War).

On television, we are more likely to find men in action and drama roles and less likely to find them in situation comedies and soap operas. Men are also more likely than woman to be portrayed as having high-status jobs and are less likely to be shown in the home. Producers are likely to portray men as more dominant than women and as more prone to engage in violence. In situation comedies, men are more likely to disparage women than vice versa, but overall men are more often the object of humor or disparagement. They are even portrayed as selfish, lazy, and inconsiderate husbands and poor parents. The commercials in between aren't any better. Among them: A family game ad: A stupid guy and beautiful woman are playing Trivial Pursuit. He asks her, "How much does the average man's brain weigh?" Her answer: "Not much." Even simple camera techniques used on women and men seem to differ. Television camera shots are more likely to feature women’s entire bodies while more often showing men in close-ups of only their faces. I have a feeling that there is a sense of guilt on men today. We are not allowed to be proud of what we are. If I get promotion or any other accomplishment, it must be because of my maleness. That may have been true years ago, but things have changed, times have changed, the workforce and social norms have changed. In fact, I refuse to feel guilty for being who I am.

Students' articles on Political Correctness

2006-10-26T19:08:00.000-07:00

Luke's views on Political Correctness

Irene's views on 'The Word Police'

Richard Lin's article on Politcal Correctness

Trisha Hsiao's article, 'The Word Police'

Frances Huang's article, PC Movement- the cure or the placebo?

Frances Huang's article, PC Movement- the cure or the placebo?

2006-10-26T18:38:00.000-07:00

PC Movement – the Cure or the Placebo?

As the consciousness of ethnicity and feminism arises during the past decades, political correctness has become a please-pay-attention issue in society. Avoiding the usage of discriminative expressions shows consideration to mankind and concern of equality, which reflects the progress of humanity. However, the world itself is after all not perfect. Over emphasizing PC is like persuading ourselves that the world is full of peace and prosperity by eliminating words such as crime, rape, or hunger. Words can be replaced by sound-better alternatives, but the social problems will not go away as easy as that.

Also, I consider overwhelming PC as being condescending, which sometimes turns out to be hypocritical and might make people uncomfortable. This article reminds me of another article in this book “You’re Short, Besides!”. Sucheng Chan is a “physically-challenged” woman who calls herself a “cripple”. She neither sees herself different from other people nor searches for the protection of PC. On the contrary, people’s politeness toward her makes her uncomfortable. That’s true, being too polite causes confusion and distance. The art of speech is that you say what you mean and mean what you say, of course without the intention of hurting others. The real freedom is in one’s heart, not the words.

Moreover, the very precious part of a language is that it carries culture. From a language, we can sense the ways of thinking, history and the common background of its speakers. Accumulating the assets of cultural heritage takes thousands of years, they shouldn’t be denied even if they were no longer up-to-date. The author illustrates an example from Ms. Maggio. She indicates that “king,” “lord,” and “master” are “especially bad” because they are “hierarchical, dominator society terms”. It is hilarious to me, I think she is being captious (Sorry, but I don’t mean to offend her). These words enrich my childhood. Who can imagine the world without legends that depict the stories of the “king”, “lord” and “master”?

I have more to say about the controversial issue of the usage of “he” or “she”. To spend so much time arguing when to use “he” and “she”, or even creating a neutral term for it is meaningless and not economic. It is also beautiful to give gender-related terms to the world surrounding us, because men and women, the opposite sex, make the world as a whole. Men don’t really argue why we call the earth “Mother Earth”, so why should women be bothered that “Superman” is a man. Maybe that’s why the word “pettish” is often used to describe women. “Womyn” is even out of my imagination. Who can deny the fact that women bear men so that human beings won’t become an extinct species? And I don’t think that having “man” to refer to “mankind” is totally a bad idea. If it means that men play a dominant role and take more responsibilities, why should women be displeased?

Finally, I would like to give an example of the Asian pop singer Wang Lee Hom. I was impressed and touched by how he called his own style and his interpretation to it. During an interview with Lorraine Hahn from Talkasia, Lee Hom was asked to describe his style. He replied, “I call my style – and I hope I don’t offend any of the viewers – but I call it “chinked-out”. He then further explained why he used this “derogatory racial slur”, “I want to repossess the word…I hope I can make it cool.” “Chink” to the Chinese has this racial-sensitive meaning as “nigger” to the black, but despite all the unfavorable suggestions to this word, Lee Hom tries to give people a new impression about this word with his influence and his music. He doesn’t change the word, but he tries to change the discriminative content linked to the word. I think it is more meaningful than draining your brain to think what is politically correct and what is not.

France Huang's article on "What’s the difference between boys and girls?"

2006-10-26T18:35:00.000-07:00

YE4A- Frances Huang Mei-Tzu 1094100030 2006/09/27

A great number of books have been published to cater for the need to understand the opposite sex. Women say “Men are from Mars!”, but men say “Women are unreasonable!” One side of the human beings tries to understand the other side of their counterparts from their own viewpoint or bias. No wonder men and women sometimes get even more confused when they wish to understand each other in a face-to-face position. In those books, gender differences are crowned with superficial stereotypes and myths. I don’t quite agree with the ideas in those books, even though I must admit males and females are in fact not the same, both mentally and physically. The stereotypes tend to categorize all the men or women into one single type. However, there is not any single person identical to another, like no one has the same finger prints as anyone else do.

In this essay, gender differences are discussed in a more rational way. Boys and girls are no longer facing each other from the Mars to the Earth. I will interpret what the author means by “gender neutrality” as “there is no such a gender divide for boys and girls, and they are free to be what they actually are, like there is no strict line for what he should play with or how she should behave.” On the other hand, the term “gender inappropriate” confines boys and girls to the expectations that the society and culture impose on them. They are educated to think or behave in certain “appropriate” ways. Personally, I think that “gender neutrality” and “gender inappropriate” are the production of humans’ cultural and social behaviors. Men and women are naturally different and no one can deny that it is true. We don’t have to persuade ourselves that men and women are not that different or try to prove that men and women are equal. Besides, even though women are all female, it doesn’t mean that all the women are the same. Don’t forget, every man and woman has unique characteristic, there is no need to draw a line on gender-specific colors or toys.

Conventionally, Barbie dolls are girls’ toy and boys love to watch Godzilla movies. That’s the ruler in parents mind when they decide what to get for their children. I partly agree with the author’s point of view. I notice that, very often, parents will get things that belong to “the right gender”, especially for boys. Boys who are interested in “girls’ things” will worry their parents and might be concerned strange. Parents, as I know, rarely agree to buy a Barbie doll for their son. One the contrary, girls who like to play with toy cars are less worrisome to their parents. For example, my own niece is a beautiful girl who doesn’t like to wear dresses or skirts. From she was young child, she wanted to wear T-shirts with Pocket Monsters on them. She is girlish and looks girlish, but she doesn’t like girlish things. Her parents don’t see this as a problem, though it is sometimes annoying that she refuses to wear the skirt hemmed with lace I buy for her. (See, this is the gender expectation I have on her!)

In short, I don’t think that playing with “inappropriate toys” will be a great impact on a child’s future gender development. When I was young, I preferred watching Godzilla to playing with a Barbie doll. I did have a Barbie doll, but after I shaved off all her hair, I threw her away. Now I am a mature woman who is not confused with my own gender at all. After all, children are curious and they should have the rights and chances to explore the world around them.

Trisha Hsiao's article, 'The Word Police'

2006-10-26T18:20:00.000-07:00

The Word Police

In the heart of many controversies lies the usage of political correct language and different views as to its validity. As the notion of feminism and minority arouses, people start to reform the neutrality of bias-free, gender-free language which was discarded by the language users in past patriarchical society. In order to erase the sense of humiliating, unequal, and mocking, people tend to use “a more decent” choice of words to describe controversy issues or terms. That is the birthplace of political correctness.

For the beggars and the disabled we call them minority; for the niggers we call them the black. The use of political correctness does alleviate tenseness in the society. It offers comforts to the victims and it helps cure the scars in their minds. By using appropriate word police, people will create an equal, harmonious and a world of euphoria.

However, overemphasizing on defects bears a resemblance to adding salt to injury, which will call people’s attention to things they did not pay attention on and hurt the victims for the second time. The opponents of political correctness argue that instead of playing on words, we should put those problems into practice. Actions speak louder than words. By the same token, Michiko Kakutani, the leading daily book reviewer to The New York Times, points out in her essay, choosing words to refer to problems with politically correct terms does nothing to fix the problems. “Calling the homeless the ‘underhoused’ doesn’t give them a place to live”. The fuss should be made over the problem of the homeless people instead of what they should be called. Other examples are the euphemisms coined by various governments worldwide, for instance, the propaganda during the Soviet Union period, or the truthful lies during the Vietnam War and Watergate, the recent response towards the bribery issues given by the Green Party in Taiwan.

Those languages indeed have tremendous influence on people. In spite of those appealing words, innocent people remain suffering. Choosing of words only compensate others’ sympathy, it will never solve the problem. We should put more emphasis on solving problems instead of covering problems with euphemism. Political Correctness Movement is a meaningful and helpful reform, but when those advocates go too far, it will become a hypocrisy movement.

Trisha Hsiao's article, "What's the difference between boys and girls?"

2006-10-26T18:18:00.000-07:00

What’s the Difference between Boys and Girls?

In this so-called gender identity disordered society, the issue of “gender neutrality” and “gender inappropriate” has become a heated discussion topic for biologists and psychologists for years. Gender does not seem to be just sex distinction anymore; on the contrary, it involves biological and cultural aspects.

Some believe people are born to be equal. They are born with bodies designed with the same function and with different features, which means boys could have female characteristics and vice versa. There is no certain role and rule for genders. However, others would rather claim that people are born to be different. Biological elements such as testosterone and hormones manipulate the pattern of their behaviors, which later on imposes stereotypes on different sexes.

Gender inappropriate is the production of stereotypes. Boys should be restless, strong, and full of competitiveness; girls should be talkative, sensitive, and teem with tenderness. Whatever is not tagged to this is considered as gender inappropriate. As a result, boys who ask for a Barbie or girls who ask a Godzilla as a birthday gift will cause an enormous anxiety to their parents. People tend to label objects as manly or girly just like speakers of a language label objects as masculine and feminine. To the same extent, homosexuality and bisexuality are regarded as heterodoxy in the society. Yet, it is a matter of choice. Human biology makes room for every possibility of personality and sexuality. There is no right or wrong orientation, it is how you want to behave affects your gender tendency.

Human biology only does a little help on genetic variations. What causes differences is what we impose on our generations. We are born to be equal and to be different; it all depends on how we draw this blank paper and set gender roles and rules on our own.

Richard Lin's article on Political Correctness

2006-10-26T18:16:00.000-07:00

YE4A 1094100028 Richard Lin

I am more sympathetic with those who believe the P.C. movement carries its reform efforts too far than those who advocate politically correct language. People’s attempts to monitor both written and spoken words have become somewhat extreme. Although people would like to see the word change to fit multicultural society, it will also cause us to change our way of life. Our language is on the brink of absurdity because we hide our true identities and inequalities with euphemisms. Some terms are so euphemistic that it makes us ignore the essential meaning of original words, which are concerned with different race, religious and gender. It is obvious that choosing to refer to problems with politically correct term does nothing to fix the problem. Instead of calling the homeless “the underhoused”, we had better give them a place to live. We almost forget the seriousness of people’s hard situation by creating such language. The freedom of speech and expression is also prevented from simply taking out the political incorrect terms. We cannot talk about the existing problems deeply due to the fact that we have turned the words or phrases into mere questions of semantics. If we continue to only concentrate on the surface of word’s meaning, the problems will still not be solved. Likewise, we cannot decrease the rate of violent crimes by avoiding using violent expressions and metaphors. After I have read “The Word Police”, I found the so-called “political correct language” is somewhat of a joke. Kakutani gave us a statement that said even Superman was reincarnated as four ethnically diverse clones. It is not appropriate to change every words that seems offensive to conform to the world free of racism and hate because the way it change the basic meaning of words leads to destroy the significance and characteristics of each words and phrases. The situation goes further complicated by the fact that members of selected groups want to embrace the words others seek to change. For example, blacks still want to use the word “nigger” to strip the term of its racist connotations and homosexuals still want to use the word “queer” to reclaim it from bigots. Kakutani in the article clearly points out that all these rules can make for some messy moral dilemmas. It gets some people to be offended instead of not being offended. I think there are many words waiting for us to change, and it is hard to know whether the changed word is good or not. Finally, it may cause serious vicious circle.

The Word Police

2006-10-17T08:19:00.000-07:00

YE4A Irene Lin 1094100007

So as not to cause deep resentment of some particular groups, for instance, racial or cultural groups, in language, the term political correctness appeared. For example, the use of “gender-neutral” job titles or the use of “the underhoused” rather than “homeless”, are sometimes referred to as “politically correct”. Through political correctness, people would like to create a society where racism, sexism and prejudice of all sorts do not exist.

Political correctness prohibits the use of gender-bias language and the like. Therefore, some linguistic mutations appear, for example “womyn” to instead of “women”. However, I believe that the political correctness movement carries its reform too far. It sometimes confuses people or has ambiguous meaning. Take an example from the article, “battered wife” is a gender-biased term and the gender-free term is “battered spouse”. Spouse means a husband or wife. The reader or listener would be wondering what you mean actually.

Secondly, political correct language or euphemism may distract attention from the real problems that exist in the society. Using “economically marginalized” instead of the poor, it does not really make people or the government pay more attention to those people. On the contrary, because of “prettifying” those biased words, those people may seem to be less poor but get less attention, too.

“Lazy Susan,” “bull market,” or “charley horse”, these terms seem to be related to genders. Someone who would like to boast their lack of prejudice wants to give up saying or using that kind of terms. As long as to find out the history or background of those words, that does not really have any gender-bias meaning behind. Those people might hold too extreme views toward that.
Still, I agree with the author’s view that makes changes of those words or terms do not really remove people’s prejudice against genders or races. Words may have little influence in it; however, aren’t those biased words were created by ourselves? We have prejudice against those groups and then we invented those terms to insult or humiliate them.

I would rather try to cast aside one’s bias or prejudice in mind than having changes of words. If we could treat every one, every gender, or every race fairly, those biased terms would not really make them feel harm or disgrace. Those linguistic mutations do not really have to be invented since men and women are treated equally. Racism, sexism and prejudice in the world and society would still be erased as long as we started to erase those things in our mind not from the words.

Luke's Views on Political Correctness

2006-10-17T07:37:00.000-07:00

YE4A Luke Li 1094100038

Political correctness was an idea originally used in political language to be bias-free and non-offensive on different ethnicities, races and genders. The term, PC is from America. America is a melting pot for people who come from many countries with various ethnicities. Equity and fairness to different races and genders are certainly required in such a huge nation. That is why political correctness becomes popular in the U.S. People who support this idea try to solve the issue by changing lots of bias words. The idea was well-meaning, but it turned out to be a taboo that forbids anybody to be biased on anyone, even in a humorous way.

There is one thing to notice, that is, political correctness is a concept that encourages people to be friendly to others with different ethnicities and genders. It should be free-will, not forced. And it should work step by step. Political correctness supporters tend to change everything that is against the idea, but what they really change is the lifestyle and culture of the U.S. Changing the ways of living and culture that has grown firm is impossible. One can only suppress it and that is what the political correctness supporter doing now. Political correctness makes people timid of making mistakes or doing what they like.

Being politically incorrect is not a crime, and that is why there is no law to restrict it. People who support the idea of political correctness can only judge it by criticism and consensus. The effect of political correctness can be considered as an action of threat and it is against the freedom of speech. Changing or replacing the spelling of certain words to achieve political correctness does not change the real feeling that is deeply inside our mind. A real successful and respectful male or a female is not determined by simple word “man” or “woman”, “black” or “white”. It is determined by what they have done to the society. The use of words represents our cultures and it is part of us. It will never be apart in our lives. Political correctness through force will somehow turn into a certain protection to a certain group, and that is exactly the other way around, against its own purpose.

Political correctness is not equal to justice and fairness. The real justice and fairness do not only matter by a few words and pictures. It is the self-reflection we practice that affects our behaviors and our thoughts about neutrality in ethnicities, races and genders.

Reflections on Blum's article by Richard Lin

2006-10-15T01:44:00.000-07:00

YE4A 1094100028 Richard Lin
Reading assignment

The phrases “gender neutrality” which Blum used in the article means that boys and girls are treated equally. That is, they are not viewed as traditional boys or girls. They are allowed to choose what they like or want to do without any blame from their parents. They are also free from the pressure caused by the notion of political correctness that children are born blank slates to be manipulated. On the contrary, the phrase “gender inappropriate” is the belief that there are fundamental character differences between boys and girls. I remember a book titled “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus.” With just few words, the author vividly described the diametrically opposite character of boys and girls. It is the stereotypes resulting from cultural effect that makes us to believe the differences between boys and girls instead of biological reasons. In my point of view, I believe boys and girl are born biological different. Still, parents should not train boys and girls to become masculine and feminine to conform to social expectation. Children had better develop naturally without any restrictions from their parents or they will grow psychologically or mentally unhealthy. Thus, I think the phrase “gender neutrality” is worth promoting in our modern society.

“The Barbie versus Godzilla effect” explains how parent buy the “gender appropriate” toys to help their own children to understand or recognize his or her sex. The parents believe that they can make it easier for children to gain personality or find social identity by doing so. Furthermore, parents seem to influence the children’s behaviors through teaching them to assert him or her. Actually, I don’t exactly agree to the ideas “the Barbie versus Godzilla” because I think the children play the toys simply just for fun. The toys won’t have such magical power that fine-tunes children for gender roles. For example, if the boys have preference for painting or drawing, it doesn’t mean that the boys are different from those who like playing basketball. The boys just want to do something he is really interested in and then make it as a hobby.

What's the difference between boys and girls

2006-10-15T01:35:00.000-07:00

The following selected essays were based on the assignment on Deborah Blum's article,"What's the difference between boys and girls?".

The students were required to read and answer the questions on Essays from Contemporary Culture, page 236, submitted on 9/27/2006.

What do you think Blum means by the phrases "gender neutrality" and "gender inappropriate"? What is your view of these concepts? That is, to what extent have you thought in terms of "neutrality" and "inappropriate" in relation to gender?
What do you understand Blum to mean by "the Barbie versus Godzilla effect"? Can you given examples that either support or refute her point?

Essays from the following students have been selected:

Richard Lin

France Huang

Trisha Hsiao

Their essays are published on Language and Culture Ezine to share with others their thoughts and opinions on Language and Gender. Please read and give your comments. You can click the 'Comments' button to leave your message. Your opinions matters and will these students improve their craft.

Thank you.

Essays on Kadaba's article, What's in a name?

2006-10-15T01:23:00.000-07:00

The following selected essays were based on the assignment on Kadaba's article, "What's in a name?". The students were required to read and answer the questions on Essays from Contemporary Culture, page 178, submitted on 9/18/2006.

Essays from 4 students selected:

Frances Huang
Kevin Huang
Lisa Hsu
Trisha Hsiao

Their essays are published on Language and Culture Ezine to share with others their thoughts and opinions on onomastics, and what their personal names mean and how they reflect their identities. Please read and give your comments. You can click the 'Comments' button to leave your message. Your opinions matters and will these students improve their craft.

Thank you.

Aiden

What's in a Name by Trisha Hsiao

2006-10-15T01:21:00.000-07:00

What’s in a name?
by Trisha Hsiao

Name, universally contains with a given name and a surname. It represents one’s family and one’s identification. In Western countries, people were given their first names mainly from their parents or churches and follow the last name of their ancestors; in Eastern countries, people were given first names from parents, genealogy or fortunetellers and follow their family names. No matter how they get their names, names surely signify their roots and recognition for most people. That is how they define themselves and their generations. However, for the immigrants or the aboriginals, it is not the same case.

For centuries, at the convenience of dominance, the names of immigrants and the aboriginals were assimilated to “easier” ones. Therefore, their ethnicity and the culture were discarded involuntarily. For instance, in United States, formerly called the melting pot, is nowadays a well-known salad bowl. People are seeking for their origins and their lost culture, for they were stripped their culture off when they entered this new country and melted in this pot. Now, they label themselves as a stew or goulash or curry as they consider their ethnic pride as the priority, or what in my opinion, a salad bowl. In a salad bowl, carrots are still carrots, lettuce remains as lettuce, but they still bond together. By tracing back their culture and genealogy, they can preserve their identity in this diversified society.

Besides retrieving mother tongues, folk customs and cultures, rectifying names is the most common means to herald ethnicity. To be honest, some just want to get on the bandwagon and to get some attention; some hope to get rid of the complex of the funny homonym that their names might bring them; some want to label their original nationality, and some gain pride and self-esteem from their original names. As the matter of fact, names connect family’s history and people’s conception. It is a tag that you perceive yourself and influence others’ perception.

Name is like the clothes we wear. It affects others’ perception of us and sometimes, it marks us in good ways and bad ways. It has a magical power to gain or to destroy your confidence. It could fetch your self-esteem by labeling your race, but when your name has a homonym of unfavorable meanings, for instance, anus, ward, or die, you feel shameful of your origin. In addition, when somebody in your family was a notorious person or a criminal, you would not be proud of it. Take myself as an example, my family name Hsiao, in Chinese it is pronounced as the first tone, but it sounds like “crazy” in Taiwanese when you pronounce it with the fourth tone (the falling tone). It influences my confidence of my family tremendously. When I was young, I never wanted to introduce my family name to the others. There is even a slang describing my village, Shetou, as “There are half of crazy people in Shetou.”, for the reason that more than 50% of residents in my village whose last name is Hsiao. Even now, when I introduce myself in English, I always try hard not to emphasize the stress on my last name. I still have a complex of it, not only because all my nicknames came from my last name but also because people often make fun of my last name. No doubt, names surely make a great impact on people’s perception of oneself.

To eliminate some exclusiveness, in the beginning of 20th century, being Americanized is a first and the must for immigrants and aboriginals, they changed their names in order to adapt to new circumstance, but most of the time they are involuntary. Homogeneity was believed to be what united this new found land. An Americanized name was the notion of belonging of the same entity. Same case happened in Taiwan for the aboriginal habitants as well. Some gave up their origins for what they believed as the definition for a country, but this belief now faces the challenges. It is no longer the problem of being hyphenated as a legal citizen or having a localized name; it is how you define yourself. Everyone starts to put their ethnic pride in the front burner. However, as Henry Giroux, a professor of education and cultural studies at Pennsylvania State University said this shift could create a tribalism that might cause an ethnic exclusion within the country. If every ethnic group becomes ethnocentric, it will create conflicts between different ethnic groups. All men are created equal. Only if every ethnic group has the tolerance and respects toward each other, will we have a peaceful and diverse culture. What is in your name represents not only your origin and culture, but also what you embody in yourself.

YE4A 1094100041

What's in a Name by Lisa Hsu

2006-10-15T01:20:00.000-07:00

What’s in a name?
by Lisa Hsu

Everyone has name ever since we were born, no matter who give you the name or whom you are named after. The functions of names are powerful and they tell stories.

Names can tell stories. Take my father’s name as an example; “Hsu Jin Wang” is a very old-fashioned, traditional Chinese name. I ever asked my father whether he likes his name or not. My father told me that he never liked his name but since the name is given by his father and is followed the family lore. He never wanted to change it. Hsu is the family name, it represents that we come from Ilan and we belong to Taiwanese ethnic group. We are not Hakkanese or Aborigine. The middle name “Jin” follows the family lore which is base on a rule of genealogy. Every male who is born in my father’s generation must share the same middle name, Jin, means “to take in” in Mandarin. According to the family lore, my uncles’ names are not difficult to guess. They are Jin Fa, Jin Tsai, Jin Jei, and Jin Fu. The last character of each name is given based on the expectations which my grandfather wishes his sons to have. He names his sons as Fa, Tsai, Jei, Fu, Wang in the hope that he wishes his sons can make a good fortune, have the best luck of everything and then let our family has good reputation. As my father learned the meaning of his name, he never wanted to change it because his name preserves his heritage, shows the expectations of his father, connects him to the family and in a way, shows his respect.

Name is powerful for its functions such as claiming and preserving heritage, representing identity, showing ethnic pride, symbolizing culture and language and influencing others’ perception of us. For instance, my experience with an Albanian friend is quite interesting. The first time we met he said “I personally don’t like Chinese much and I hope you are not Chinese.” I must admit that I introduce myself to him with a very great pride because I felt offended at the moment. I am always proud of my oriental look and name that embraces my ethnicity and I never think that Caucasian is the higher race than Asian or any others. I replied “My name is Hsu Ling Chiech in Chinese, Ko Ling Geh in Taiwanese dialact and Lisa Hsu in English, pure soul in meaning.” Surprisingly, he didn’t not feel offended by my attitude but he was very delighted to learn that I am a Taiwanese because Taiwan Government has supported Kosovo during their civil war and has given financial add and help developing their country after the war. My Taiwanese name influenced his perception for oriental look people and, in my point of view; it’s not because of the name but because of the functions which names embrace that change the perceptions. Just like the biographer Justin Kaplan said, “Names have more than simple label value.”

As people know the power in the functions of names, many are fetching their names back. Some change their names to trace back their root, some do so to enrich the ethnicity of their names, and some change names because the fortuneteller told them that their names bring bad luck to their lives. Whatever the reason is, we must bear respect in mind. Globalization has made our world a smaller place, people move from one place to another. Almost every country is multicultural society nowadays. The notion of having homogeneity is changing into having pluralism, in other words, it’s time to change the melting pot notion into the salad bowl. Isn’t it good to be able to taste every ingredient in the dish instead of stewing them together and become one flavor? Only when we know the flavor of each ingredient we will be able to know what the best dressing for the salad is. The answer is yet very simple, just as my father mentioned, “Name tells who you are and whatever you belong, after knowing the depth of it, respect yours and respect others.”

What's in a Name by Kevin Huang

2006-10-15T01:19:00.000-07:00

What’s In a Name
by YE4A, Kevin Huang, 1094100039

I think the reasons Kadab cites for why people change their names is a very strong point to notify the reader that there’s actually lot’s of people changing their names legally to pronounce it correctly and easily and to Americanize it. In my opinion, I believe few people who change their names are because they might be ashamed of their own ethnic appellations since some people might make fun of their names.

The melting pot in this article probably refers to a huge area with many different ethnic groups, using America as an example. Nowadays, ethnic pride is growing fast and more and more different ethnic groups are living in America. Therefore, foreign ethnic groups and Americans can be described as goulash boiling on the fire to fit their selves in and to be part of it. Although, they all live in the same place yet their names still influences them. Others may judge them just by the name. For example, even if you’re an American born Chinese, a citizen of America, yet, still you have a Chinese name such as Huang. Some people will still define you as an Asian. No matter what happens, you are still going to be an Asian. Your name represents your nation.

American identity is no longer defined by homogeneity. It is now defined by pluralism. I myself agree to this point. It’s a combination with many other different ethnic groups and culture. Without combining different culture but deucedly defining our own culture, this will lead our social world back to tribalism. And tribalism will lead us to complications and clash with different cultures. This is not what the social world needs.

What’s in a name? by Frances Huang

2006-10-15T01:17:00.000-07:00

Language and Culture – What’s in a name?
Frances Huang Mei-Tzu 1094100030

Names represent every single person. The first gift given to a new-born baby is certainly a name. The name carries the family’s love, blessing and their expectation of the baby’s future. For example, my name in Chinese is Huang Mei-Tzu, which means beauty and mercy and those are the qualities my family wish me to have. A man without a name is like an abandoned child without an identity, doesn’t know where he comes from. The importance of a name is universal, no matter what culture we are from, we have a name that stands for our ethnicity and family line. We should not give up our names easily.

However, during the period of immigrating to America, immigrants had to change their names, both involuntarily and voluntarily. Some people, like black slaves, were brought to American and forced to work for the white. Like insult added to injury, they were further deprived of their names and identities. Alas! They totally lost themselves in the new world. Also, some immigrants had to make their names easier or shorter for the immigration process. During that time, it was urgent for them to get into the country. They would do anything for it, even if it meant their names and identities must be sacrificed. On the other hand, some immigrants worshiped American powers. They wanted to blend in the American culture from inside to outside, from their living style to their names. So they were wiling to have an American name even if they didn’t look like one.

One thing that will never change is change itself. The “melting pot” that most of the immigrants wanted to melt in is now changing to a “salad bowl” where every racial group in it is getting united and influential. The urgency to blend in and survive in America has eased, like luxury comes after the basic needs. When the immigrants have all settled in America and names are no longer a problem for immigration, they started to think of their roots and heritages. The ethnic consciousness has arisen among different racial groups living in the States. It might be dangerous because racial division will cause the government to have difficulty running the country and the potential of racial conflicts within the country might rise.

In Chinese culture, names, especially family names, are very important. There are sayings that reflect that names show one’s identity, like “Walk without changing the first name, sit without changing the family name.” which means “Whatever I do is magnanimous, so I will not have to hide my name.” However, cases of changing names happen in this society as well. When a man becomes a son-in-law who lives in the wife’s home and assumes the role of a son, the man is considered changing his family name, because his won sons will inherit his wife’s family name. Another reason for changing names is for a better fortune and life. Fortune telling is common in Taiwan, and name fortune telling is quite popular. Believers change their names with hope of changing their fate and wish to bring luck and prosperity to themselves in the future. But I think that is the power of self-hypnotism, you believe that your fate is changed and then you act on that way, eventually good things will happen.

Language and Culture Ezine

2006-10-14T03:31:00.000-07:00

This blog is created to publish selected students' essays on various topics that are related to learning languages and different cultures. The essays published here are original pieces written by the students enrolled in my Language and Culture at Wenzao College. Please take a moment to read their articles. These essays will give you a chance to understand what young Taiwanese EFL students have got to say on various thematic issues that affect our daily lives. Please leave your comments if you have any, and the student authors will try to respond as soon as they can.

Aiden