Taiwan’s High School Education:
    High School Students’ Performances in Their
    Study Plans and Interviews
    淺談台灣高中教育─以高中生申請入學的
    讀書計畫與口試為例
    Cecilia H. C. Liu 劉雪珍
    English Department, Fu Jen University
    輔仁大學英文系
    Outline
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    To share a few reflections from reviewing the application
    materials submitted to the Fu Jen English Department and
    my impression from conducting interviews with high
    school students. Students’ performances in their study
    plans and oral interviews reflect
    The practices, attitudes and interests of teachers at the
    high school education
    Parental attitudes toward their children
    Students’ attitudes toward learning, school, and the
    education system at large
    Suggestions
    Education System
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    A nation’s education system involves a general
    structure handed down from a national education
    agency, the organizational particulars of a local or
    municipal education bureaucracy and the
    administration and curriculum of individual schools.
    Culture implies common belief systems, common
    practices and a shared world-view within a society.
    Thus, analysing education culture takes us beyond
    the political and municipal to a study of teachers,
    students, parents, government logic and institutional
    logic as they impact the process and function of
    education in Taiwan.
    Examination system
    
    The examination system in Taiwan controls the
    curriculum in lower education by defining what is
    important to study by what is to be examined. In
    addition, the MOE provides compulsory
    textbooks based on the requirements of the
    examination system. The examination system in
    Taiwan promotes an education culture devoted to
    rote memorization that requires harsh discipline
    and a rigid routine.
    Study Plan
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    The purpose and value of studying in the
    university
    The purpose and value of majoring in English
    language and literature
    Specific reasons for choosing the FJED
    Specific courses the applicant is interested in
    Future plans
    Any questions the applicant may have
    Purpose and value of studying
    in the university
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    “..to increase my ability that can help me qualified for
    my work in the future. Meanwhile, it can also enrich my
    experiences, because I will meet kinds of people and join
    many activities in the university. The value of studying in
    the university is to be a useful person and to contribute
    my ability to the society, by using my professional ability
    to help people who need assistance.”
    “Nowadays in junior and senior high school, students just
    learn basic knowledge for daily lives. On this ground, I
    have to study in the university to become more informed
    and gifted. That is, I will have more job opportunities
    than others who don’t study in university.” ”
    Purpose and value of studying
    in the university
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    “During the university days, I should leave home
    for my studies. Therefore, I must learn to be
    independent, take the responsibility of everything by
    myself, and even face the difficulties alone.”
    “I hope what I learn in university is not only the
    acquisition of knowledge but the skills to develop
    better human relationships and a broad view of the
    world. I want to join several clubs; of course, the
    premise is that it would not affect my academic work.”
    “Motivation”--the purpose and value of
    majoring in English language and literature
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    “I have a great interest in learning English.
    Undeniably, English is an international
    language. Through English, I can acquire and
    exchange information and experience with
    people from other countries, and above all,
    understand the cultural differences of every
    country.”
    “English has been an international contact
    vernacular. I hope to master it.”
    “Motivation”
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    “We can learn to appreciate a lot of good
    works through majoring in English
    literature. As to my purpose of learning
    English is to deeply understand English
    literature and be professional in English.”
    “In my senior high school, Father sent me
    to a one-to-one English class to learn from
    foreigners. That really stimulates my
    further interests in the English language.”
    Specific Reasons for choosing the FJED
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    “..if I really have the chance to study in Fu Jen
    English Department, I want to explore all fields of
    English, and literature in particular.”
    “I know that English Department in Fu Jen
    University focuses especially on the listening,
    speaking, reading, and writing ability, so I am
    convinced that it is the best choice for me.”
    “I like Fu Jen and I’ve been dreaming of how
    brilliant my college life will be if I am lucky
    enough to be one of your students.”
    Specific Reasons for choosing the FJED
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    “I have always placed Fu Jen English
    Department as my first goal, not only because
    my uncle and aunt were graduated from there,
    who have always praised and recommended it,
    but also because it enjoys great international
    reputation.”
    “I have heard about the good reputation of Fu
    Jen English Department, and my English
    teacher is a graduate of the Fu Jen, who I think
    is really good at English.”
    Specific Reasons for choosing the FJED
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    “I have looked up in your website about the
    introduction of your department. Your equipment and
    resources of learning English are very adequate. I
    know most of your class use English instead of
    Chinese. I feel it’s really a practical and basic way to
    improve English. ”
    “I have a liking for English and I am fond of talking
    to foreigners, too. I know that you have a lot of
    foreign teachers in your department. I would like to
    choose a wonderful, well-known and the most
    suitable university for me.”
    Future plans
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    “I will study deeper about English language and
    understand the Western culture through its literature.
    Learning how to use computer will also be my subject,
    because computer knowledge is very helpful to my
    study in the future.”
    “In my future, I plan to go abroad to study English if
    my economy allowed. If not, I will find an
    international restaurant in which I can use English all
    the time and meet many foreigners to work in.”
    Future plans
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    “My first choice is to go abroad. I believe it can
    broaden my horizon, and I also can experience
    different cultures and customs. I want to major in
    translating, and become a translator some day, using
    my professional abilities to serve Taiwan.”
    “I will learn another foreign language, which may be
    Japanese because one foreign language is not enough
    now. I want to have a career that needs English after I
    graduate from the university.”
    Future plans
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    Going abroad 25%
    Interpreter/translator 20%
    English teacher 15%
    Mass Media 15%
    Correspondent/reporter 10%
    Other 15%
    Students’ performance in
    oral interviews
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    Traveling experiences
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    Many talents in languages, arts, music …
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    Busy with senior high subjects & exams
    No clear motivation
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    General statements
    No clear idea about the dept.
    My reflections on senior high education:
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    First, the examination system in Taiwan controls
    the curriculum in lower education by defining what
    is important to study by what is to be examined.
    Rote memorization is still very much practiced in
    the senior high.
    The educational methods embedded in the
    Taiwanese examination system limits students’
    cognitive development of creative thought.
    High school teachers are forced to develop a
    teaching style dependant on the examination
    culture.
    My reflections on senior high education:
    5.
    6.
    This administrative logic rooted in the examination
    system robs most teachers of creativity and active,
    dynamic interactive teaching methods. Moreover,
    the examination culture places the onus of success
    or failure in the lap of the students rather than the
    teachers or in the education system itself.
    The Diversified College Enrollment Scheme
    requires teachers to teach a more diversified
    curriculum designed to prepare students to enter
    universities. But with the introduction of new
    teaching methods, high school teachers’
    responsibility and burden increased. Students also
    expect more from their teachers.
    My reflections on senior high education:
    7.
    Students do not really know what they study or
    why they study a certain subject. There is a
    lack of general knowledge related to even
    Taiwan itself. They had learned certain things
    once but have since forgotten them, a
    consequence it seems of the technique of rote
    cramming for tests.
    Parental attitudes
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    Parents compel their children to study hard and make it
    clear that they are willing to make great sacrifices to
    support their children’s education. Thus, the student
    must make sacrifices such as long hours of study,
    limited or no extra-curricular activities, no dating and
    enrollment in cram schools to prepare for the exams
    that determine their future success.
    As most students have already invested much of their
    academic history in the previous system, it is natural
    that parents, who have also invested time, effort and
    money, expect their children to benefit from those past
    efforts.
    Students’ attitudes toward learning, school,
    and the education system at large
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    Most of students claimed that they had to go to cram
    schools because the education reforms have failed to
    release academic pressure.
    Students in Taiwan feel powerless against the various
    interests that create their education culture. Students’
    response to the pressure of education in Taiwan is a
    passive adherence to the education culture. This passive
    adherence results in a diminished respect for learning, a
    study strategy focused on performance on multiple
    choice examinations, a diminished retention of
    knowledge and a diminished ability for creative
    thinking and problem solving.
    Oral interviews: Five tips
    1.
    2.
    3.
    Your motivation/ Specific Reasons for choosing the
    Department : 認識自己要甄試的科系特色及教學研
    究內容，瞭解自己為什麼進入這個學系？及將來
    如果有機會進入此科系，你的讀書計畫是什麼？
    Good reading habit:平時多閱讀書報雜誌和此科系
    相關書籍，並蒐集資料，好好充實學科專業知能
    及背景知識。
    To know the department well: 最好多蒐集此學系
    的資料--可以收集學校系所簡介，或上網蒐集系
    所概況，從這些收集的資料中你可以發現系所師
    資與發展重點，做週全的準備。
    Oral interviews: Five tips
    4. Be pertinent: 要清楚面試委員問的是什
    麼，言簡意賅，切合題旨，答如所問，
    避免漫無邊際的打高空。
    5. No show-off:要知道面試委員很可能會根
    據你回答的內容，再進一步追問。因此，
    談話的內容要環繞在你所熟悉的事項，
    讓面試委員對準你所專長的部分發問，
    不用賣弄自己不懂或不會的。
    Thank you for your ATTENTION and …
    Have a nice day!
    

# Taiwan’s High School Education: High School Students