English Education in Taiwan
The official position of the government in Taiwan is that English will be spoken much more widely in a future Taiwan. Toward this end, several programs and policies have been developed to promote the spread of the language. This includes the introduction of conversational English into elementary schools and programs for those who work with the public. The results of these programs have not been good.
The elementary school program is a joke. Kids get two hours a week. I have spoken to several kids in my neighborhood and on the bus about what they are learning. They explained to me that they are learning the names of things and some simple phrases. Despite this, after a year of instruction, none of them can speak more than a few words. It took the entire year for one little girl in my neighbourhood to learn to say, "How are you?" She's still not so good with the answer. Bear in mind that this is in Taipei where there is a much higher standard of education.
I have no personal experience with programs for those who work with the public. Newspaper articles report that such programs are being run for taxi drivers and policemen. These are also quite short, and I am not certain what could be taught in such a time period. There are taxi drivers who have educated themselves to speak English. I have also meet students driving cab who could speak reasonably well. The police bureau operates universities where foreign affairs police are taught foreign languages. Such officers staff the office where you extend your visas. They are quite competent. My point is that taxi drivers and police who need to speak foreign languages already do. In addition, I have been told by highly informed bushiban operators that some of the teachers teaching in the taxi driver English program are illegal. Taipei City contracted the teaching to licensed bushibans who then sent whoever they felt like sending. Some of these teachers did not have proper work permits. I was told of one illegal teacher who was given an official City Ha;; security pass so he could teach their staff.
The MOE tells us that they are committed to English education. They create regulations and rules telling us how to run our classes and our schools. Yet, they can't even assure that their classes are staffed by legal workers or that students learn anything in their classes.
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