Taiwan Introduction 4-year College

Sophomore studentsSpring semester

Topic: Introduction to Taiwan Culture

Professor: Ludmilla Cawdrey

Learning Activities

The course provides important content about Taiwan, its culture, habits, traditions, and way of life. It is designed for English speaking students, especially those who major in the tourism industry. The course puts emphasis on practicing essential oral skills for tour guides in modern Taiwan.

A great deal of attention is paid to the development of students’ skills to speak freely and fluently about sports, cuisines, lifestyles, education, and culture in Taiwan.

Teacher’s presentations

Individual or pair-work in class Group discussions Individual Presentations

Course Methods

Lesson plan (in weeks)

Preview Unit 1: A Guide’s selfintroduction Unit 2: A Brief guide to Taiwan Unit 3: Around Kenting National Park Unit 4: Around Yushan National Park Unit 5: Around Taroko National Park Unit 6: Around Yangmingshan National Park Review: Units 1 – 6 Midterm Oral Test

Lesson plan (continued)

Preview Unit 7: Around Kinmen National Park Unit 8: Penghu Unit 9: Fireworks Festival Unit 10: An Ecotour of Tainan Unit 11: A Trip to an Aboriginal Village Unit 12: A Gourmet Trip Unit 13: Popular Attractions in Taiwan Review: Units 7 - 13 Final Oral Test

Learning Activities

1. Individual work: (up to 15 minutes) Listen to the presentation carefully Make notes2. Classroom activity: (up to 10 minutes) Participate in feedback (answer the questions…) Make your knowledge active 3. Group work: (up to 20 – 25 minutes) Participate in a communicative game – discussion

“Going on a trip, talk to a travel agent about the agenda and the Sites”

Presenters will help with the details

Course Methods

Get ready with the presentation

Listen to a presentation

Do feedback

Speak on communicative situations

Hand-in materials:

Individual home work

Classroom activity

Individual or pair-work in class

Pair- or group-work in class

1. Presentation papers2. CDs

Requirements and Grading

For Midterm and Final Grades the following is adjusted:

Attendance (presence in class) – 25%Participation (classroom activity, homework) - 25%Midterm test – 20% Final test – 30%

Attention: Missing more than 12 hours (6 weeks) a semester is a mandatory failure

Power Point Arrangement Tips:Don’t do it!

Don’t write entire presentation text on a slideDon’t read from the slidesDon’t get too technicalDon’t apologize for errors – proofread!Avoid video or make it really short

Power Point Arrangement Tips:Do it!Present an outlineChoose 24 font size, sans-serif type (Arial)Use contrasting colorsChoose white or light colored slide backgroundsInclude photographs, pictures, chartsUse the microphoneSummarize infoSend thanks

Presentation Methods: 3 W

3W1.Where to go?

2.What to see?

3.What to eat?

Presentation Methods

1. Presentation process [10 – 15 minutes]Present a place. Describe: 1. its location (size?)

2.population number (population density)

3.historical and cultural roots,

4.cultural connections

5.gastronomy specialties, etc.

Presentation Methods (cont)

2. Get feedback [5 – 10 minutes]Ask questions on the subject of your presentationPrepare crosswords, puzzles, quizzes

Characteristics of a good guide

Friendly Aggressive outgoing Responsible Gentle extrovertAwful Warm helpfulInformative Impolite understandingHumble Efficient patientNoisy Talkative activeOrganized ResourcefulIndifferent Extreme

A sample introduction

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I would like to introduce myself. My name is Ariel. I am a tour guide for World Travel Company. I am from Tainan. I will be with you during your entire stay here. You can feel free to consult me anytime about the trip. As well, I have ensured that you can enjoy a well-organized and

efficient travel agenda. I intend to provide you with a smooth and relaxing tour. I will help you check in and out of the hotel., check transport

arrangement, organize the itinerary, make reservations and deal with any problem that may arise.

I have been trained to respond quickly to any need you may have.

Read the dialogue:A: Is it hot these days in Taiwan? What type of clothing should

I bring this evening?B: It is hot and humid in summer here, and there usually are

thundershowers in the afternoon. The temperature during the day is almost 30 degrees Celsius and above. We will visit Shihlin night-market this evening, so wearing a T-shirt, jeans or thin fabric clothing is more suitable.

A: Why are Taipei markets so popular and famous?B: The night-markets are everywhere around Taiwan, and they

are where you get lots of tasty local foods, fashionable clothes, and even some products you never imagined. You can think of these markets as a kind of fair.

A: Which food should I try?B: Peal milk tea, fried oyster with eggs, fish ball soup, beef

noodles, sour and spicy soup, rice vermicelli, and so on.A: Sounds good.

A Brief guide to Taiwan

Historical backgroundHighly diversified cultureAboriginals in TaiwanMain nationalitiesNature spots: mountains, seas, rivers; flora, fauna

Unit 2: Brief introduction to TaiwanWhat do the following words mean?

Various DiversifiedProvince AncestorMandarin ImmigrantDominate InhabitantAboriginal IndigenousRemain OccupyCustom Tradition

Read the following text

In Taiwan you will surely appreciate the various cultures of the island.

Formosa, as it was called in earlier times by the Portuguese explorers, has a rich historical background and a highly diversified culture.

Read the following text

Taiwan ancestors came from many different places, but mainly from the province of Fujian, in southern China. The descendants of the first Fujian settlers are called southern-Min People (Min-nan Ren in Mandarin Chinese). In addition to these Fujian settlers, the Hakka people arrived from the province of Canton. There are also more recent immigrants from other provinces in mainland China.

Read the following text (2) (cont):

However before the arrival of Chinese people, there was an even earlier group of inhabitants on Taiwan, and they are referred to as “Formosan Austronesians”. Essentially, they are of the same origins as aboriginals in the other Pacific Islands. The aboriginal tribal groups in Taiwan have significantly different languages and customs.

Read the following text

As a whole, they came to form the culturally varied indigenous pre-modern society of Taiwan. Some of these customs and traditions have been preserved to this day. That is why on this island it is possible to appreciate aboriginal, Taiwanese (including Hakka and Min-nan) and Mainland Chinese cultures as essentially forming the whole of this society. However, we should not forget that the Dutch and the Japanese also contributed to some aspects of Taiwanese culture, as these two ethnic groups occupied Taiwan for prolonged periods.

Define meanings of the following words:Resource CollisionPlate PeakAltitude FeatureBoast SpectacularEcology ProfuselyWonder TeemMangrove MigrantSpoonbill PreserveEndangered

Read the following text:

The forests in Taiwan can be considered the most important and abundant natural resource of the island.

Due to the collision of the tectonic plates, there are many mountain peaks more than 3,000 meters high.

Geographically, this wide range in altitude allows many varieties of plants that grow profusely throughout the island.

Read the following text:

As the mountains and forests can be reached relatively easily from anywhere around the island, mountain climbing and forest hiking is a popular activity in Taiwan.

To meet this interest, several national parks or national scenic areas have been established in different parts of the island.

Today, there are 4 such mountain national parks, each featuring different types of forests, animal life, spectacular peaks, and river valleys.

Read the following text (cont):

These mountain parks offer a wide range of viewing experiences of many natural wonders.

In addition, some parks are located fairly near the ocean, and so it is possible to see many coastal areas teeming with sea animals and exotic plants.

Read the following text (cont):

A good example of this kind of coastal beauty is the mangroves, which are found on the western coast of the island.

These mangroves attract beautiful migrant birds, many of which stay for the winter, such as the spoonbill.

In recent years a number of wildlife reservations have been established to help save many of these endangered species, this enabling them to flourish on the island.

Unit 3:Around Kenting National Park

LocationThe most popular and famouse placeSub-tropical climateBeautiful viewsKenting Forest recreation area: bird watching

pavilions

Unit 4:Around Yushan National Park

LocationMajestic heightHiking in the parkFlora: Yushan Asalea

Unit 5:

Around Taroko National Park Tunnel of 9 TurnsSwallo GrottoThe Bridge of the Kind MotherJhueilu Precipice

Unit 6: Around Yangmingshan National

Park A Park for nature explorersVolcanic topographyKingdom of birds and flowers

Unit 7:

Around Kinmen National Park Jin-Hu TownshipLiaoluo BayJhaishan TunnelSihwei TunnelGuningtou Battle MuseumAugust 23d Bombardment MuseumHuchingtou War MuseumTaiwan Strait

Unit 7:Around Kinmen National Park

Read texts at pp. 106 – 109 and answer the following questions:

1.What is Kinmen?2.What can you find in Kinmen?3.How did it become a military base?4.Name places of tourist attraction there. What is so

special about them?5.What cultural styles do settlements in Kinmen reflect?6.Name some important events connected to Kinmen.7.Have you ever been to kinmen? What attracted you

most there?

Unit 8:Penghu LocationHistorical BackgroundTemples: Matzu TemplesTongliang Banyan TreeIslands: Baisha Island, Yuanbei, Hujing

Unit 8:Penghu

Read texts at pp.124 – 127. Answer the following questions:

1. Where is Penghu located?2. How many islands are included in this archipelago?3. What is a historical name of Penghu? What does it

mean?4. What attracts tourists to come to Penghu?5. What is meant by Whale Cave?6. Name some places of tourist attraction in Penghu.

What is so special about them?7. Have you ever been to Penghu? What attracted

you most there? Why?

Unit 9:

Fireworks Festival The Lantern FestivalBackground: Guan-gong GodFirecrackersYangshui

Unit 9:Fireworks Festival

Read texts at pp. 144 – 147. Answer the following questions:

1.What firework festival is popular in Taiwan?2.When does it take place?3.How many people attend this event every year?4.Why are fireworks so popular in Taiwan? What is

their background?5.Name some activities popular during those

festivals.6.What is so special about Yan-Shuei?7.Have you ever participated in a firework festival in

Yan-Shuei. What attracted you most?

Unit 10: An Ecotour of Tainan

A place for the Black-faced SpoonbillShuangchun coastal ecology parkMangroves

Unit 10: An Ecotour of TainanRead texts at pp. 162 – 16. Answer the following questions:1.What place became the most popular ecological viewing spot

in Taiwan? Why?2.What can you find there?3.What attracts visitors there?4.What is meant by mangroves? Describe them.5.Where are they located?6.When and where was the Shuangchun Coastal Ecology Park

established?7.Have you ever been to that park? What attracted you most

there?

4

Unit 11: A Trip to an Aboriginal Village

Aboriginal TribesAtayalPaiwanAmisSeediqBununRukaiTsouPuyumuTau, etc.

Unit 11: A Trip to an Aboriginal VillageRead texts at pp.177 – 183. Answer the following

questions:1.How many aboriginal tribe are known to you?2.Describe their origins and roots and languages.3.What is the most popular aboriginal village to visit

in Taiwan? Why?4.Whjat do you know about Bunun people?5.What can you see in a Bunun Village?6.Have you ever visited any aboriginal village in

Taiwan? What attracted you most there? Why?

Unit 12: A Gourmet Trip

Snacks and Places to GoTaiwanese snacks:TempuraPot-side scraped soupFried oystersMouthful sausageSalty rice puddingRice tube puddingSliced noodlesBean curd

Unit 12: A Gourmet Trip

Read texts at pp.198 – 203. Answer the following questions:

1. What are traditional Tainan snacks?2. Why is a famous Tainan snack called “coffin plate”?3. How to cook shrimp rolls?4. Describe some famous Tainan desserts.5. Describe some other Taiwan snacks.6. What is your favorite snack? Why?7. Where can you buy your favorite snack?8. Do you know how to cook it? Describe the process.

Unit 13: Popular Attractions in Taiwan

Locations: Alishan, Sun-Moon Lake,The National palace MuseumYangmingshanTarokoKentingYushanTaipei 101Si-touCigu

Unit 13: Popular Attractions in Taiwan

Read texts at pp.216 – 220. Answer the following questions:

1. What are the spots of most popular attractions in Taiwan?2. Why do people like to visit the Ali Mountain range?3. What attracts people in the Sun-moon lake area?4. What is so special about the Taipei 101?5. Why are people interested in the National Palace

Museum?6. What places attract you most in Taiwan? Describe them.7. Why do you like to go there?8. Describe your most bright impressions from the place.

Finals

Compose a short guide-book to Taiwan

Describe sights of tourist attraction

which you would recommend to visitIn Taiwan