I have
lived in
Taiwan for fifteen and a half years. Apart from a year in
Taipei, studying Chinese, I have spent most of my time in
Tainan, teaching in Chang Jung Girls’ School.
I have
seen many changes during the past 15 years. There are more
people and bigger towns. There are better roads and more traffic
on the roads. There are more trains, but it is more difficult to
buy tickets！ There are more factories and there are more goods
in the shops. The cities are noisier and many people are going
to the country at weekends, to visit interesting places or to
climb mountains.
Three
are more students and more schools. The students have changed,
too. Perhaps some do not work so hard, but they are more ready
to ask questions and to discuss the subjects they are studying.
Asking questions is a very important part of education.
What
have I been teaching?
Most of
my time I have taught English conversation in school, but I have
had several evening classes for university students, for the
China Youth Corps, for teachers and various other people. Now
there are many good text-books and new methods for teaching
English Conversation, but these are more effective with smaller
classes.
Last
term, I taught a course on Byron’s poetry in Chengkung
University Night School. This poetry was written at a time when
Industry was growing rapidly in
England, and many people were afraid that the beautiful
countryside would be spoilt by too many big towns and dirty
factories.. Today this poetry is relevant to
Taiwan, as well as many other places.
A few
years ago I taught a course in Tainan Theological College on
Teilhard de Chardin. This French Catholic Priest was also a
famous Geologist and interested in working out a philosophy of
science and religion, based on the Evolution of Matter, Thought
and the Christian Faith.
But I
have been most interested in teaching Biology in school. This is
a very important subject, for it can help us to understand
ourselves better, and to know more of the world in which we
live. But reading books is not enough！
Taiwan has a very rich Fauna and Flora and I feel it is
important for students （and other people） to get out into the
country, to climb mountains, to search the ponds and streams,
and discover the wealth of plant and animal life.
Sometimes in July I shall return to
England, to continue teaching Biology and to help my
sister to look after my mother. Of course I shall be glad to get
back to my family in
England, but I shall be very sad to leave
Taiwan where I have lived for so long and have so many
friends.
