Teaching Chinese as a Second Language Program

While I was teaching English in Taiwan; I also registered for the Chinese Teacher Training program at the Chinese Language Center associated with National Chengchi University in Taipei. The program was 96 credit hours total for 8 weekends (12 hours per weekend) and it was pretty intense. We were given lots of info in 12-13 subject matters. It was good to have the resources but at the same time, there wasn't enough time to digest all the info in a short amount of time. At the end of the term, we had to pass a final exam, teaching demo, and a group lesson plan. Once you passed all the required assignments, then you would receive a certificate in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language. I've never had the chance to take a college/or above leveled program instructed exclusively in Chinese Mandarin. It was definitely an interesting and memorable experience for me:)

Highlights 2008 - Gunpo, South Korea

I taught at Gunpo Elementary School in South Korea for about 8 months in 2008. It was definitely an experience I will never forget. It was very difficult at first because of the language barrier, some cultural shocks, and just being in a foreign land without knowing anybody. It got better after I start making friends and was surprised how many foreigners were there in the Seoul area teaching English. I started a blog while I was there- to share my experiences and thoughts with friends. Overall, it was a good experience, I feel like I've learned a lot. I wanted an adventure, and I definitely got one!

South Korea 2008 blog : http://kr05192008.blogspot.com/

Highlights of 2009 - Taipei, Taiwan

I taught at a univeristy extension in Taipei, Taiwan at the beginning of the year for about 4 months. It was my first time teaching adult students, so I was very nervous before my first class. Thankfully I had very good students:) although they are all older than me, but they still gave me the apporpriate respect which was a huge relieve for me. Because I was there towards the beginning of Febuary, I got to celebrate the Chinese New Year. It's the year of Cow and they had the COW decorations everywhere in Taipei. Also there are lots of Pandas too because the 2 pandas in Taipei Zoo were gifts from China, so the people in Taiwan were all crazy about the pandas (in a good way^=^).

And I found this cool display at the airport! it has the Chinese zodiac with the corresponding years of birth. I've attached the pix above as well.

Dream(s) Come True??

Do Dreams really come true? as we all would like to think so, but sometimes we really just don't know. For some people, it appears that their dreams and desires come so easily; but for others, it's seems to be a long-waiting-unknown process. Waiting plus unknown is one of the hardest combo in the meals of life. It stirrs up that fear inside of us, and if the process is lengthy, it can also cause emotional breakdowns and depression~ and it's definitely NO FUN!

While waiting and unknow-ing, there's something we're capable of doing as human beings, it may sounds cheesy, but we get to "HOPE". While visiting in VA, I got this shirt from Forever 21, I now call it the "HOPE shirt". It has the definition of the word HOPE on it and I got it just so I can be reminded and also be inspired to have "HOPE" in the time of waiting.

It says HOPE: To have a feeling, chance, desire, expectation or wish to do something or to make something happen...

Those living dreams inside of us; some of them we can work on to try to achieve them, while others are totally out of our control whatever the results would be. During this season of waiting and unknown, I can only take it day by day and work on reaching my dreams and goals, and hopefully one day when i'm close enough to reach them, I will be able to grab them!

Don't give up HOPE; Don't stop believing, and Don't ever stop DREAMING!

*WHAT ARE YOUR DREAMS? DO YOU BELIEVE IN DREAM(S) COME TRUE?