Studio Classroom founder Doris Brougham becomes naturalized citizen

Studio Classroom founder Doris Brougham becomes naturalized citizen

2023-06-21

Doris Brougham has taught English to generations of students in Taiwan using Studio Classroom, the pioneering English program she founded. Now 96 years old, Brougham has dedicated herself to Taiwan for over seven decades. She’s recently become a naturalized citizen of Taiwan. On Tuesday President Tsai Ing-wen presented Brougham with a Taiwanese passport at the Studio Classroom headquarters. Brougham said that she’ll never retire and that she’ll continue with the program.

Doris Brougham
Studio Classroom founder
I don’t know how I deserve this. I’m a very ordinary person, but I’ve always been happy to help. I’m very touched. We must continue, and stick together, and do more, and help each other, so that the level of English here will be enhanced. I’ve become Taiwanese, so I can meet and be with you all in person. My work is here and so is my heart.

Born in Seattle, Brougham arrived in Taiwan from China in 1951 following the Chinese Civil War. She had originally served as a missionary in Hualien, and soon noticed the lack of quality English education in Taiwan. In 1962, she founded Studio Classroom. At the event, the household registration department head, Lin Ching-chi, thanked Brougham for her dedication to English language learning in Taiwan. Lin said her efforts helped cultivate a more international mindset in Taiwanese students and elevated the level of English in the country. He added that it is Taiwan’s great fortune to have a talent like her.

來台教育貢獻超過70年彭蒙惠取得台灣身分證

2023-06-21

空中英語教室，是許多台灣人學生時期的回憶，創辦人是來自美國，高齡96歲的彭蒙惠，來台教育貢獻超過70年，如今終於成為台灣人取得身分證。總統蔡英文也PO文，特別到空中英語教室參觀，也送上台灣護照，讓彭蒙惠相當感動，喊出不退休，要繼續向前走。

[[空中英語教室創辦人彭蒙惠]]
“我是不配，我是非常平凡的人，但是我很願意幫忙。我很感動，我們要繼續，要團結，要多做，要幫忙，所以我們的英文會在這裡最好的。我已經是台灣人了，這樣就可以跟你們見面，跟你們在一起。我的工作在這裡，我的心也在這裡。”

彭蒙惠來自美國西雅圖，1951年在戰火下來到台灣，一開始先到花蓮服務傳教，後來發現台灣很需要英語教育，1962年創辦空中英語教室。內政部戶政司長感謝彭蒙惠長年為台灣的英語教育奉獻及服務，開拓了學生國際視野，也全面提升台灣的英語能力，能吸引這樣的人才來台深耕，是台灣人的福氣。

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President Tsai Ing-wen attends first post-pandemic in-person military graduation

As commander-in-chief of the armed forces, President Tsai Ing-wen attended the joint graduation ceremony of Taiwan’s military academies on Wednesday and conferred rank insignia to graduating trainees. She emphasized the administration’s commitment to military reform, including raising the salaries of military personnel by 4% starting 2024, to attract more talent. There were 12 exchange cadets from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies among the graduates, one of whom expressed that she would like to foster closer ties between her home country and Taiwan in her future role.

President Tsai Ing-wen was guest of honor at the joint graduation ceremony of Taiwan’s six military academies. This was the first cadet graduation that she has attended in person following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
In the past three years, because of the pandemic, I could only send my wishes to you via a pre-recorded video. I am happy to be here in person today, to express my best wishes to our graduating cadets at the armed forces’ six military academies. Every rank insignia represents the start of a military officer’s honorable quest: the great responsibility of protecting our country and our people.

President Tsai presented rank insignia to representatives of the six academies, which symbolizes the responsibility these graduates now shoulder. The president also highlighted several military reform efforts under her administration.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
Starting next year we will raise the salaries of military personnel by 4%. The government will also continue to improve lodging units and facilities, to make sure that we’re giving you more support and assistance.

There were over 2,000 graduates at the ceremony from the Army, Air Force and Navy, and the military medical school. There were also 12 exchange cadets from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
To international friends, I hope that once you return to your home countries, not only will you apply what you’ve learned here, but that you’ll also pass on Taiwan’s hospitality and friendliness, so that our ties as diplomatic allies can be strengthened further.

ROC Military Academy exchange cadet
I hope that our relationship between the two countries can keep growing and be stronger than before.

The exchange cadet from Eswatini said life at the military academy had been very fulfilling. She also expressed her reasons for joining the military.

ROC Military Academy exchange cadet
To protect my country, my king, my family and my friends.

Lai I-chi
ROC Naval Academy graduate
Facing an increasingly fraught state of affairs across the Taiwan Strait, I will apply what I’ve learned at the academy, have the courage to face challenges, make choices and changes, and shoulder the duty of safeguarding our territorial waters.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
We will also stand by all of you, and together, safeguard our sovereignty and uphold the values of freedom and democracy.

As commander-in-chief, the president was steadfast in her resolve to protect the homeland.

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Tourism Bureau aims to bring in 6 million international visitors by end of 2023

With summer in full swing, the Tourism Bureau is pulling out all the stops to boost international tourism back to pre-pandemic levels by 2024. Now, they’re showcasing a Summer Tourism Festival which features 35 activities for travelers, and will even be broadcasting a promotional video in New York City’s Times Square starting next month. Let’s hear about what’s in store.

Visit Taitung’s Luye Highland and sail into the sky in a colorful hot air balloon.

Or, head to Alishan to beat the heat and enjoy the best of Taiwan’s tea. Peak summer travel season is just around the corner, and the Tourism Bureau is organizing a festival to promote 35 summer tourism activities. To beckon international tourists to the island, they’ll even be showing a promotional video in New York City’s Times Square.

Wang Kwo-tsai
Transport minister
We’re currently working with the Chi Po-lin Foundation to film some scenes for the Summer Tourism Festival video, including some of the activities. It’ll be broadcasted in Times Square in the U.S. As we all know, content in Times Square can be seen by the whole world. Through international marketing, we invite the world to travel to Taiwan.

Currently, most of the tourists visiting Taiwan are from Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia. The Tourism Bureau’s video will be shown from July to the end of August, and aims to attract more tourists from North America. Their goal is to surpass 100,000 visitors from the region and bring international tourism back to pre-pandemic levels.

Wang Kwo-tsai
Transport minister
We’re working hard to bring in international tourists. The day before yesterday, we reached 2.46 million visitors, with a goal of 6 million by the end of the year. We are now sure that that goal will be reached, and that we can reach 12 million next year, which was the pre-pandemic level.

The transport minister stressed that local tourism in Taiwan is concentrated on weekends and holidays. He hopes that international visitors can help boost weekday travel, and power up Taiwan’s tourism market.

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Healthy zongzi buns are a lighter alternative for older folk in Keelung

Keelung is expected to become a "super aged" city this year. Local community leaders are developing events to help older adults maintain a happy and healthy lifestyle. And in this special week of Dragon Boat Festival, they have some clever ideas for age-friendly festivity. The classic zongzi is a bit of a heavy meal, even for the most robust stomach. So a cooking teacher has suggested a lighter alternative you can make at home that’s still tasty.

The steamer is opened and the smell of delicious zongzi fills the room. But cut open the string and unpeel the bamboo leaves, and you come upon an unexpected surprise.

These matcha flavored steamed zongzi buns are a hit.

It’s Dragon Boat Festival, but for many older people, the sticky rice of zongzi is a bit of a digestive hazard. That’s why Keelung Fishermen’s Association asked this cooking teacher to show local older adults this healthy alternative recipe.

Teacher
They’re for older people. We fear that sticky rice could hurt the stomach. So we’ve switched it for bread. Inside there are eggs too. It should be easier to make like this than sticky rice.

Keelung City councilor Tung Tzu-wei is no zongzi expert, but he came down to try the class. Keelung is forecast to become a “super-aged society” this year. Supporting older people to maintain good health is a top priority for local government.

Tung Tzu-wei
Keelung City councilor
These are great for older people. They’re good for digestion and you can get that Dragon Boat Festival feeling. It won’t feel like a kind of lifestyle discrimination.

Chen Wen-chin
Keelung Fishermen’s Association
There are weekly lunchbox events to care for older people, and we invite older folks to come and take a stroll at the Fishermen’s Association every week. There are lots of events – rapping and cooking, all sorts. We hope older people won’t be sitting lonely at home.

These novel zongzi buns are being sent as gifts to older people in Keelung as well as local orphanages, bringing healthy summertime vibes and festivity all over the city.

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Guandu International Nature Art Festival calling for entries

Guandu International Nature Art Festival is Taiwan’s first large-scale art event held in a conservation park. The festival will run from September till December, and it is now inviting both local and foreign artists to apply. Three artists will be chosen to create works using only natural materials or environmentally friendly materials. FTV reporter Stephany Yang has the details.

Since 2006, the Guandu International Nature Art Festival has invited artists to create works at the Guandu Nature Park. It is Taiwan’s first large-scale natural art event held in a conservation park. Organizers hope that the event can help connect people to their surroundings and foster ecological and animal conservation.

Huang Shao-hsuan
Taipei Animal Protection Office
The Guandu International Nature Art Festival has entered its 18th year. This year’s theme is "Nature, a Gift - Connection, Giving, and Exchange." We expect to invite three artists to be spend time at an artist-s-in-residence at the Guandu Nature Park.

This year’s theme is "Nature, a Gift - Connection, Giving, and Exchange.” The festival will invite submissions not just from local artists but those from the international community too. Submissions will be accepted until June 30. Three artists will be selected to spend around four weeks as artists-in-residence in Guandu Nature Park, using only natural or environmentally friendly materials to create artwork. The works will not be limited to one medium, but they must bring to light the values of biodiversity and connections between humans, ecology, and bird interactions around Guandu.

Huang Shao-hsuan
Taipei Animal Protection Office
The form of the works is not limited to one medium. The only requirment is to convey the awareness of habitat creation and biodiversity, the surrounding ecology of the Guandu area, and ecological conservation. The entry period is from now until Friday, June 30. Artists at home and abroad are welcome to participate. During the creation period, there are partial subsidies for accommodation, meals and transportation. For more details, please visit the Guanda Naturer Park website.

The exhibition will be held from Sept. 10 to Dec. 31 at Guandu Nature Park.

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Queer immigrant filmmakers take on coming out and family in short film

Taiwan is the first and currently the only country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. As such, it’s a beacon for LGBT rights across the continent. But for queer immigrants in Taiwan, living as a minority within a minority can be difficult. Today we meet second-generation immigrant filmmakers, who have taken on the theme of "coming out" in a new short movie. Their film "Actually, I Know Everything," directed by Chen Zixuan, focuses on the huge differences in attitudes that can exist in families in Taiwan, and makes a plea for mutual understanding.

This short film, directed by Chen Tzu-hsuan, explores the dilemma of coming out as queer to one’s family.

Chen Chen zixuan
Filmmaker
It came from me seeing an article online where someone shared the story of coming out to her mom. The ending was very touching and I wanted to turn it into a film. And then in the middle we really added some perspectives from the mothers of the two families, to create a feeling of conflict.

It’s no simple thing to separate family ties from romance. In “Actually, I Know Everything,” characters become more accepting as they come to understand each other’s perspectives.

Hsia Yi-yun
Hsing Wu University teacher
It renewed and re-inspired my thinking. I can understand them better now, and empathize. And it has helped me understand how to be with them. This film brought me a lot of learning.

The plot of the film is a microcosm of the filmmakers’ own experiences. The director is second-generation Indonesian-Taiwanese, while crew member Lee Chih-hao is a second-generation immigrant with a mother from China. And the two families have diametrically opposed views on LGBT issues.

Lee Chih-hao
Filmmaker
With the characters of the two mothers, and their different personalities, we wanted to represent different views on homosexuality among the general public.

The intersection of queerness with immigration in Taiwan is one we don’t often see onscreen. This film makes a heartfelt case to replace prejudice with mutual empathy and respect, creating a society where we celebrate love in all its colors.

This story was provided by the program "We Are Family"
Funded by New Immigrant Development Fund

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Young disabled baker wins acclaim for delectable cakes and breads

A young baker from Vanung University has won the President’s Educational Award. As a student at the Department of Food and Beverage Management, Chiang Pei-hsuan spends her days in the kitchen. Her specialty: artistic cakes and breads. The top young baker has won awards for her delectable and meticulously decorated creations. And she’s won special recognition as a disabled baker, having been born with conjoined fingers.

Butter is cut and added to dough, which goes in a variety of molds. Before long, they become beautiful, fragrant loaves of bread.

Chiang Pei-hsuan is a recipient of the 2023 President’s Educational Award for “endeavor and ambition.” She was born with conjoined fingers on her right hand, which were treated with multiple surgeries and extensive rehabilitation. She trained her fingers to be more strong and stable by pressing together chocolate and frosting. Some aspects of the work may take more effort, but she never forgets the passion that brought her into this job.

Chiang Pei-hsuan
Vanung University food student
You could see, when I was rolling with my hand just now, how there’s a difference between my hands, and in how powerful they are. I need to practice that more, probably. And when I was rolling just now, it was quite difficult.

Chiang’s hard work is attracting accolades. She won first place for cake decoration in the 17th National Skills Competition for the Disabled. She told us how the colored fondant is the most complex and manually taxing part of cake decoration.

Chiang Pei-hsuan
Vanung University food student
Every morning, basically I do it for seven or eight hours a day. With the time I have left, I’m thinking about how to make artistic breads.

And she has a charitable project for her baking.

Liao Cheng-wen
Vanung University department head
She’s not just making bread. She wants to spread love throughout the world. So every day, when she’s not in class, she takes her practice breads to the four boroughs around here and gives them to poor families and lonely older people, so they can know the experience of bread.

Chiang’s perseverance and ingenuity have been held up as a wholesome example, bringing joy to her and her community.

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