The 2024 Training Program for Thai Chinese Language Teachers in Taiwan, organized by the Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC), ROC, and hosted by Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU), successfully concluded on April 26. A total of 40 Chinese language teachers from schools in Northern Thailand and the Bangkok area completed the 14-day professional training program. The closing ceremony and wrap-up discussion took place on the afternoon of April 25 at CYCU’s Shiou-Te Hall, Chang Ching-Yu Memorial Library, where participants expressed high praise for the diverse curriculum and the overall experience in Taiwan.
In her remarks at the closing ceremony, OCAC Chief Secretary Jung, Yu-Erh emphasized that the program not only enhanced participants’ teaching competence but also served as a platform for Taiwan–Thailand educational exchange, reflecting the tangible outcomes of international cooperation in Chinese language education. She encouraged participants to apply what they had learned in their classrooms and to continue fostering Chinese language and cultural heritage.
Dr. Daphne Ou, Director of CYCU’s Chinese Language Center, noted that the curriculum was tailored to meet the specific needs of overseas Chinese education in Thailand, integrating theoretical instruction, teaching demonstrations, and group-based practice. She expressed confidence that graduates would see marked improvements in teaching quality, innovative methodologies, and cultural literacy.
Participants reported significant gains in both pedagogical knowledge and cultural awareness, and many shared their reflections during the group discussion session. Principal Chang Yue-Ying of Ai Lin Chinese School praised the program’s rich and diverse content, covering topics rarely addressed in their previous training, and emphasized its long-term value for teaching. Director Liu Chi-Kuang of Kuang Fu High School in Chafang Village said the experience had deepened his commitment to the mission of Chinese language education and cultural transmission. Teacher Ma Shun-Tong from Thesirin School expressed interest in organizing future short-term language study trips to Taiwan for students and promoting faculty language training programs in Taiwan.
During the wrap-up session, OCAC Section Chief Liu Yu-Yun from the Overseas Student Affairs Division introduced programs supporting overseas student recruitment and retention, including scholarships and academic guidance resources, helping teachers better understand pathways for students to pursue higher education in Taiwan. Section Chief Lee Wei-Nung from the Teacher Training Division also announced that from May 14 to 30, two experienced Mandarin instructors from Taiwan would be dispatched to northern Thailand (Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai) to lead a five-stop teacher training tour, encouraging participants to continue professional development upon returning home.
