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Ministries promote English learning
COMPETITION:
Organizing a contest with lucrative prizes for high school students might switch them on to the joys of English study, MOFA and the MOE hope
By Debby Wu
STAFF REPORTER
Friday, Sep 19, 2003, Page 4
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Minister of Foreign Affairs Eugene Chien, left, and Vice Education Minister Wu Ming-ching held a press conference yesterday to encourage high-school students to enter an English competition and become ``youth diplomats.''
PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Ministry of Education are inviting students to enter an English competition in a bid to promote English education among high-school students.
All public and private high schools students are eligible to enter the competition except those who once studied abroad or studied in local foreign expatriate schools or bilingual schools for more than a year. High schools should select four students to form a group to participate in the competition.
In the first stage of the competition, each team is required to use an art performance such as dance or drama to introduce Taiwanese culture in English, and a member will be chosen from each team to give a speech in English.
In the final round, teams will give art performances, and 13 will be chosen to proceed in the English speaking contest. Eight will be chosen to proceed with short interviews in the final contest.
The first stage of the competition will be held at venues in north, central and southern Taiwan. Six teams will be chosen from each venue to enter the final round of the competition.
The members of the eight finalist teams will get a certificate and a souvenir.
The first-place finisher will also be rewarded NT$50,000 and an overseas trip for five to seven days during the winter break.
Competition details and the application form can be downloaded from the Public Television Web site at www.pts.org.tw/~web01/abc/index.htm. The application deadline is Sept. 30. Public Television will broadcast the final round of the competition.
"This activity is meant to stimulate students' interests in English, help students get a better grip on international affairs and improve their diplomatic ability," MOFA said in its press release.
In related news, the Oh Canada/Oh America Education Consulting Centers are hosting an English writing and speech competition -- "English: I'm the Best" -- in conjunction with the fall America and Canadian Education Expos.
Those who submit a 500-word English essay before Oct. 24 are eligible to win one of six trips to study English in Canada or the US.
Contest participants are divided into two age groups: 13 to 18 and 19 to 35.
Essay topics are: How would studying overseas change my life? How can I make my overseas study dream a reality? and What makes Canada/USA a great place to study?
Essays can be submitted to two Web sites: www.ohcanada.net and www.ohamerica.net.
Winners will be announced on the Web sites on Nov 7.
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