The government will invest NT$600 million (US$17.7 million) over the next three years to increase English proficiency, an official from the Research, Development and Evaluation Commission said on Monday.
The official said the Council for Economic Planning and Development had approved a proposal by the commission that will include the establishment of several English villages and the increased use of bilingual (Chinese-English) signboards at government agencies.
The official said that from next year to 2012 the government will set aside a budget of NT$200 million per year for the program, which will also include cultivating manpower, upgrading major cities’ international competitiveness, building an English-friendly environment and strengthening services for expatriates.
The official said the commission is planning on having more than one “English village” — an English-speaking community that immerses its students in an all-English environment to provide an alternative for those who cannot afford private tutoring or study programs abroad.
“Schools around the country that have unused or vacated classrooms are welcome to apply to establish an English village,” the official said, adding that private groups can also apply for the construction of an English village in line with the existing statute encouraging private investors to invest in public infrastructure construction.
It is hoped the English village project will enroll 3,000 students, or 1,000 per year, who will have the opportunity to obtain certificates proving they are proficient in English, the official said.
The government will conduct annual surveys among foreign expatriates to get their opinions on the country’s English environment and hopes to improve the average level of satisfaction by 1 percent a year to 68 percent by 2012, the official said.
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