Choosing the right school
Six years ago, I visited Chiao Cheng Primary School in Sanyi (三義), Miaoli County, with a simple question: Could my son enter Taiwan’s public education system?
At that time, I knew very little about school rankings or curricula. What drew me to the school was the quiet beauty of its environment — tall trees, open green space and a peaceful garden.
While many parents choose schools based on academic standards, my only guide was intuition — a place surrounded by nature might offer a healthy beginning for my child.
However, the start was not easy. My son Nicolas struggled to adapt. Although he had lived in Taiwan since he was one month old, he questioned why he should begin his education in Chinese when his nationality is Spanish. He has always been a child who asks questions and seeks reasons, and the language transition was challenging.
In that first year, I discovered something unique about education in Taiwan: Parents play a very active daily role. They supervise homework closely and stay involved in the child’s school life.
I tried to follow this approach, even studying Chinese myself, but soon realized that I could not help Nicolas academically in a language I was still learning.
What made the difference was the support of the school’s teachers and staff. Behind Taiwan’s reputation for academic pressure, I found a group of dedicated and compassionate educators. They guided my son patiently through reading, writing and the emotional challenges of being a foreign child learning in a new language. Many fears I had heard from others — strictness, harsh expectations — did not match our experience. Instead, I encountered understanding, kindness and a genuine commitment to helping him succeed.
Our integration has been mutual. Teachers have learned from having an international student in class, and our family has learned from becoming part of this community. This year, Nicolas is finishing primary school and will continue school with confidence and a sense of belonging.
This year, a meaningful milestone arrived: After 12 years in Taiwan, and thanks to changes in immigration policy, Nicolas obtained permanent residency. For him, it feels like recognition. For me as a mother, it is deeply moving.
When you love a country and it welcomes your child as one of its own, you feel less like an immigrant and more like you are truly home.
Luisa Sanmiguel
Miaoli County
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