Published: Thursday, July 22, 2010

Taiwan is classroom this summer for three local students

Gregg Parker, Lifestyle Desk
Madison Weekly
Madison, Alabama’s Hometown Newspaper

For six weeks this summer, three Madison teenagers are absorbing culture at street markets, Confucius Temple and National Palace Museum while studying in Taipei, Taiwan.

Devin Baker, Kevin Duke and Ashleigh Horowitz from Bob Jones High School were chosen for the Alabama Mandarin Summer Immersion Program, administered by Alabama State University.

Duke and Horowitz have studied the Mandarin Chinese language in long-distance ACCESS classes (Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators & Students Statewide). Baker has studied with a private instructor in Huntsville.

"We were fortunate that three Bob Jones students were accepted in the program," college/career counselor Sheila Roberts said.

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Expenses for 15 students were paid by a grant to ASU from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs with the U.S. Department of State. The grant is open only to Alabama students.

"Our instructor, OuLaoshi, lectures and has us repeat until he's satisfied with our pronunciation," Horowitz said. Duke said their group activities reinforce comprehension of words and phrases. They attend class four days and have field trips on weekends.

Classes are conducted at Xi-Song High School. Students observed folk art, practiced taekwondo and prepared dumplings and sushi in cooking class.

"Our out-of-school practice is in markets when we haggle or on the streets if we strike a conversation," Horowitz said.

The Madison teenagers like Taipei's night markets with insanely cheap prices and 'interesting' smells. "We especially like the Rao He Night Market, only a mere 20-minute walk from our hotel," Horowitz said.

They visited Taipei 101, the world's second tallest building with the world's fastest elevator. "The night view was astounding," Horowitz said.

Lilly Beth Jones from ASU works with the immersion program and is chaperoning. "Our Island Tour included a stop at an aboriginal village, mountain climbing and snorkeling."

The class explored the Taipei Zoo, memorial halls dedicated to Chiang Kai-Shek and Sun Yat-sen, Shihsanhang Museum, Fisherman's Wharf, Yangmingshan National Park and Beitou Hot Spring Museum.

They experienced Taiwan's celebrated Lantern Festival, Jones said. The group went to the Grand Hotel, a popular landmark with traditional architecture designed to accommodate foreign ambassadors, and walked through two secret passages built as air-raid tunnels.

Starting July 24, students will spend two weekends with host families. "My first impression was they were normal people just like us," Duke said. "They were very nice, generous and made everybody laugh."

The friendliness and kindness of the Taiwanese people has surprised Baker. "I've always heard good things about the country, but I was overwhelmed with how true those things really were."

"The lack of stereotypical Asian modesty" startled Horowitz. "Next to our group on a beach, a teenage boy changed into his swim trunks. Small children play naked in any water they can find."

"My biggest surprise about Taiwan is how green the country is," Duke said. "Outside the big cities, most everywhere are green mountains and beautiful scenery."

"I'm sure they can all agree this experience will stay with them forever -- lasting friendships, deeper appreciation and new perspectives," Jones said.

Baker, Duke and Horowitz will return home Aug. 3.