By: Jonathan Tran and Devyn Nguyen
Several Taiwanese students came to MHS in an exchange program to experience American schooling and culture for one week. Taiwanese Exchange Students Yu-Wei Chang, known as Vivian, and Alan Lu talked about the differences between Taiwan and America. They also offered their thoughts on MHS and how it compares to the schooling in Taiwan at both the high school and college levels.
Q: How has your time at MHS been so far?
Vivian: I found the schools and the classes to be pretty cool and I thought that they’re better than my Taiwanese classes.
Alan: I think it’s okay, the learning atmosphere is okay. [It is my] second time in America, [and the] experience is about the same.
Q: Are there any major differences in the schools of America and Taiwan?
Vivian: My Taiwanese schooling is pretty good and I’m doing well. In Taiwan, most teachers teach more by the book and what exactly is inside of the textbook, but over here I see teachers doing more diverse things to teach their students. For example, I went to a biology period and the teacher actually showed them a video. I’ve never seen that in Taiwan, teachers showing a video to teach. Also, listening to the class and watching how the students did their basic activities. There’s a lot more freedom in what the students choose and what they do. I thought that was a really big difference compared to my schooling in Taiwan and I really see it.
Alan: You guys don’t have uniforms. You guys participate a lot, more than us. We don’t raise our hands. [Taiwanese teachers] expect a lot of participation. Different schools have different rules, our school, 40 students to each teacher. We always move as a group, 40 kids. We separate into 3 groups, science, math and language, and I’m in the language group. [The math is] really different from Taiwan, the teachers here only talk [for] about 5 minutes. The levels of math are about the same.
Q: What’s your favorite part about America?
Vivian: I like America’s basic atmosphere. The general vibe of the school over here is different from the vibe I get at my school, and I really like it. One of the main things that I notice is that in Taiwan, there is more pollution and trash on the ground, but I see that your campus is nice and clean. This gives me a really different vibe in the one that Taiwan gives me and the one that America gives me.
Q: Is there anything you’re excited to try while here?
Vivian: I want to make a lot of American friends.
Alan: We’re going to go try In-N-Out!
Q: Have you had any problems adjusting to the differences?
Vivian: In coming to America, I haven’t had any real problems in adjusting.
Alan: [Adjusting] is not only ok, it’s great!
Q: What’s the college admissions process like in Taiwan?
Alan: We have interviews with the professors, it is not so scary.
Q: Is going to university an expectation of every kid when they turn 18?
Alan: Yes it is like, the degree, you must have the degree if you want a good job.
