Teacher, Leave Those Kids Alone

In this week's discussion, we will focus on education.

I've found two articles related to this topic in Times website. You can read the first one for this week's discussion. If you have more time, you can read the second one as well.

links are provided below:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2094427,00.html

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1644924,00.html

After reading the article about Korea’s Hagwon phenomenon, it reminds me of my old times when I prepared my university entrance exam. In terms of crammed schools, Taiwan and other Asian countries (Japan, China, Korea) are quite alike. We went to after-school institution to cram a lot of information that is barely used in daily life. And my teacher also told us that “if you don’t study now, you will regret for the rest of your life.” I figured that she’s trying to say “Receiving admission from top universities promises you a better treatment or life in the future.” However, this “one size fits all” education is not suitable for all kinds of students. Our education officials realized this point and try to make it right by enforcing reforms in education. Today, we will discuss our experiences in old school days and your opinions about education.

Questions:

1. Have you ever been to cram schools when you were in schools? What subjects did you take in cram schools? Did you like to go to cram schools?

2. In the past few years, Taiwan ‘s ministry of education made some educational reforms. As far as I know, they stressed the importance of creativity and innovation not just memorization of knowledge alone. Do you think students now are less stressful and more creative?

3. If you have kids, will you send them to cram schools or talent schools (for example schools teaching dancing, music)? Why?

4. Do you think “a ticket to top university” is a guaranteed way for a promising life in the future?

5. If you were an educational official who has power to enforce educational reform, what aspect of education will you change or what would like students to learn in schools?

Organ Transplantation Scandal

Reading material:
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/editorial/taiwan-issues/2011/09/02/315271/Discriminating-against.htm

Five unfortunate people just survived from the risky organ transplantation surgery but now they may face another unexpected challenge in their life, HIV infection. It is because that the organs they receipt came from an HIV-infected donor who die in an accident. This incident was a result of series of mistakes. The donor’s family had no idea about his illness; the transplant team of NTU hospital failed to follow the SOP. In fact, not only the five patients but also the members of transplant team had a high risk of HIV infection. The HIV expertises claimed that people should be kept tracking until May 2012 to determine if they were infected. I think it would be a great suffering to those people. This case may be the worst medical malpractice case in Taiwan’s recent history.

Let’s discuss some questions related to this issue!

1. In our society, the politicians tend to name a few scapegoats in this kind of scandal, especially near election time. Who do you think should take the responsibility to this event? (The coordinator, the leader of organ transplant team, Department of Health or the whole system?)

2. Imagine that if you were one of the patients who received the HIV positive organ, could you deal with the cruel truth and how will you react to it?

3. One of the patients plan to get married after the risky surgery. If you were this patient’s boyfriend/girlfriend, would you still get married with her/him?

4. Do you agree that the authorities should put a person’s HIV/AIDS status on their national health insurance card to prevent the same mistake happens again?

5.Have you considered donating your organ(s) or whole body after death for transplantation or research? Why?

Blockbuster of Recent Taiwanese Movies

The movie theaters in Taiwan have been dominated by Hollywood movies for a long time. However, the situation has changed recently. In 2008, the movie "Cape No. 7," directed by film director Wei Te-sheng, hit a new high record of box office income among local movies. Since then, many audience start to buy tickets to go to see Taiwanese moives. Investors also show their high interst paying money for local film production.

In the link below, President Ma praises the Taiwanese film industy in his weekly online speech. Please see the report for detail.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/08/28/2003511867

1. Have you ever gone to movie theaters to see local films in recent years? Which movie did you see? What reason motivates you to buy the ticket?

2. What do you think about the success of Taiwanese moives? Do you think their success is nothing but lucky? For example, why do the recent movies like "Jump Ashin" and "You Are the Apple of My Eye" stimulate so many discussions and earn much praise of audience?

3. Taiwan cultural and creative industry has long been ignored since most people don't think it would be a business. After the global recession and financial crisis of US government, technology and conventional industries are declining. Do you think the movie or other creative industries will be the next star for Taiwan?

Internet subscribers vent their anger

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/08/20/2003511204

Chunghwa Telecom is an overwhelming Monopoly internet access
provider in Taiwan. Consumers of broadband Internet service
and 3G mobile Internet connections in taiwan have been
exploited for a long time by Chunghwa Telecom.
Taiwanese government has claimed that the Popularization of
internet is higher than many countries for many times. But
the question is where the quality is,do people feel fair
since only 10M bandwidth after paying for 100M bandwidth,
and why Taiwanese government doesn't compare the unit price
with Japan or korea. Hence, here comes few questions:

1.Which internet broadband service do you use? Why? How is
it? Whcih one do you recommend us to use?

2.Over ten thousand people have clicked "like" to vent
their anger about Chunghwa Telecom's services. What do you
think?Did you click it or express your emotion on it.

3.How about Chunghwa Telecom response to these compaints?
Do you think they really have very bad attitude and only know
how to suck the blood from stupid Taiwanese citizens?

A Tragedy Brings Up the Meaning of Life

Today I read the news about the death of the president of Taishin Financial Holdings Co., Mr. Lin Keh-hsiao (林克孝). Mr. Lin is a person who loves mountain climbing. The accident happened when he challenging a tough route in Ilan mountain, he fell down the cliff and died. This is not his first time for this risky route, and he has two companions who are both familiar with the mountain, however, the tragedy still happened. While feeling a pity for this man, there are some issues worth of thinking.

Taishin Holdings president found dead after fall in Yilan
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/taipei/2011/08/13/313231/Taishin-Holdings.htm


1. Are you an adventure lover? Have you tried actitvies such as rock climbing, white-water rafting, surfing? Or more exciting like bungee jumping or skydiving? Share your experience.

2. Say you were a family of Mr. Lin, will you stop him from his favorite yet highly dangerous activities?

3. Mountains are Mr. Lin's favorite. He even published a book called "Finding the Way" talking about a ancient path in Ilan mountain. This passion touched me. Please share things that you are passionate about and are executing.

4. In the opposite side, share things that you've dreamed of but never had a chance doing.

City Wandering

Every time when I got tired of work and need to take a breath, I would

like to escape from the office for a city wandering. It doesn't take very

long time. It may not cost much. But it is a kind of quick remedy for

coping with stress, at least to me.

http://thedailybubbletea.com/2007/02/28/228-memorial-park-and-surrounding-area/

Above links are blog articles written by a Taiwanese's son-in-law.

Through the window of an American immigrant, every streets, buildings,

scenes look different.

Taiwan Tourism Bureau Video Clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqETnl1mWrc

Discussion:

(1) If you have a one-day break, how will you arrange your time?

(2) What is your favorite city or town in Taiwan? Why?

(3) "If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then

wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris

is a moveable feast." --- Hemingway

Paris is so attractive that it has become a symbol of romance. What

makes a city so famous? Ancient relics, magnificent museums, left

banks or something else?

(4) What do you think about the pros and cons of Taiwan tourism? Do

you think promotion and advertisement can bring more tourists here

and make them impressive?

Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin?

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1914974-1,00.html

The article is rather long but the conclusions of some studies mentioned are quite interesting.

Some of my female friends went to yoga or aerobic classes after work to stay thin or to lose weight. However, this article poses a question: does exercising really make you lose weight? According to the author, the answer to this question is “NO”. You can read the article to find out why (If you can not read the whole article before our discussion, please read page 1. You can finish it later on.)

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you exercise regularly? What kind of exercise do you do? Why do or do not exercise?

2. Have you (or your friends) ever tried to lose weight or go on a diet? What are your (or your friends’) ways to lose weight?

3. Celebrities and fashion models always care much more about their weight and appearance than normal people do. Do you think “thinner is prettier?”

4. Imagine that you are in a “Girlfriend or Boyfriend Supermarket” where there are only two kind of people left for you to choose from to be your girlfriend or boyfriend, would you choose someone who is obese but rather funny and have a sense of humor or someone who have perfect body (thin and have muscles) but rather a boring person?

5. To be announced later in our discussion.