Ministry of Education launches ETF plan to introduce American teaching assistants to rural schools

In order to allow rural students to enjoy diverse English learning and international exchange opportunities, the Ministry of Education has cooperated with the Academic Exchange Foundation to promote the "American English Teaching Staff Scholarship Program" (ETF Program), which introduces American English teaching assistants to the campus and combines multiple learning methods such as English teaching, after-school activities and theme camps, so that students can be exposed to English in a natural and life-like situation and have the courage to speak English.

Taking the English learning camp at Zhushan Elementary School in Nantou County as an example, ETF teaching assistants design learning tasks based on characters and life themes familiar to students, and combine treasure hunts, music rhythms, handicraft activities, and making American camping snacks S’mores, so that students can naturally come into contact with English through games, hands-on activities, and team interactions. ETF teaching assistants guide students to complete tasks in English during the activities, encourage students to communicate in simple English, and transform English from classroom learning content into a practical and interactive communication tool.

In addition, Pingtung County Liuqiu Elementary School and Tiannan Elementary School organize English learning camps with the theme of "Olympics", combining sports competitions, teamwork and task challenges, allowing students to learn English instructions, encouraging sentences and related vocabulary in a simulated competition situation, and use English to complete tasks through activities such as mascot design, obstacle course and puzzle solving. Students practice expression, listening and communication through cooperation and interaction, gradually accumulate confidence in using English from "dare to speak", and at the same time develop teamwork and problem-solving skills.

The Ministry of Education stated that in order to improve the English learning and practical application opportunities for students in rural areas, it will continue to introduce foreign English teaching manpower into rural areas, combine camps, clubs and life-oriented activities, so that students can contact English and understand diverse cultures in real interactive situations, and create an English learning environment that "can be heard, used and dare to speak". It will also continue to integrate relevant resources to expand the teaching effectiveness of foreign English teaching manpower, making English learning closer to students and taking root in rural areas.