I am coming home! Taiwan, here I come!
目前分類：未分類文章 (20)
- Jul 03 Tue 2012 11:19
好消息!
- Jul 09 Thu 2009 21:07
Arrival in Taiwan
I am visiting Taiwan from July 3 to July 29.
- Jun 28 Sun 2009 09:20
I Am Coming Home!!
Mama, I Am Coming Home!
- Feb 14 Sat 2009 14:10
Professional Rebirth
For my birthday, I watched a movie, the Ron Clark Story, and I saw my reflection in the movie. Hehehe....
It's too funny to watch some of the scenes because I often use exactly the same words that he used in the movie to talk to my students. For example, I am quite over-the-top dramatic in the classroom and I always tell my students that I have six eyes with two behind my ears. I can see exactly what they are doing behind me or know what they are trying to hide. So, they are warned right from day one not to fool around but pay full attention in class. When the students get caught, it is so funny to see them act like deer that get caught in the headlight.
Ron is an amazing teacher. I read his first book, the Essential 55, in 2003. Now, the movie based on his story is on DVD and he also has a second book out. I highly recommend Ron Clark's books to all teachers out there who are dedicated and trying their best day in and day out. His books are motivational books for teachers and it is definitely a great read.
- Jan 05 Mon 2009 04:09
Robin Williams' Take On the Election
He is so funny. You will enjoy this little clip.
- Nov 17 Mon 2008 06:50
For You to Ponder
I haven't got much time to write, so here is my cheat for the day. Let's just watch a few thought-provoking clips by Karl Fisch.
Did You Know
Did You Know - 4.0
Did You Know - 2008
Did You Know
Did You Know - 4.0
Did You Know - 2008
- May 27 Tue 2008 06:44
Long Night: a song for Sichuan and Myanmar
I always like a song called Long Night by this Canadian band, Rawlins Cross. They wrote this song Long Night for one of their dear friends who passed away. The song was written for the “wake” for their friend. What is a wake? You can check it out yourself. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wake_(ceremony)
Whenever there is a death, friends and family always get together to remember the deceased at the funeral. Thousands of deaths in Myanmar and Sichuan did not have the opportunities to be remembered. In fact, some could not even be found. A tragedy such as these large scaled disasters somehow has brought people closer together and truly shown humanity that was rooted deeply in every one of us. (Well, most of us, I guess.)
Here is the song for those whose lives were lost and those who lost their loved ones.
Long Night
By Rawlins Cross
Long night
So this is what it all comes to
Oh long night
Whenever there is a death, friends and family always get together to remember the deceased at the funeral. Thousands of deaths in Myanmar and Sichuan did not have the opportunities to be remembered. In fact, some could not even be found. A tragedy such as these large scaled disasters somehow has brought people closer together and truly shown humanity that was rooted deeply in every one of us. (Well, most of us, I guess.)
Here is the song for those whose lives were lost and those who lost their loved ones.
Long Night
By Rawlins Cross
Long night
So this is what it all comes to
Oh long night
- May 19 Mon 2008 11:28
Speechless with Grief
- Mar 09 Sun 2008 09:47
Survey: Just for Laugh
When I was young (correction: I AM still young, I am trying to say when I was YOUNGER), I used to get chain letters by mail. Now I get a lot of chain emails all the time but I usually just discard them with a simple click on that delete button. There is always a rule about forwarding it to a number of friends in order to get “good luck” in return. Well, I guess I haven’t been following the rule of chain mails to the dot. So, now I have accumulated too much “bad luck” to the point of no return. Maybe that is the reason why I have not won my million dollars yet. (Hahahaa.)
This is the first time that I have received this type of “chain blogging”. It was forwarded to me from my blog friend lavienouvelle (http://blog.pixnet.net/lavienouvelle/). So, I guess I should really redeem myself this time and follow the rule for some change of luck. Maybe if I could get lucky this time, I would be able to see my million dollars in no time. (Hehehe….)
I am sorry that I can only type in English on this computer. I would be able to upgrade my computer if I were to have some luck. So, please help me out here, my blog friends, who are next to receive this chain blogging mail. (hehehe….) Or, any volunteers? Anybody?
The following is my answers. Here you go!
- Feb 14 Thu 2008 10:55
Happy Valentine's Day to You All and Love at First Sight
I have been really busy lately. It is getting closer to the time for writing report cards which are due at the end of this month. Although I don't have time to write much for my blog, I do want to wish all of you a very Happy Valentine's Day with your loved one or loved ones.
For the people I love and the people who love me (even just a little bit), have a chocolate for yourself when you think of me. Here is an article from a newspaper site about "love at first sight". http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2008/02/13/pf-4845130.html
Do you believe it? Judge it yourself.
February 13, 2008
Most Canadians believe in love at first sight
For the people I love and the people who love me (even just a little bit), have a chocolate for yourself when you think of me. Here is an article from a newspaper site about "love at first sight". http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2008/02/13/pf-4845130.html
Do you believe it? Judge it yourself.
February 13, 2008
Most Canadians believe in love at first sight
- Feb 05 Tue 2008 20:29
Happy New Year to You All!
It's your New Year Eve there in Taiwan. You must be all sitting together and enjoying the dinner. I wish all of you and your loved ones a very Happy New Year!
- Jan 27 Sun 2008 06:46
Co Co and Po Po Time: How a Crazy Broadcaster Was Born
My First Stained Glass Panel
Co Co and Po Po Time
I have always wanted to do something for children who are going through family hardships. I believe that it is (or should be) everyone’s mission to reach out to others whenever they can. When I first started teaching in Taiwan, it was great to make money as an English teacher but it did not mean that I should forget our social conscience. As a student who could not afford to go to any cram school, I often thought about those children whose families could not send their kids to study English before junior high school. If I could make it, I should try my best to help others.
The year I got my first job teaching English at Fu Jen, I also started teaching at two other different language centers in Tien Mu and Shih Lin in Taipei. Parents were in a rush to send their children to the centers to learn English then. Adults paid big bucks to study in the evening to advance their language skills. Immigration boom just started to be on the rise which also helped the booming of the language centers business at that time. It was a great time to teach English and earn a decent income. We did have foreign teachers working at the centers, but the domestic teachers were greatly in demand.
While I was having a great time enjoying working full time at three different places, I got a phone call from a friend TL one day to ask me if I would like to help her plan a radio program called Fu Di Tien Tien Chuan. TL was a school friend of mine who actually hired me to work at Fu Jen’s Continuing Education Department. She was invited by a friend SY to design a segment for a children’s daily radio program.
Co Co and Po Po Time
I have always wanted to do something for children who are going through family hardships. I believe that it is (or should be) everyone’s mission to reach out to others whenever they can. When I first started teaching in Taiwan, it was great to make money as an English teacher but it did not mean that I should forget our social conscience. As a student who could not afford to go to any cram school, I often thought about those children whose families could not send their kids to study English before junior high school. If I could make it, I should try my best to help others.
The year I got my first job teaching English at Fu Jen, I also started teaching at two other different language centers in Tien Mu and Shih Lin in Taipei. Parents were in a rush to send their children to the centers to learn English then. Adults paid big bucks to study in the evening to advance their language skills. Immigration boom just started to be on the rise which also helped the booming of the language centers business at that time. It was a great time to teach English and earn a decent income. We did have foreign teachers working at the centers, but the domestic teachers were greatly in demand.
While I was having a great time enjoying working full time at three different places, I got a phone call from a friend TL one day to ask me if I would like to help her plan a radio program called Fu Di Tien Tien Chuan. TL was a school friend of mine who actually hired me to work at Fu Jen’s Continuing Education Department. She was invited by a friend SY to design a segment for a children’s daily radio program.
- Jan 20 Sun 2008 12:38
My Rambling Talk About An Absent Father
Right in the beginning of the school year, I would make it very clear to my students that we sometimes have to vote as a group to decide which fun activities we will do in class; however, I AM the teacher and I AM still in charge of the class. (Hehehe. Sometimes, I feel like telling them to their faces that “I am the BOSS”.) Often, I tell my students that we literally live together 6 hours a day in the classroom which is like our second home; therefore, we have to work together to take care of the environment we live in. I don’t claim to be the most organized person in the world, but my students certainly know that we all have to chip in to care for our classroom. I have noticed that it works really well if I lay down the law clearly right away in September. I guess I am the head of this one big "family".
Some teachers are warm and fuzzy like a mother hen who often speaks sweetly and softly to their students. I always want to be like one of them. Sadly, I am NOT! I think it is more like a personality thing. No matter how much I tried, I am loud and firm. (Note 1) I think I present myself more like a “father” who explains logical rationales or disciplines to children. I don’t mind playing sports such as soccer, basket ball or badminton with them. (Note 2) I love tricking them when asking questions in class and joking with them just like my father used to do. I would rather personally stay in with them at recess as a consequence for their misbehaving and they would not be able to get away with anything. I always tell my students that I will try to make learning fun but I am “tricky” which means that I will ask them many questions to make sure that they fully understand my instruction and won’t get confused.
Having the pain of losing my father at his prime age, I often thought much about those children who grow up without a father figure. Unfortunately, that group of children has been growing every year. One year, more than half of my class came from single parent families. I don’t blame those parents who sought divorce to break up a family because, in truth, there are too many reasons for a marriage not to work out. It is sad that those children can only live with one parent at any given time; however, it is certainly not a great idea for children to grow up in a family with two unhappy parents or in a conflicting environment anyway.
I am in touch with so many wonderful single parents who are trying their best to provide the best opportunities they could offer to their children. I have to give them credits for trying hard. However, there is a group of parents whose behaviour really irks me! Here is the little story to give you an idea about those parents.
BB was not a student of mine but in a class next to me. I knew his older brother because he was in trouble a lot in Grade One. The older brother was later identified with special needs and got a lot of extra help at school. (Apparently, he is doing better now.) BB was different from his older brother. He was a gentle kid but also required remedial academic support. One day he was very excited and announced to his teacher that it was his birthday that day and his father was coming to take him out. That was big news because his father did not have much spare time for BB and his siblings. It turned out that his father had more than five wives and was unmarried to any of them. He had at least 18 children with those mothers but the father did not live with any of the women. He simply just slept around!
- Dec 25 Tue 2007 10:03
Happy Time
Merry Christmas to All Friends and
Family!
If I wish hard enough, I guess my dream may come true. Hahahaha..... Check this out. http://jobedu.net/article1/science/Robots_Shoveling_Snow_Humanoid_Robot_Inspires_Students_to_Study_Science.html
Family!
If I wish hard enough, I guess my dream may come true. Hahahaha..... Check this out. http://jobedu.net/article1/science/Robots_Shoveling_Snow_Humanoid_Robot_Inspires_Students_to_Study_Science.html
- Nov 30 Fri 2007 12:27
Video Premiere: Santana Teams With Chad Kroeger
Video Premiere: Santana Teams With Chad Kroeger
The legendary guitarist, Carlos Santana, teams with the Nickelback frontman, Chad Kroeger, for a duet from the forthcoming hits package 'Ultimate Santana.'
Song Title: Into the Night
The legendary guitarist, Carlos Santana, teams with the Nickelback frontman, Chad Kroeger, for a duet from the forthcoming hits package 'Ultimate Santana.'
Song Title: Into the Night
- Aug 19 Sun 2007 04:57
My New Acquisition
I just bought the CD two days ago. KT Tunstall is the singer from UK, born to Chinese mother and Irish father but adopted at birth. KT grew up in St. Andrew, Scotland. I think she is quite a talented song writer. These are the three popular songs on the CD.
- Jun 29 Fri 2007 07:33
School is Out
School Is Out!
The year is finally over. Due to the extreme heat for the last two
days, my room temperature was literally up to 42 degrees Celsius because of no
open air through the window, malfunction air vent and no sun-blocking curtain in the new room. We were all on the edge of breaking down because of the heat plus we all had a group of kids who looked extremely hot and sweaty in a stuffy classroom. We had a luncheon one day
and a movie day on the last day. My students voted to have luncheon and movie because of the many awards they have received. As a teacher, what can I say? I am just too proud of their accomplishment. Anyway, my friend did a slide show of photos she had taken at
school over the last year. It was so refreshing to see all the students at school popping up from one slide to another. Based on the photos she took, we did provide many
activities for our students, maybe too many! Hahahah.
- Jun 22 Fri 2007 12:35
My Backup Blog
Attention Readers:
I just signed up at Pixnet as a backup blog for my Wretch blog because they support all
the bloggers from Wretch. I have no intention of leaving Wretch at this moment since I have already paid for the year. It seems to be a good idea to blog on one site while the other one will simultaneously publish the article as well. How convenient that is! So, if Wretch (http://www.wretch.cc/blog/julia1492) is down, you can always go over to Pixnet (http://blog.pixnet.net/Julia1492), where you can find the same articles.
I love technology!!
I just signed up at Pixnet as a backup blog for my Wretch blog because they support all
the bloggers from Wretch. I have no intention of leaving Wretch at this moment since I have already paid for the year. It seems to be a good idea to blog on one site while the other one will simultaneously publish the article as well. How convenient that is! So, if Wretch (http://www.wretch.cc/blog/julia1492) is down, you can always go over to Pixnet (http://blog.pixnet.net/Julia1492), where you can find the same articles.
I love technology!!
- Jun 18 Mon 2007 09:05
My Old Blog from Yam in 2006
This is from my first Yam blog. I think it is about time for me to consolidate or delete some of my old writing. So, here are a few just for the record keeping. Please read them in reversed chronical order.Unfortunately, the computer input device for writing Chinese is not working any longer. I promise I will try to get it fixed in July.
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August 16, 2006結緣體育系雜感
我身在海外多年，由於多次搬遷，已經與很多過去的老朋友們失去聯絡，我甚至連閱讀或書寫中文的機會也變的很少了。幾個月前我新增了一套中文硬體之後，終於可以開始在電腦上找尋中文的資訊。當我無意中閱讀了一則與輔大女子划船隊及謝茂松老師有關的新聞之後，我很興奮地送了一封email給輔大新聞網，請他們代我向謝老師恭喜有關他們的成果，並且代我向其他師長問好，沒想到竟然出乎意外地和体育系辦公室聯絡上。体育系秘書很誠意地邀我寫一篇感想，我雖不是體育系的校友，但我常往自己的臉上貼金地自認為我是體育系的榮譽會友，所以我也就欣然的接受邀稿。現在回想起來，我與體育系最初結緣也大約是在二十多年前了，當時我還是輔仁大學夜間部英文系大一的學生。
選擇英文系是我的興趣，上夜間部則是家庭經濟與聯考現實的無耐，而選擇輔仁大學卻是我多年的期望，因為我是標準的輔大棒球迷。從小我們全家常以老家嘉義的棒球隊為榮，許多球員後來都陸續地保送輔仁大學體育系。中學時我的願望就是希望有一天我能見到我心目中棒球偶像們，特別是明星投手許正宗！只是萬萬沒想到，我竟然陰錯陽差地跑到體育系辦公室打工。
大一時由於參與了不少社團及學生活動中心的活動，為了經濟需求及能就近參與社團的活動，我便開始在中美堂下的福利社打工當影印小妹，福利社的曾媽和曾姊非常照顧我，所以我可以白天打工，晚上上課。由於福利社地理位置非常接近積建樓，因此它也就成了體育系學生常聚集聊天聚會的地方。每天我都有機會看到好多明星級的運動選手們，可想而知剛開始我是非常興奮！
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August 16, 2006結緣體育系雜感
我身在海外多年，由於多次搬遷，已經與很多過去的老朋友們失去聯絡，我甚至連閱讀或書寫中文的機會也變的很少了。幾個月前我新增了一套中文硬體之後，終於可以開始在電腦上找尋中文的資訊。當我無意中閱讀了一則與輔大女子划船隊及謝茂松老師有關的新聞之後，我很興奮地送了一封email給輔大新聞網，請他們代我向謝老師恭喜有關他們的成果，並且代我向其他師長問好，沒想到竟然出乎意外地和体育系辦公室聯絡上。体育系秘書很誠意地邀我寫一篇感想，我雖不是體育系的校友，但我常往自己的臉上貼金地自認為我是體育系的榮譽會友，所以我也就欣然的接受邀稿。現在回想起來，我與體育系最初結緣也大約是在二十多年前了，當時我還是輔仁大學夜間部英文系大一的學生。
選擇英文系是我的興趣，上夜間部則是家庭經濟與聯考現實的無耐，而選擇輔仁大學卻是我多年的期望，因為我是標準的輔大棒球迷。從小我們全家常以老家嘉義的棒球隊為榮，許多球員後來都陸續地保送輔仁大學體育系。中學時我的願望就是希望有一天我能見到我心目中棒球偶像們，特別是明星投手許正宗！只是萬萬沒想到，我竟然陰錯陽差地跑到體育系辦公室打工。
大一時由於參與了不少社團及學生活動中心的活動，為了經濟需求及能就近參與社團的活動，我便開始在中美堂下的福利社打工當影印小妹，福利社的曾媽和曾姊非常照顧我，所以我可以白天打工，晚上上課。由於福利社地理位置非常接近積建樓，因此它也就成了體育系學生常聚集聊天聚會的地方。每天我都有機會看到好多明星級的運動選手們，可想而知剛開始我是非常興奮！
- Jun 08 Fri 2007 11:46
Announcement: Congratulations to Three of My Students!!!!!!
Congratulations to Eric, Christina and Irene!
I am very proud of these students from my first class in Canada. Eric Lee has been accepted by the University of Toronto for their graduate study (Occupational Therapy). He is in Taiwan right now attending his sister Amy's wedding. Irene Ha has been accepted by at least three medical schools (possibly five) and has decided to attend University of Ottawa for their medical program. Christina Han will be attending the grad school at Queen's University as well. I only taught them for three years at the Chinese School, but it is every teacher's dream to see the students grow up, be successful and eventually surpass the teacher one day. They really made me proud! I told my husband that although I did not teach them for long, at least my letters of reference worked, for helping two of them, Eric and Irene. Hahahaa. It is every teacher's proud moment, simply an honour by the slightest association. I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOO HAPPY for them. I know that I will hear more from the other students soon.
I am very proud of these students from my first class in Canada. Eric Lee has been accepted by the University of Toronto for their graduate study (Occupational Therapy). He is in Taiwan right now attending his sister Amy's wedding. Irene Ha has been accepted by at least three medical schools (possibly five) and has decided to attend University of Ottawa for their medical program. Christina Han will be attending the grad school at Queen's University as well. I only taught them for three years at the Chinese School, but it is every teacher's dream to see the students grow up, be successful and eventually surpass the teacher one day. They really made me proud! I told my husband that although I did not teach them for long, at least my letters of reference worked, for helping two of them, Eric and Irene. Hahahaa. It is every teacher's proud moment, simply an honour by the slightest association. I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOO HAPPY for them. I know that I will hear more from the other students soon.
