[speaker001:] I heard you were teaching English over there.Tell me about it. Did you like it?
[speaker002:] Oh, yes, it was very interesting.
[speaker001:] What were the schools like?
[speaker002:] Oh, I didn't actually teach in the schools. I taught after school. I taught in English institutes.
[speaker001:] But you taught children, yes?
[speaker002:] Yes. That's right.But children in Taiwan are very different from children in America.At least as far as studying is concerned.Many children in Taiwan go to special institutes after school.
[speaker001:] They actually study after school?
[speaker002:] That's right.After their school day is over, they go to a special institute to study math or English.They are very serious about learning over there.
[speaker001:] Hmm. That sounds pretty oppressive for the kids. Don't they ever relax?
[speaker002:] Of course they do.You know, Eliza, before I went over there I thought the same thing. I thought that maybe kids in Taiwan study too much.But now that I've worked there, and taught them, I feel it is a good thing.Their parents are very concerned about their education. More than American parents are. And that is good. American kids don't study enough.
[speaker001:] Asian cultures value learning very much. I know that.
[speaker002:] So it was interesting for me to see parents very concerned about education.They would come to me after the class and ask how their son or daughter was doing. I don't think that's a bad thing. I think it's a good thing.In America, too many parents don't pay attention.
[speaker001:] But aren't the kids tired out? I mean, they go to school all day, and then they go to school in the evening too.
[speaker002:] As an English teacher, I tried to make the lessons as fun as possible. I tried to have a good time with my classes. The students often enjoyed it.And if the students enjoyed it, they learned more. So it was a good experience.
[speaker001:] Are the kids in Taiwan very obedient?
[speaker002:] That's a stereotype we Americans have.We think that Asian kids are very obedient and quiet.But it's not true. There are plenty of naughty kids too.
[speaker001:] Hmm. I know you taught in Costa Rica also.Which did you like better-Costa Rica or Taiwan?
[speaker002:] I don't know. In Costa Rica, I taught adults.So it was a very different thing. So I really can't compare.