An Update on the Shida Chinese Program
November 30th, 2006 by MarkA fellow Taiwan blogger, Todd, has just finished his first semester at Shida and written about his experiences. With about 5,000 foreign students, Shida is the biggest Chinese language program in Taiwan. From what Todd has written, the school now uses standardized tests across all the classes, unlike when I was there two years ago. Most things, though, are exactly like they were before. The instruction sounds to be very mediocre, and the teachers are still rabidly pro-blue:
My instructor also spent far too much time sidetracking the class into off topic discussions conducted in English. Each morning the newspaper had a picture of President Chen Shui-bian on the front page she would remind us how much she hated him and his family. Just about everyday she would also mention how handsome she thinks Ma Ying-jiu is. She also went so far as to blame the high number of unmarried women in Taiwan on her theory that they are all waiting for a man like Ma Ying-jiu… “But unfortunately there is only one Mayor Ma.”
The Daily Bubble Tea: Studying Chinese
Still, I’m sure my Chinese would be much worse than it is if I hadn’t gone to Shida. It would also be better still if I’d stayed there a couple more semesters. For those who don’t have the money or time to go to ICLP, and don’t want to go to the mainland, Zhengda and Shida are probably the best options.
Related Post: Teaching Chinese or Nationalism?
:
November 30th, 2006 at 9:16 am
I fail to see how a course that continually sidetracks into English can help learn Chinese. If I was taking a class like that I would quit and ask for my money back. My money is being paid for instruction of the language I’m learning not English discussions on current events.
November 30th, 2006 at 1:30 pm
Well, at least when I was a student, the classes were at least 90% in Chinese. They definitely had a noticable effect on my Chinese abilities. It’s just that that other 10% or 5% or how ever much that was in English was really annoying.
Still, most Chinese language programs here are less structured than Shida, and get even worse results. For me at least, Shida was much better than a 1-1 tutor or than the other alternatives. I may even go back there 10 hours a week next year.
December 1st, 2006 at 12:26 am
Why was it better than a 1-1 tutor?
December 1st, 2006 at 1:28 am
With every 1-1 tutor I’ve had, there’s been no structure at all. They’ve all been far less critical about pronunciation and grammar errors (and less knowledgeable about CSL) than Shida teachers. The Shida teachers, for all their shortcomings, do have a proven system and standardized training.
December 2nd, 2006 at 4:01 am
That’s high praise indeed.
December 29th, 2006 at 9:44 am
wow~~the teachers there are so weird! I like handsome guy but will never praise one because of his looking neither waiting for a guy like Ma to marry with.