The 2019 sponsorship guideline plan for improving TCSL education from Ministry of Education— Satit PIM Mandarin study tour passed off very well. | Latest News | Office of Global Mandarin Education

Satit PIM Mandarin Study Tour at MCU 

Under the sponsorship of the 2019 Ministry of Education Plan for Improving TCSL Education, the recent Satit PIM Mandarin Study Tour at Ming Chuan University (MCU) proceeded very well. 

Through the efforts of Ming Chuan University Education and Culture Center in Thailand (MCU-ECCT), MCU hosted the study tour for Satit PIM [Panyapiwat Institute of Management Demonstration School], with a total of 30 students plus 2 teachers joining the two weeks of intensive Mandarin courses at MCU Jihe Complex from October 6^th to 19^th, 2019.

 The study tour program comprised engaging learning activities, which included plenty of in-person language courses and cultural activities. Also provided were two online-courses created by the Ministry of Education—“Start From Scratch” and “Who is speaking: Lovely Taiwan,” which are aimed at promoting study Mandarin online. All the Satit PIM students were highly interested in these courses. 

Furthermore, MCU Mandarin Studies and Culture Center held a simulation TOCFL test prior to the closing ceremony. MCU would like to promote this high quality Taiwan Mandarin test through the simulation TOCFL test. The test results clearly showed that the study tour students’ Mandarin proficiency was significantly improved over the course of the study tour. 

Officially founded in March 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand, MCU-ECCT widely promotes the high quality of Taiwan’s TCSL education. This is conducted only through sending Mandarin teachers from Taiwan to Thailand for exchange service but also by holding several short-term study tours each year for Thai students to go to Taiwan for on-site study experiences.

Features of this study tour include:

1. Courses being Relevant to Life – Emphasis on daily conversation which can be used immediately in the target language environment.
2. Interesting Courses - Sufficient classroom activities and cultural experience activities to achieve the goal of learning by doing. Meanwhile stimulating courses strengthen students’ motivation to keep learning Mandarin in the future.
3. Promotion of Online Courses – Availability of online courses promote students’ willingness to learn Mandarin after returning to Thailand.
4. Promotion of TOCFL Test – Introduction of the TOCFL test, and allowing students to experience this language assessment via simulation test, can increase students’ motivation to register for the official TOCFL Test.
5. Combination of Taiwan and Mandarin – Aside from learning Mandarin, the study tour also promotes the high quality of Taiwan’s education and tourism.

Through this activity, apart from the aspect of immediate strong learning outcomes, students have greater interest in learning Mandarin after going back to Thailand. Many of the students indicate that they will definitely come to Taiwan to join Mandarin-related activities in the future!