• Cadence Sun
• BA, Class of 2019

1. What makes Taipei Tech different than other schools that offer an English major?

The courses in Taipei Tech are both professional and diverse. In our department, students get to take courses from many different fields such as journalistic English, linguistics, literature, and pedagogy. By taking different courses, students get to unearth their potential instead of being stuck and limited in a specific field. I appreciate this diversity since I’m interested in many subfields, and it is helpful to be given such opportunity to get access to new challenges.

2. What’s your favorite thing about the program?

One thing that I’m personally very fond of in our department is the system that divides students into small groups in some required courses such as writing class and conversation class. Students not only get more opportunities of participating in in-class activities but also get more attention from their professors. I do think I am benefitting a lot from this system since I get to express myself and share my ideas with others easily. That kind of environment helps me to force myself to participate in class discussion and speak up, which is a valuable experience for all English major students.

3. What should incoming students know about the program? Is there anything you wish you had known before you came?

College life is nothing like the education that students received back in high school or junior high. Students are expected to be good at reading, writing, listening, and speaking English before entering college in order to keep up with the pace. The entrance exam in Taiwan, unfortunately, focuses mainly on the skills of reading and writing, which means most students fail to enhance their speaking ability. I wish I could have found out my weakness earlier and made good use of my free time and summer vacation to build up my speaking and listening skills. In that way, I could have gotten into the swing of things more quickly. I think college should be considered as a platform for students to exchange thoughts and learning experiences, so it is always good to be well prepared in order to face the challenges in college.

4. What kinds of extracurricular activities have you been involved with at Taipei Tech?

I am a member of piano club and we hold two to four piano recitals every year. I always apply for the recital as a performer because it’s a good chance for me to perform in public, and it helps a lot to boost my self-confidence. Classical music is a stress reliever in my life, and it is even better to find a group of people that share this same interest.

I am also a member of the Student Association of the English Department. We are responsible for arranging and hosting activities throughout the whole school year including the orientation party, lectures, summer camp, and annual performance. I’m very proud to be one of the members because I think our team is strong and united.

5. Have you had any interesting opportunities while you were here?

Taipei Tech is a university that has many exchange students every year. I applied for the Student Buddy Project, which is a student group who helps those exchange students with any possible difficulties that they might encounter during their stay. My student buddy is a girl named Pauline, and she is from France. We have a really great time together, and I think it is such a great experience in college.

6. How has your education at Taipei Tech helped you?

The education at Taipei Tech has helped me become more and more assertive about my learning. Taking charge of my own academic performance was never my style before college. After entering college, I found it enjoyable to challenge myself to do well in presentations and papers, which I think is a huge improvement in my life. The professors in our department can really stimulate students’ motivation by giving useful advice and feedback. Most important of all, they always keep an open mind during class discussion session. By joining the discussion, I can gain a sense of fulfillment, and it encourages me to work harder in order to do well in every single course.