Not known for being a particularly international city, Tainan has nonetheless been influenced by foreigners for hundreds of years. Contemporary visitors can still see and experience a number of their lasting contributions. It’s been almost 400 years since Dutch traders disembarked in present-day Tainan, kicking off a long history of foreign interaction and influence. In…
This school year, students in 85 selected Taiwanese elementary and junior high schools – an increase from 65 last year – are gaining exposure to English in courses aside from the usual language classes. In those schools, English is being used as a language of instruction in courses such as the arts, humanities, health, and…
The government is seeking to greatly increase the level of English fluency in the Taiwan population by 2030 through a variety of programs, mainly focusing on improving the effectiveness of English teaching in the schools. The goal is to raise Taiwan’s international competitiveness. But classroom learning will need to be supplemented through the creation of…
Though sweeping in its ambition, the Bilingual Nation plan seems to have largely overlooked one key area: culture. The Blueprint refers to “promoting bilingual services at cultural and educational venues,” but neglects the need to address cultural influences in a larger sense – factors that need to be taken into account in any attempt to…
When you go, eat like the locals. Tuck into big portions, don’t waste time standing in line, and enjoy the freshest beef soup in Taiwan. Soft-shell turtle, freshly slaughtered beef scalded in broth, hearty portions, and sugar, sugar, sugar. That’s some of what you’ll encounter when dining in the southern city of Tainan, a prime…
Taiwan has already begun forging a reputation as a producer of VR creative content. Now the introduction of 5G is driving the development of its VR industry to new levels. Taiwan-produced works made with virtual reality (VR) have become a regular feature at international film festivals. Industry promoters see this development as confirming that Taiwan…
Taiwan and the U.S. are seeking build alternatives to production of critical equipment in China in the wake of the global pandemic. First came the U.S.-China “trade war,” with Washington encouraging American companies to leave China and bring manufacturing back home. Then COVID-19 struck, halting the flow of medical equipment and other goods and laying…
Several Taiwan startups are offering innovative solutions to healthcare-related issues using AI technology and access to years of NHI data. The future of healthcare is just around the corner. Artificial intelligence (AI) is already starting to transform the way healthcare is delivered around the world, and its potential is huge. At its best, AI can…
With a focus on driverless public transportation, the government and local industries have been collaborating to put more AVs on the road, using extensive testing to ensure safety. Driverless cars have proven harder to make than many people initially thought. Fully autonomous vehicles (AVs), which require zero human attention and don’t even have steering wheels,…
Combining on-site and online participants, exhibitors, and speakers, BIO Asia-Taiwan 2020 introduced hundreds of new biotech and biomedical developments, including many related to COVID-19. In a visual demonstration of how well Taiwan has controlled COVID-19, the island hosted Asia’s first major industry gathering since the onset of the pandemic, a biotech conference and exhibition appropriately…
