Taipei: A closing ceremony was held in Taipei Thursday for a volunteer program that placed 406 English teachers aged 17-24 from Taiwan's overseas diaspora in 66 schools in 15 cities and counties across the country. Running from July 4-31, the "English Teaching Volunteer Service Program for Overseas Youth 2026" recruited eligible participants fluent in English with basic Mandarin skills to teach for two weeks at elementary and junior high schools, including some in remote regions, according to its chief organizer, the Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC). According to Focus Taiwan, the volunteers, who hailed from 20 countries, underwent a week-long training program at Taipei Medical University before commencing teaching. Speaking at the ceremony, Chung Yao-an, one of the participants, thanked the OCAC for giving him the chance to teach English to young Taiwanese. He expressed that although the preparation for classes was exhausting, it was an enriching experience. Chung shared insights on learning to tea ch English to young children and how to use encouragement as a teaching tool. Another volunteer, Peng Hao-en, highlighted the cultural exchange aspect of the program, emphasizing the mutual learning experience between him and his students, which went beyond just teaching English. He recounted emotional moments shared with his students, such as signing their clothes as keepsakes. OCAC Minister Hsu Chia-ching expressed gratitude to all the volunteers for their service and wished them well in their future endeavors, as many prepare to return to their home countries for university applications. Since its inception in 2006, the program has brought over 7,000 overseas youths to Taiwan, facilitating English education and cultural exchange for more than 50,000 students in elementary and junior high schools, according to the OCAC.
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