All of the articles that follow were written by students majoring in Applied Foreign Languages at National Yunlin University of Science and Technology. Most of the topics are related to Taiwan, local Taiwanese culture, or university education in Taiwan. It is my hope that readers cannot not only learn some new English vocabulary from these articles, but also enjoy reading articles written in English by non-native English speakers who are diligently studying English. I am very proud of their effort. If you have any comments, positive or negative, about the following articles, feel free to express them to me, their teacher, James Radant, at radant@yuntech.edu.tw
Tuitions at Taiwanese, American, and Japanese Universities
台灣、美國、以及日本大學學費之比較
Author:Pace Chen
A report in Higher Education Newsletter compared the tuitions of national/state universities and private universities in Taiwan, America, and Japan, and took the GDP of per capita and the tax rate of these three countries into account in the statistics. According to the statistics listed in Fig. 1. , in terms of national/state universities, the GDP per capita in America is three times of that in Taiwan while Japan is 2.5 times. However, the tuitions in American universities are SEVEN times of that in Taiwanese universities, and that of Japanese universities are THREE times of Taiwanese universities (See Fig.1.) (Ministry of Education, 2005). To compare the tuitions of private universities, American universities tuitions are NINE times higher than those in Taiwanese universities, and Japanese are THREE times higher (See Fig.1.) (Ministry of Education, 2005).
What students major in also affects tuition. The tuitions of NYUST have a little bit difference between The College of Humanities and Applied Sciences and The College of Engineering. Because the students in The College of Engineering have to use equipment or machinery in their major courses, so the tuitions are about NT $7,000 higher than are tuitions for students of The College of Humanities and Applied Sciences (NYUST, Aug. 3, 2006).
Tuition of Taiwanese University, American University, and Japanese University in 2004 (NTD）
Nationality
Taiwan
America
Japan
Average Tuition of National/State University
58,714
(14.1% of GDP)
Michigan State University 299,827
(23.45% of GDP)
The University of Tokyo 158,718
(15.5% of GDP)
University of California, Los Angeles 222,639
(17.45% of GDP)
Yokohama City University
154,257
(15.07% of GDP)
Average Tuition of Private University
107,360
(25.9% of GDP)
Stanford University 1,009,127
(79.55% of GDP)
Keigi University
325,849
(31.82% of GDP)
Harvard University 1,035,262
(80.96% of GDP)
Fukuoka University 257,124
(25.11% of GDP)
Tax Rate
About 17%
About 30%
About 27%
Fig. 1. Tuition of Taiwanese University, American University, and Japanese University in 2004
Source: Rewrite in Higher Education Newsletter, 5 Sep. 2005
Sodagreen, formed by six Taipei university students, is a musical pop group led by the vocalist,青峰and bassist, Claire. Those two primary members studied in the same senior high school and they both loved music and then attended the same university, National Chengchi University. Therefore, they found some other students who loved music and formed the band called Sodagreen. Aside from the keyboardist, Zephyr, who studies in the graduate school at National Taiwan University of Arts, the others are students of National Chengchi University. Their majors include Chinese literature, business administration, public administration, psychology, and sociology.
The group encountered many adversities at first. One problem has been that various group members have left and they had to replace them with new members.
Although the current members have different backgrounds and come from different places, they are united tightly through their passion for music. “We have wanted to play music for our whole lives,” they said. Their passion for music is exhibited in their live performances.
They all learned music by themselves except Zephyr who studies music in graduate school. Among these six members, Claire is the only female. She is responsible for arranging the schedule of Sodagreen’s performances.
Sodagreen is different from other bands because of their temperament. They are more industrious in school than some members of other music groups. “I don't think I only have one choice between school and music. I love both and won't abandon either one,” Claire added. Sodagreen thinks playing music and taking care of schoolwork isn't a problem. They spend two hours practicing per week and utilize the rest of time well. They said, “If you want to do something well, there is no excuse for failure and it all depends on you." Sodagreen struggles from schoolwork and music concurrently. That is why Sodagreen is different from other bands.
The Green Party, a political party that promotes ecologicalsustainability and social justice, was formed by activists of the social movements. There are many Green Parties worldwide and the most well known one is the German Green Party which is in Europe where the Green Party originated from. Although Green Parties in different countries have different policies and programs, they all share the four basic common principles: ecological sustainability, grass-root democracy, social justice and world peace (Green Party Web).
The Green Party in Taiwan was founded on January 25, 1996. People in Taiwan hardly know of the party's existence, and what's worse is that the Green Party in Taiwan is often mixed up with the political party--the DPP (Democratic Progressive Party).
Professor Linda Gail Arrigo, a Green Party Taiwan International Officer admits that, but she said, “Despite this, the influence of the Green Party and people allied with it has been much greater [than might be thought]. The 21st Century Agenda and the No Nukes Homeland activities are actually Green Party initiatives (Including Lin Yi-Hsiung's campaigns against the nuclear power plant No. 4)”
When asked about their (The Green Party in Taiwan) goals, professor Arrigo said that they now mainly focus on the global reduction of CO-2. She added: “the current industrial projects that Su Chen-tsang was pushing would increase CO-2 emissions by 20%--no reduction in sight.” The second concern is the flood control all over Taiwan and the third one is the treatment of waste water and recovery of natural waterways.
According to Professor Arrigo, the bill for flood control in Taiwan which costs about NT$140 billion is unreasonable. Besides, it will put down cement all over Taiwan and harm the ecology. She added: “it seems [we are] unlikely to stop the 4th nuclear power plant but the nuclear waste facilities might be halted.”
Recently, Taiwan’s Green Party has come out against construction of the widening of Su-Hua highway. There are no controls on appropriate construction on the east coast, not to mention much of the east coast has already been degraded by Cement Company mining.
綠黨是由社會推動者組成的政治團體，他們的目標在於推動永續環保與社會正義。世界各地散佈著許多綠黨團體，最有名的就屬於位於歐洲的德國，而歐洲也是綠黨的發源地。雖然世界各地的綠黨有各自的主張與議程，但是他們都有著共同的四個基本原則：永續環保、草根民主、社會正義與世界和平。（綠黨網站）
台灣綠黨於一九九六年一月二十五日創立。在台灣很少有人知道綠黨，更糟的是，人們常常把台灣綠黨與台灣民主進步黨混淆。(譯註：因其民主進步黨之代表色為綠色。)
Linda Gail Arrigo教授，一位台灣綠黨的國際負責人，也承認此點，但是她說：「雖然如此，台灣綠黨及其黨員們對台灣的影響力還是比人們所想的還要來的大。事實上，綠黨的21世紀議程與反核子活動，就是我們主動發起的（其中包括林義雄的反核四抗議活動）。」
當被問及的綠黨的目標，Arrigo教授說他們目前致力於減低全球二氧化碳含量，她補充說明：「最近蘇貞昌先生極力推動的工業專案將增加二氧化碳20%的釋放量，根本沒有減少的跡象。第二個憂慮是遍及全台的洪水防治問題。而第三個令人憂心的問題則是廢水的處置以及自然運輸水路的修復。」
根據Arrigo教授，洪水防治花費將近一億四千萬是不合理的。而且洪水防治專案將會使台灣蓋上一層灰而導致生態被破壞。她補充：「現在看來，我們已經無法停止核四的建造，但是有關核廢料處理之設施也許可以被停建。」
近來，綠黨反對闊充蘇花公路，因為東海岸一向沒有適當的建設，更不用說東部沿岸被不肖的水泥公司盜採砂石。
Dr. Yeh Hui-chin who is one of the youngest DAFL teachers in National Yunlin University of Science and Technology is enjoying being a mother. I still remember that when I first saw her last semester, she just looked like a sister a couple of years older than us students. Now she has changed! A mighty and motherly lady is in front of me.
“There is a saying that when or after women have a baby, they are not sweet anymore and even not good-tempered. Do you fit into this saying?” was my first question. “Oh! I think that saying probably is not true. There’s nothing making me feel not good after having a baby,” said Dr. Yeh, “and I think for me the biggest change of mood is that I have become more sensitive. For example, when I see kids on the streets, sometimes even an adult stranger, I tend to think a lot about them like how they were brought up, how their mothers taught them, and how they grew up in different environments. Everyone has his or her own growing up story. If you observe it carefully, you would be touched by the wonders caused by lives.”
Next, I expressed my curiosity about the balance between job and family because professors are known to concentrate on their academic research. Dr. Yeh said, “Actually after having a baby this problem distracted my life the most! There are so many things that I need to do at school that prior to having a baby I could not go home even until 10 o’clock sometimes. However, now I must leave school before 5:30 PM because I need to pick up my girl from the babysitter. Achieving a balance, I need to bring the last part of my job home; besides, everything needs to be scheduled.”
When it comes to the education for her child, she said that she keeps an objective view for the child's future. “While most teachers will put higher expectations on their kids for their educational degree, I won’t ask my kid to achieve anything but try hard to do what she wants!” she continued. Dr. Yeh seemed more eager to talk about the way she touches her students than about her baby. “After having my baby, I noticed that the feeling of being a mother made me regard all my students as my own children! Therefore I try harder to teach them how to learn more efficiently and correctly.”
I had heard of a lot complaints from some parents before. Those parents said that after having a baby they had great economic pressure because they needed to buy lots of baby appliances and pay more daycare fees. I asked Dr. Yeh whether she needed to save money more carefully now. “In fact, I do not feel more pressure on spending money. Some of my friends who already have several children have given many needed objects for my baby," she answered.
She added, in conclusion, that after having a baby she did not really change any attitudes toward her family members. The only thing she appreciated from the experience in this new life stage is how much effort her mother made before for her. “I hope to be as great a mother as my mom was!” said Dr. Yeh.
Everyone knows that running is good for your health and is a popular way to exercise. According to a report from Chinese Taipei University Sports Federation (CTUSF, 2006), the author thought there are several benefits to running. If you run regularly in your daily life, the first benefit you can feel is an increasing of oxygen quantity. Furthermore, running can increase the quantity of the blood and lower blood pressure. Both of these help your heart and lungs.
Running is not only good for your heart and lungs, but also good for your stamina. Stamina is the essential condition for maintaining our daily work and life and handling emergencies. So, running is a good way to make us healthier and stronger.
A study (鄭建民, 2002) indicates that because of the fierce competition in modern society, modern people cannot face pressure as easily like people did previously. If you are under a lot of stress, both your career and family will suffer. The best choice is to exercise appropriately in order to reduce stress and improve health. The article also pointed out that for those over thirty who do not get regular exercise, their metabolism will reduce five percent every ten years. It means that people who exercise regularly age more slowly because of the faster rate of their metabolism.
The last point has to do with an increase in the quality of life. The author thought that exercise is a shortcut to improving life quality and that running is a fundamental and natural type of exercise for human beings. If you are alive, you have to move. People say that one common language the whole world understands is called exercise, and running is one activity that can be done from birth to death.
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