從去年九月到今年八月，總共帶學生參加三次國際交流活動，雖然感覺每次都壓deadline才完成，但討論的過程還是蠻開心的。今年七月開始進行World Youth Meeting計畫的時候，從決定主題到發表基本上都是讓學生們自己進行，我就抽空旁聽幾次，然後給點意見，或有時候催促他們進度XD。
上禮拜結束World Youth Meeting之後，覺得好像真正可以開始放鬆了，不過日本學校希望我們寫回饋心得，於是這篇就當作紀錄吧！Actually this is my first time participating WYM event, and it’s an amazing journey. Despite my experience in leading a team in 2021 ASEP (Asian Students Exchange Program) project, there are still lots of the unknown that I need to explore. Due to the pandemic over the past two years, face-to-face meetings become extremely difficult and even impossible. Instead, video conferencing has been a common way of communication to which everyone should learn to get used. Throughout the process of discussion and practice between Taiwanese and Japanese students, some important thoughts come to my mind.
Students in both teams are driven by interest and motivation. I’ve met some Japanese students in 2021 ASEP, so I understand how hardworking and creative they are. Also, I don’t think presenting in English would be a problem for both sides. What I worried most is how my students behaved active enough because I’ve known some of the Japanese students last year and understand how creative and hardworking they are. Though July and August are summer vacation for Taiwanese high school students, they still have classes to attend. After joining their online meetings, I realize that high school students are resilient and quickly adapted to different challenges.
Meanwhile, each team would encounter different problems from deciding the topic, brainstorming ideas to memorizing transcripts. It takes time to come up with a perfect presentation (or, does a perfect presentation exist?), and the most challenging thing is to have a satisfying yet constructive presentation under time limits. As a teacher, I need to stop myself from intervening in their discussion too much. This is an opportunity for them to show how they investigate global issues and move a step forward to propose possible solutions. It would be understandable if they can’t figure out effective ones in a 10-minute presentation. At least they learn to have sympathy for people in need.
An interesting thing this year is overseas participants join the event online where Japanese ones in a university. Through the screen of my computer, I seem to be a spectator watching a live show on WYM. There are happy, difficult, puzzling, and relieving moments during the two days. It reminds me of a movie, the Truman Show. Thanks for everyone working hard for the 2022 WYM and give me a fantastic weekend.
