Reading is a vital tool that allows children to explore different perspectives and opens up new worlds to them. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, once said, “One student, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world!” At the Taiwan Centre, we recognize the importance of reading, which is why we have implemented 1-2 hours of reading time after our English classes every Thursday since September. Although our children’s library has not been completed yet, the children cannot wait to immerse themselves in the world of books! Our colleague, Lara, tells picture book stories to the children every two weeks through remote connections with on-site teachers assisting in translation. This teaching mode not only helps children to adapt to online teaching but also allows us to provide teaching resources without geographical restrictions.
Books serve as a window to the world, enabling children to learn about different cultures, people, and places. In resource-poor areas, access to good books becomes even more critical because it helps children understand the appearance of the world and present it realistically. Reading also develops children’s language ability and narrative organization structure, which is essential for future academic and professional success. When children see beautiful books, their first impression becomes a positive link that drives their love and yearning for books.
At the Taiwan Centre, we understand that independent learning is a crucial part of education, and passive reading is just as important as active curriculum. Our role is not just to provide a space with hardware, but we also hope to build an education centre that not only offers language courses but also teaches civics, learning attitudes, and literacy skills. We want to empower these children, who have great potential and a strong motivation to learn but lack the resources and guidance, to turn their lives around. We want to help them break the cycle of fate that has been forced upon them, and we believe that with their efforts, they can achieve great things.
