Any other foreign spouses out there taking these?
Total cost NT$500, which you get back if you complete the course.
I’m doing an intermediate course, which has a fair emphasis on writing, something I’m generally too lazy to work on myself
You can also study Taiwanese and Chinese cooking.
But the best part is the classmates…
Where can we find out more about these courses ?
Yes, and do they have them in the boonies?
Well, I’m in Taitung, and that’s pretty boony.
These are the courses were started for the benefit of the brides from Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam etc.; when my 60-year-old French buddy rolled up and demanded to register they were quite shocked, but there’s nothing in the requirements that say you have to be female or from a “less-advanced” country.
Try asking at your local county/city hall or social centre.
My aversion to characters is fading suddenly somehow…
Anyone got the info?
Please share.
I’m starting to seriously consider it, if I can do it at lunchtimes.
Do they really teach you cooking and stuff too?
Brian
[quote=“Bu Lai En”]Anyone got the info?
Please share.
I’m starting to seriously consider it, if I can do it at lunchtimes.
Do they really teach you cooking and stuff too?
Brian[/quote]
Hey Bri, maybe we can go together and start swapping recipes…
I mentioned this to my wife. She thought I was going crazy, then she checked it out. I may be starting the beginners class when they start the cycle again in Jan/Feb here in Tainan. They do them at night here.
Couldn’t hurt.
So what agency is running these? Who should I call. MOFA? MOE?
I am not married, can I still join course (e.g. Taiwanese) for a bit of extra money? Or without getting the 500 back at completion of course?
I am looking for a Taiwanese course in Taichung and the only suggestion I got so far at Forumosa was Maryknoll, which sounds like learning Taiwanese with a bunch of missionary boys to me.
Where do people like Philippine care takers etc. learn Taiwanese?
Maryknoll’s got the sexy sisters, too…
Actually, I wonder what the percentage is between S.E. Asian female spouses and Western male spouses in the classes (I assume the S.E. Asian males and Western females are pretty few…)
My class is sponsored by the Taitung County Gov’t.; I think each county/city gets funds from the central gov’t. and sets up its own- I remember seeing Ma Ying-Jiou inaugurating the Taipei program.
Here anyway it’s called the “Waiji Pei’ou Shenghuo Chengzhang Ban”
(sorry for the pinyin) which translates as “Foreign Spouses Life-Growth (Development?) Class”
Since it’s a government program, in Taidong at least it’s restricted to spouses.
The set-up here is Mandarin class on Tuesday; Taiwanese or computer class on Thursday. Classes run two hours in the evening from 7 to 9. Cooking , chidcare, health/hygiene and local customs( basically keeping Mother-in-law off your back) on Saturday afternoon.
In my class the ratio of SE Asian females to Westen males is about 30 to 2 
Thanks Mike
This sounds interesting! Does anyone know if there’s a course here in Kaohsiung? If so, how could I sign up for it?
Has anybody heard anything more about this in the Taipei area? Do they have intermediate classes available?
Thanks in advance,
Scott
So what agency is running these? Who should I call. MOFA? MOE?[/quote]
Bu…sorry for the slow reply.
As Mike posted its a local gov’t sponsored deal. It seems that some branch of each city gov’t is doing the classes.
Looks like it should be a good time. Good luck.
You may find some info among these search results for 外籍配偶 學中文. Unfortunately one of the schools in Taibei states that the classes are only for south-east Asian women. Maybe men/other nationalities could fight their way in by arguing that this rule is racist and sexist.
A classroom full of South East Asian women in the middle of winter. Now there’s something worth fighting for!
There seem to be more and more of these classes offered by local government and community groups, I have always wondered what reaction I would get if I rolled up. Alas, now, when advertising these courses they specify the spouse must come one of a certain listed ‘disadvantaged’ countries.
As a Canadian I should fit right in.