by Tina Lin, Project Co-organizer
Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages' USR Our Town launched its 2024 "Foreign Language Tour Guiding Community." The community is led jointly by Professors Sophie Mei-Fei Lu and Yi-Cheng Lin from the Department of English, Eileen Hung-Hsiu Lin from the Department of Translation and interpreting, and the project manager/ professional guide Luis Kung. It features six meticulously selected themes, each rich in content, and introduces high-quality courses every month. The courses offer both indoor English tour guiding skill training and outdoor English-guided walking tours, allowing participants to gradually master the English tour guiding skills and knowledge for each theme, providing an excellent English tour guiding learning experience.
The 2024 "Foreign Language Tour Guiding Community" commenced on January 30, 2024. The first class laid a solid foundation for the year's English tour guiding learning. Professor Sandie Yi-Jou Lo, the Dean of the College of International Culture, Education, and Foreign Affairs, also joined the course and exchanged ideas with the participants, contributing to the success of the event. In the first class, Wenzao alumnus Ken Rong-Jin Huang, who is currently an English tour guide, analyzed how to become an excellent foreign language tour guide; tour guide Jay Sheng-Jie He shared his personal experience leading stargazing tours in Mt. Ali with humor and vivacity, giving all the students the feeling of being on the star-gazing scene; project manager Luis guided the participants through the charm of Kaohsiung's ancient houses with clear steps and rich content, and led the participants develop captivating storylines for their tours.
The "Foreign Language Tour Guiding Community" in 2024 has planned six major themes to explore the local culture of Kaohsiung. The community is open to the public interested in guiding tours in foreign languages. The community plan runs from January to December, with odd-numbered months dedicated to thematic guiding explanations at Wenzao, and even-numbered months for field walks on the themes of the month. Participants will not only learn new knowledge about local culture but will also become more proficient in sharing the community's history and its contemporary aspects. This community embodies the spirit of university social responsibility, inviting everyone interested in guiding tours in foreign languages to join the community, exchange guiding skills, and introduce the rich history of Kaohsiung in foreign languages.
Jay Sheng-Jie He shared his experience of guiding stargazing tours in Mt. Ali.
Participants divided into groups to discuss the key points of guiding tours in ancient houses.
Luis Kung led participants to explore the beauty of ancient houses and their English guiding techniques.
Ken Rong-Jin Huang shared his experience and tips on becoming an English Tour guide.
