Others - OUR TOWN

Bilingual Learning Companion Welcome Gathering

Debbie — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 05:04:48 +0000

by Lin Qi-Wen & Xu Ting-Wei, Project student

On November 23, 2024, Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages' University Social Responsibility Practice Program, “OUR TOWN Community Sustainable Cross-Domain Collaborative Platform Project”, held the “Bilingual Buddy Gathering” event. This event was in collaboration with another USR program.

The event aimed to guide elementary school students (from Anping Elementary School, Xianbei Elementary School, and Wuquan Elementary School) to explore the history and culture of Zuoying Old City. This half-day activity included a cultural and historical walking tour, an old city challenge, and a team presentation session. Through various activities, students were immersed in the rich cultural heritage of Fengshan Old City and experienced the historical charm of the Zuoying area.

On the event day, Mr. Chen Zhenrong, Manager of the Kaohsiung Old City Cultural Association, and Mr. Gong Shuyong, a teacher from the Foreign Language Guided Tours Community, served as lecturers, leading participants on the walking tour. They vividly explained the legends of Guishan Feng Shui, the gates and walls of the old city, and the historical and cultural significance of landmarks such as the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas and the Chengyi Ciji Temple. Along the way, some English words and phrases were integrated into the explanations to enhance students' bilingual practical application skills. The elementary school students absorbed knowledge through storytelling and learned English vocabulary and phrases related to the sites, reinforcing their impressions.

After the walking tour, the students were divided into three groups to participate in a challenge activity. Guided by university students serving as station masters, the children applied the knowledge and English they had learned throughout the day to collaboratively complete the challenges, adding a layer of fun to the event. During the final presentation session, students reinforced what they had learned and showcased their achievements.

The event concluded successfully under the guidance of Ms. Lu Meifei, Mr. Lin Yicheng, and Mr. Luis. It not only provided elementary school students with a deeper understanding of the history and culture of Zuoying Old City but also sparked their interest and motivation in learning English. By combining education with entertainment, the event allowed children to learn and grow through hands-on experiences.

The OUR TOWN project team plans to continue organizing similar events to connect school and community resources, integrating cultural heritage with educational innovation. The goal is to cultivate students as multilingual and cross-cultural talents while deepening local cultural roots. This bilingual buddy gathering was a cultural and linguistic exchange and a successful demonstration of social responsibility in action.

Group photo of university students, elementary school students, and staff.

Elementary school students answering quiz questions at activity stations.

Luis explaining the historical story of the city gate.

Students attentively listening to the guided tour.

Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages Promotes the 'SeaYou Again', Integrating Navy Culture with Village Culture

Rose — Sat, 25 May 2024 15:55:32 +0000

by Deco, Project Student

The micro-credit course "Sea You Again," launched by Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages as part of its university social responsibility initiative, integrates the naval culture of Zuoying Naval Base and the culture of military dependents' villages. The purpose of the event is to incorporate the culture of military dependents' villages into modern life, allowing the younger generation to better understand, respect, and cherish this historical period. The content of the event covers introductions to naval, cultural, historical, and geographical aspects, not only promoting naval culture but also emphasizing the importance of national defense awareness for all citizens.

The event comprises two main games. The first game, "Military Village History Snap" requires participants to cooperate with their group members according to mission instructions to identify the historical significance and background of artifacts and exhibits. This interactive gaming approach allows participants to deepen their impression of the knowledge points through firsthand experience, enhancing the fun of learning. The second game, "Ship Dizziness," revolves around Morse code, challenging participants to decipher Morse code and explore its mysteries and intricacies. These games blend traditional and modern elements, injecting new vitality and charm into the culture of military dependents' villages, sparking interest in military dependent village culture and Morse code among a wider audience.

The final segment of the event culminates in a visit to "Four Season Family" a restaurant adjacent to the military base's story museum, where everyone indulges in delicious village-style cuisine. Organized by the students, this special arrangement allows participants, including teachers and students, to immerse themselves in the local culture and the daily life of the military dependents' village through food. Although the dishes served in the restaurant have evolved over time to suit modern Taiwanese tastes, the communal dining atmosphere still evokes the essence of village life, fostering a sense of camaraderie among us.

Through this event, Wenzao Ursuline University successfully integrated the culture of military dependents' villages and naval culture into its social responsibility initiative, striking a balance between education and entertainment. Through games like "Military Village History Snap" and "Ship Dizziness," participants gained historical knowledge related to military dependents' villages and discovered the unique charm of these villages and naval culture. This enjoyable and educational format made learning more engaging while deepening participants' understanding and interest in the military dependents' villages and naval culture of Kaohsiung.

The participants listened to the guided tour inside the military district's history museum

A group photo of the participating students and the tour guide at the military district's history museum.

The officer explained the rules for Ship Dizziness outside the military district's history museum.

The students participated in a Ship Dizziness simulation activity.

Director Zhou guided the students inside the Farewell 886.

The participants took a group photo at the Farewell 886.

The participants were playing Military Village History Snap.

A group photo of the participants dining at 'Four Season Family' and receiving awards.

Expedition in Zouying Old Town with Companions for Learning

Rose — Sat, 18 May 2024 09:45:14 +0000

by Rose, Project student

On May 18, 2024, Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages' University Social Responsibility Practice Program, “OUR TOWN Community Sustainable Cross-Domain Collaborative Platform Project”, held an activity arranged by its “Project Activity Planning Practice Course”. This event was in collaboration with another USR program. The primary goal of the activity was to lead elementary school students from rural Yunlin to gain an in-depth understanding of the history and culture of Zuoying Old Town.

The half-day event included a variety of activities such as cultural history lectures, an old town tour guiding, and team fun time. Through these diverse activities, the event showcased the rich cultural heritage of Fongshan Old Town, allowing the students to personally experience the deep historical atmosphere of the Zuoying area.

On the day of the event, Manager Chen from the Kaohsiung Cultural Association served as the lecturer, appearing in the traditional attire of a Qing Dynasty official. Using an aerial map of the Lotus Pond area, he vividly explained the phenomenon of religious integration in Zuoying, local feng shui legends, the history of the city gates and walls, and notable historical structures such as the Confucius Temple, Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, and Ciji Temple. The elementary school students absorbed this knowledge through storytelling and reinforced their learning by completing handwritten worksheets.

Following the lecture, the students were divided into four groups to embark on an exploratory journey. They navigated four carefully designed routes: the Old Street Route, the Ancient Residences Route, the Temple Route, and the City Gates Route. Led by university student guides, the children visited numerous historical sites, including Gongchen Gate, the remains of Bizaitou Street, the Guo Family Ancient House, Spring and Autumn Pavilion, and Chi Ming Hall. These visits allowed the students to experience firsthand the historical stories and cultural landscapes discussed in the lecture.

Using hand-drawn maps provided by the guides, the elementary school students worked together to navigate to each landmark and complete the challenge, adding an element of fun to the educational experience.

This event was conceptualized, detailed, and coordinated by students enrolled in the Micro-Credit Course on Project Activity Planning Practice. Under the guidance of Professors Lu, Lin, and Xu, the students conducted on-site surveys, proposed group plans, executed the event, and self-assessed their abilities. Through the matchmaking efforts of the OUR TOWN project team, collaboration with the university’s USR project and Kaohsiung Cultural Association was established, further expanding the event’s scale.

The students not only gained in-depth knowledge of Zuoying Old Town through on-site guided tours but also enhanced their skills in foreign languages, new media, and cross-disciplinary cooperation. By widely disseminating Kaohsiung's unique historical stories, they contributed to the promotion of the Zuoying area, showcasing their dedication to local cultural preservation and advocacy.

OUR TOWN Community Sustainable Cross-Domain Collaborative Platform Project is dedicated to promoting the beauty of Zuoying Old Town. By combining micro-credit courses with cross-domain collaboration, this event not only introduced more people to the Zuoying area but also provided students with valuable practical experience. The project aims to foster sustainable community development while linking local education with practical field experiences, thereby achieving the goal of cultivating talent through its curriculum.

Manager Chen Engaging Cultural History Lecture for Children.

The elementary school students earnestly filled out their worksheets.

Students visited the Guo Family Ancient House.

The guide told the children anecdotes about Ciji Temple.

Professor Lu conducted the tour.

The team collaboratively completed the poster.

Students shared what they had learned from this event.

Group photo

Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages "OUR TOWN Community Sustainable Cross-Domain Collaborative Platform Project” Pamma Old Town : Joint exhibition of achievements of teachers and students of the planning team

Rose — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 11:37:13 +0000

By TSAI,TZU-JUNG, member of the OUR TOWN team

Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages' University Social Responsibility Practice Program, "OUR TOWN Community Sustainable Cross-Domain Collaborative Platform Project” organized the Team's Results Joint Exhibition and the Zuoying Events Video Competition Awards Ceremony at the Pamma Cofé in the Zuoying old town, Kaohsiung On December 30, 2023. The exhibition showcased the achievements of Wenzao students and community members involved in the project, integrating resources and manpower provided by local collaborative units. The award-winning students focused on the local attractions, cuisine, architecture, and cultural context of the Zuoying old town. Nearly 100 participants attended the event, highlighting how the students effectively utilized new media technologies, language skills, and game design concepts in reality puzzles and tabletop games. This successful exhibition successfully marketed the unique charm of the old town.

The exhibition consists of six areas, with the themes of the works centered around the practical field of Zuoying: "Interview and Editing Practical Course" - "Beyond a Hundred Words: The Beauty of Ci Ji Temple's Architecture, Dreaming of Ancient Houses"; "Event Planning Practical Course" - "Exploring Zuoying Old Town by Ubike: Culinary Delights, Sunset Lake Tour, and “Eat all the delicious food in old zuoying"; "New Media Practical Course" - a fantastical journey through videos showcasing ancient houses and temples; and a VR experience of the historical and cultural aspects of the old town led by Professor Chen Hongyu and his student team.

The micro-credit program offered by the OUR TOWN project consists of three courses: Event Planning Practical, Interview and Editing Practical, and New Media Practical. Through listening to local historians' explanations of Zuoying and industry experts teaching relevant new media knowledge, participants gain a deeper understanding of Zuoying. Under the guidance of professionals, students independently promote and publicize local historical stories and cultural activities. For example, students in the “Event Planning Practical”course designed a local activation sandbox experiment, using U-bikes to explore surrounding attractions near Lotus Pond, allowing participants to better understand the local cultural and historical context of Zuoying. Students in the “Interview and Editing Practical” course transformed into game designers, creating historical and reality puzzle games based on guided tour content, including Ci Ji Temple, Lingjiao Liao,(water chestnut）, Liao's ancient house and various historical door frames, bringing a new breakthrough to the relationship between participants and the practical field.

Finally, students in the “New Media Practical”course connected the architecture of Wenzao and the ancient houses in Zuoying Old Town. They recorded podcasts and used new media editing and filming techniques to compile key points, explaining the stories and anecdotes of each location.

Additionally, this project's results exhibition also invited participants from the "Community Story Interview Editing" community to share their on-site exploration of Zuoying, conducting interviews with local residents to capture their stories. The event also welcomed representatives from project collaborators, Hexing Tea House and Xingfu Alley to come to the scene., leading participants in experiencing local culture. The aim was to raise awareness of the university's social responsibility project and the land of Zuoying Old Town among more external individuals.

Guided by professional instructors, the community of story editors guided students to delve into the community, interviewing local residents and elders to unearth unique stories exclusive to Zuoying. Adding their personal writing styles and techniques, they produced distinctive reports. For instance, Ms. Wang Shiqing interviewed Ms. Xue, who is from Guo Family Ancient House, deepened everyone's understanding of the importance of preserving and inheriting the culture of ancient houses.The local business district marketing community cooperates with merchants in Zuoying. Through negotiations between students and the owners of Xi'an Noodle Shop, Hexing Tea House, and various pastry shops, unique marketing plans were designed for them . This included translating dishes into English and Japanese, English voiceovers for promotional videos, and exclusive interviews, not only enhancing students' practical experience but also increasing exposure for the merchants.

"OUR TOWN Community Sustainable Cross-Domain Collaborative Platform Project” collaborates with Wenzao students, local historians, and research scholars to work towards the goal of local prosperity. With the power of organizing this exhibition, it is hoped that more Wenzao students and external individuals will explore the old town of Zuoying, personally investigate and observe the changes in the local community development, and learn about more historical sites. The aspiration is for students to apply what they have learned in class to promote the local beauty of Zuoying Old Town and discover its unique cultural charm.

Zuoying Events Video Award Ceremony

Wenzao participates in teachers, students and community cooperation units.

Students of the "Event Planning and Implementation Course" will exhibit their class works in the form of posters and magazines.

"Interviewing and Editing Practical Course" Dreaming Back to the Ancient House Group students played a real-life puzzle-solving interactive game with the participants.

《新媒體實作課程》學生進行鐵窗花影片分享（林亭妤攝影）

邀請杏福巷子在地商圈的老闆娘，帶領參與學員一同進行花磚杯墊手作體驗（林亭妤攝影）

參與《故事編輯社群》的學員，運用簡報方式分享在地實際踏查的心得

文藻師生積極參與文史舊城的虛擬實境（VR）體驗