New Blood 2012

曾明怡 Lydia Tseng
英國蘭徹斯特大學應用語言學博士，研究領域為英文寫作教學、質性研究、言談分析(批判論述分析與文體分析)、教師專業成長、學術英文

Writing a brief “self-introduction” for the upcoming alumni newsletter is such a unique experience for me, as I am one of the Fu Jen English Dept. alumni! My journey of learning foreign languages as the focus of my studies began when I enrolled in Wen Zao Foreign Language Junior College with a major in English and a minor in Japanese. For my interests in exploring more about English language and culture, after finishing my five-year study in Wen Zao, I took a transfer exam and entered Fu Jen English Dept. That’s the starting point of my encounter with Fu Jen English Dept.: the beautiful encounter which has brought me challenges, surprises, and also inspirations.

Various courses including British/American Literature, English language, western art, western culture, and other interdisciplinary courses offered in Fu Jen English Dept. enabled me to use English more fluently and accurately both in speaking and in writing, and most importantly, to develop my critical, analytic and independent thinking. I took a number of courses related to the language and education field, which stimulated me to be more attentive to relevant educational issues, and also motivated me to choose teaching as my profession. After graduation, I stayed in the dept. to work as a department secretary for two years. Although this job was quite satisfactory, my formerly vague vision of becoming an English teacher became more concrete. I therefore decided to pursue further studies in Applied Linguistics. Give thanks to the God, I was admitted to study MA and PhD in the Dept. of Linguistics and Modern English Language, Lancaster University. U.K. A range of courses and the excellent environment for academic research and collaborative learning whetted my curiosity in different arenas of Applied Linguistics such as ELT methodology and practice, language and gender, literacy studies, computer assisted language learning, technology and curriculum innovation, bilingualism, and critical/discourse analysis. During my PhD study, I worked as a research assistant in Literacy Research Centre, U.K. I was given several valuable opportunities to take part in research projects with leading scholars in literacy studies, educational research, and classroom ethnography. Additionally, I involved and was active in activities in the Exploratory Practice Centre, based in Lancaster University, U.K. I worked with professors and school teachers on the development of practitioner research, which aims to bring language teachers, learners and researchers together for their professional development. Also, from 2000 to 2002, I was fortunate to work part-time, teaching Composition and Conversation, Extensive Reading and Freshman English courses in Fu Jen. These teaching and research experiences are all very beneficial for my career as a scholar in the field of Applied Linguistics.

Soon after completing my PhD degree, I returned to Taiwan, working as an assistant professor in Chung Yuan Christian University (2007-2012). While I received positive feedback from my students there, it has always been my ambition that someday I can contribute what I have learnt to my alma mater. In Spring 2012, after being away from the Fu Jen English Dept. for a decade, I come back! I now enjoy working with other dedicated teachers in the dept. I consider myself as a “sower”: firstly, to seek better ways to create more learning opportunities for students; secondly, to work diligently with love, enthusiasm and wisdom to sow seeds on students’ fertile grounds and provide students with adequate support to prevent seeds from unknowingly falling upon rocks; and thirdly, to wait patiently for seeds to ripen. While I’m off work, I often read books, listen to music (classical music in particular), travel (if time allows), bake cakes/cookies, do exercise to relax and to keep myself fit. As a Christian, I love to take part in church events and occasionally sing in the choir.

Words cannot describe adequately my “thrill” to be back “home”, Fu Jen English Dept. “a lovely big family”!!! I hope to see those I met before again and to chat about the merry moments we spent together, and of course, look forward to getting to know more of our dept. young students and alumni.

魏亦淳 Sherri Yi-chun Wei
英國華威大學應用語言學博士，研究領域包括自主學習、聽力策略、混合式網路學習、行動研究

Being an alumna of the English Department myself, I found it hard to write this self-introduction for I have spent nearly ten years here: 4 years in college, 5 years as a part-time teacher and this year as a full-timer. When I first entered Fu-Jen, I was one of those shy, confused 17-year-old high school graduates who chose to major in English without knowing much about how to read Shakespeare sonnets or how to do group presentations. During those four years, through countless reports and presentations, I conquered stage fright and learned to articulate my thoughts in English. I’ve developed analytical skills through studying both literature and linguistics. Most important of all, I had cultivated this genuine curiosity in people and the world we all live in. I didn’t realize how precious this gift I received from the English Department is until much later in life. This curiosity of wanting to know more about myself, about people and about the environment has led me to live a more fulfilling life.

In fact, being an English teacher was never my first priority. It was through a volunteer job as a guide in Taipei Fine Art Museum, I found that I enjoyed interacting with people, talking to them and listening to their ideas in return. This is why I applied for the MA TESOL program of New York University and then spent two years in the Big Apple. After I returned to Taiwan with this master degree, I started my first job in the field of curriculum design in a Mandarin Learning Centre. By pure luck, a classmate forwarded a job ad from Father Bauer looking for a composition teacher in the night division. I soon realized that I enjoyed teaching a lot more than I thought I would. After four years of teaching part-time, I came to the decision of pursuing the doctoral degree so as to integrate teaching into research and vice versa.

I chose to go to England for my doctoral degree for more scholars work in the field of learner autonomy, my main research focus. I have been interested in the development of learner autonomy particularly under blended learning environments. After spending five years in Coventry, where University of Warwick is located, I have finally completed my PhD study in the summer of 2011. Fortunately, I have the chance to join the English department as a full-timer since this Feb. It is a great honor to teach in the department that nurtured me. I do hope that I can now bring the same rewarding learning experiences to students in my classes!

李宛倫Mary Lee
英國華威大學英語教學暨應用語言學博士，英語教學理論與實務、文學教學、合作學習、課程設計與教材研發、網路輔助語言教學

Before I joined the English Department of Fu Jen University in August 2012, I spent most of my life in southern Taiwan and a few years in the UK. I was born and grew up in Tainan, and since my dream of leaving home to go to university in Taipei did not come true, I stayed there and studied at National Cheng Kung University till I got my MA degree in English literature. After my graduation, I first taught English at a high school and then at NCKU and several other universities in Tainan. In 2003, I decided to “take a break” from my life there and flew half the earth through to the UK to complete an MA in ELT at the University of Warwick.

I obtained my second MA degree successfully, but all my savings were used up, so I went back to Tainan to work as a university English lecturer again, hoping to save enough money to study for a PhD in the UK one day. In 2006, while I was excited about being made an unconditional offer at Warwick but worried about how to pay for the tuition fees, a miracle happened: I was awarded three scholarships (two from the university and one from the British government) to support my three-year study of a PhD in English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics. I don’t think that I can ever thank God enough for such amazing financial support, which not only helped me complete my PhD study successfully but also allowed me to visit a lot of lovely places in the UK and many other European countries.

Another thing that I can never thank God enough for is the opportunity to work here as an assistant professor, which somehow makes me feel less sorry about not being able to spend my college life in Taipei. I remember that I was thrilled when I was informed that I got the job and would be co-hired by the English Department and Holistic Center, for I love teaching both English and non-English majors. As the new semester was approaching, however, such excitement was gradually replaced by the so-called “newcomers’ anxiety.” I was a bit worried that my lack of experience in working and living in northern Taiwan would make it difficult for me to adjust myself to the new environment where rumor has it that most people are colder and more selfish compared with southerners, and students do not show as much respect for teachers as those studying at universities in the south do. To my surprise, my colleagues and students here are extremely nice and friendly, thus freeing me from those unnecessary worries and anxieties quickly.

I still live in Tainan (interestingly, my husband, who grew up in Taipei, works there) and have to depend on the THSR to travel to and from Taipei every week, but I believe that I will eventually move to Taipei with my family, for the warm, friendly atmosphere in Fu Jen University has been calling me to live closer to it ever since the first day I came here!

蔡中蓓Chung-Pei Tsai
美國威斯康辛大學課程設計博士，研究領域主要為台灣語言教育政策與語言政治，包括語言學習之社會文化面向、美國教育政策 (The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001) 之英語學習政策弱勢外語學生、教育政策與批判教育學。

I got my Ph.D. from the Department of Curriculum & Instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Madison last December with academic interests in socio-cultural perspectives of language learning, computer assisted language instruction, educational language policy, minority education, and critical pedagogy. Before coming to Fu Jen this August as an Assistant Professor, I knew little about it except for two things: the pretty girls that Fu Jen is famous for and the alumni that are very popular among the corporate world. During my doctoral study in the United States, I met some Fu Jen alumni from the Department of English who all shared a common trait: They were very attached to Fu Jen/ the Department and very proud of it. One of my friends even told me that it is his favorite Department in Taiwan in which he had lots of wonderful memories. After being here, I gradually understand what he meant. It is the supportive and caring environment that nurtures those outstanding and wonderful individuals whom Fu Jen is really proud of, and vice versa. Now, I feel proud of being a member of the family, too, and of being able to devote myself to the education of Fu Jen's future generations.

徐慧蓮 Tammy Huei-Lien Hsu
美國伊利諾伊大學香檳分校教育心理博士，研究領域主要為世界英語、語言測驗。

Hi, everyone! I am Huei-Lien Hsu, recently joining Department of English as an assistant professor. I received my doctoral degree in May 2012 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with research concentrations in second language assessment, World Englishes, and mixed method design. I am currently teaching Composition and Conversation I (CCI) and Freshman English. As a faculty member, I enjoy doing both research and teaching given students as major sources of inspirations! Aside from work, I, as a people person, like to rollerblade, travel, cook, and work out.