Professor Chen Chin-fen, with a solid plan team, is actively promoting bilingual education, emphasizing the collaboration between subject professors and schools to jointly prepare bilingual lesson plans on a monthly basis. Each school is responsible for one unit of bilingual teaching materials, with expert guidance provided. Schools implementing bilingual teaching have demonstrated excellent instructional quality, which is evident from the enthusiastic participation of students. Consequently, bilingual education in various fields has garnered support from subject professors who are willing to provide guidance and encourage the sharing of teaching techniques and curriculum designs. Videos of exemplary lessons are also shared for reference and learning purposes. We hope everyone can recognize the dedication of bilingual teachers, whether in elementary or university settings; we are all working hard!

Here's the translated news report:

The Ministry of Education's "Bilingual Teaching Implementation Plan for Some Subject Areas in Elementary and Junior High Schools" has faced accusations of oppressing grassroots educators.

The person in question clarified that the advice given was not meant to be difficult.

July 19, 2023, 15:40, United Daily News / Reporter Hsu Wei-ning / Taipei, immediate report

The National Teachers' Union Federation held a press conference today, stating that the person in charge of the Ministry of Education's "Bilingual Teaching Implementation Plan for Some Subject Areas in Elementary and Junior High Schools" has prioritized English over other subjects, thereby disregarding the foundations of subject-based teaching and making things difficult for grassroots teachers. Professor Chen Chin-fen, the project leader and a professor at Taipei University of Education's Department of Child English Education, clarified that she had never personally mentored, visited, or criticized the accuser. She also mentioned that the team consists of 55 professors from various fields, ensuring expertise in corresponding subject areas. Furthermore, the visits made by the team were aimed at providing advice. She stated, "If they perceive it as being difficult, there's nothing I can do."

A teacher from Gongzheng Elementary School in Yilan County, Cheng Chi-yi, recently petitioned the National Teachers' Union. The Union pointed out that Cheng, who holds diplomas in music education from both domestic and international institutions and possesses multilingual talents, was allegedly made things difficult by Professor Chen Chin-fen, who prioritized English in the project, thereby undermining subject-based teaching and teachers' professionalism. However, based on Chen's experience, there's no evidence of her expertise in music, art, or other subjects. Yet, she's directing classroom teaching solely based on her English proficiency.

In a recent phone interview with this newspaper, Chen Chin-fen clarified that she had never personally mentored, visited, or criticized the accuser. She mentioned that the team comprises 55 professors, each specializing in different fields. While the team did visit Teacher Cheng, the substantial advice given afterward was provided by Professor Qiu from another university's music department in southern Taiwan.

Chen mentioned that the latest visit was in June this year, but with over 200 participating schools, "it's impossible for me to visit each one personally; we rely on relevant field professors." Taking Gongzheng Elementary School as an example, although the Ministry of Education encourages in-house teachers to conduct bilingual courses, the visitation committee reported that the school employed hourly teachers for teaching, and there's no threshold for passing or failing the visits. The visits are merely aimed at providing advice based on the current situation. "If they perceive it as being difficult, there's nothing I can do."

Since the implementation of bilingual policies, there have been ongoing controversies. Chen also pointed out that the Ministry of Education does not force schools; they can assess their willingness and apply accordingly. Many rural areas actively seek grants to provide students with scarce bilingual environments. However, when the project returns to each county and city, the approaches vary, with local governments sometimes using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to bind schools, leading to inevitable opposition.