Taiwan Beefs Up English Programs to Reinforce Economic, Political Position; Elementary-School Students Required to Study English for First Time.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 9, 1999--

In an effort to strengthen its economic and political position, Taiwan has announced plans to sharply increase English-language requirements for students returning to school Sept. 1.

For the first time, English instruction is mandatory starting in third grade, instead of seventh grade as previously required.

As Taiwanese schools raced to find adequate English teachers and resources, two professors from Georgetown University and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), toured six metropolitan areas in Taiwan -- Taipei, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Taichung, Taitung and Chiaye -- and trained more than 350 elementary-school teachers, principals and academic directors in American English language theory.

The summer program was funded completely by the IEF Education Foundation (IEF), a nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles.

"The Taiwanese are in a frenzy to learn English," said Virginia Lezhnev, Ph.D., Georgetown University's senior CLED instructor and a participant in the IEF program. "They are determined to stay ahead of their Asian neighbors, and they recognize that strong English proficiency is fundamental to achieving that goal."

Taiwanese students are the fifth-largest group of foreign students in this country, according to the Institute of International Education. During 1997-98, approximately 30,855 Taiwanese studied in the United States. Countries sending more students, in descending order, were Japan, mainland China, South Korea and India.

International students make up about 3 percent of the total U.S. student population, but they significantly impact the national economy. According to Department of Commerce figures, foreign students contribute more than $7.5 billion and 100,000 jobs to the U.S. economy, making education the nation's fifth-largest export.

Britain, Germany, Australia and other countries have launched well-funded recruitment programs recently to capture a greater share of these overseas students, because of their potential academic contributions and the considerable cash they represent to local economies.

Since 1992, IEF has helped tens of thousands of Taiwanese study in the United States. The foundation maintains Taiwan's U.S. College Information Center; publishes the annual American College Directory in Chinese; and organizes educational fairs endorsed by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Fulbright Foundation and the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which functions like a U.S. embassy.

Note to Editors: For interviews with the IEF Education Foundation, college professors or students, contact Teresa O'Connor at 310/396-7060 or [e-mail].