Why Distance Learning?

We welcome Wendy Lee from Tsai Hsing School in Taipei, Taiwan who discusses the multifaceted roles of local teachers in a global distance learning language program called Learning Live. She highlights the challenges and responsibilities these educators face daily, emphasizing their need to be detail-oriented, capable of multitasking, and flexible to handle the unexpected. Key responsibilities include managing student behavior, ensuring comprehension in a non-native language (English), facilitating group projects, and providing on-site technical support.Wendy explains that the program collaborates with teachers from Banyan Global Learning - who provides the lead teachers over live, virtual conference - to deliver a curriculum that not only teaches English, but also integrates cultural awareness. Original curricula cover various stories and themes, such as following a Taiwanese student named Luna as she travels in America and Latin America, with each unit tied to a U.N. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) and including significant group projects.The conversation also touches on cultural sensitivity in teaching, particularly around topics like gender equity. Wendy shares an instance where categorizing adjectives by gender proved challenging for Taiwanese students due to cultural differences in gender perception. This leads to discussions on how to redesign activities to better address and teach gender equity, highlighting the importance of cultural context in educational content.Wendy advocates for strong communication and cooperation between local and distance learning teachers to enrich students' learning experiences and foster global perspectives. She stresses the long-term benefits of understanding and empathy in educational settings, which can significantly impact students' development and worldview.Guest links1. Tsai Hsing School - http://english.thsh.tp.edu.tw/2. Bridges to Prosperity - https://bridgestoprosperity.org/Host links:Browse amazing virtual learning opportunities at Tami Moehring and Allyson Mitchell's CILC.orgSeth Fleischauer's  Banyan Global Learning helps schools leverage technology for teacher and student wellness including AI literacy PD for teachers and, for students, live virtual learning experiences in Character Education: banyangloballearning.com