My Fulbright Year in Taiwan

All hell has broken loose. The ETAs are in an active state of revolt.

Their gripes focus on their perceived lack of respect and support in the program. They feel that they came to Taiwan for an exchange program that would allow them to serve and to learn in return. Instead, they feel like they are under a labor contract and are treated like children. This has been going on all year. I’ve been trying to smooth things over when they got too hot. That has meant many meetings at schools with ETAs, LETs, and administrators.

Apparently, they’ve been unhappy almost since their first day in Taiwan. They feel disillusioned and disappointed, and feel like their year in Taiwan has been unproductive. Not a complete waste, but a year with many lost opportunities.

They also contacted ETAs from past years, and heard that these problems happened every year as far back as they can check. Apparently, there is an endemic problem with the program, and this year it just happened to come to light (why exactly, I’m not sure).

The ETAs finally had enough last week. They requested a meeting with the Executive Director of the Fulbright foundation in Taiwan, and presented him with a list of ways that the program could be improved. I’m happy that they have so many positive, constructive suggestions. Their list of “demands” include being able to work on improving the program, helping to form the orientation/training session for the next cohort, and holding information sessions for schools that are interested in applying for the program next year.

No one is asking for anyone to be fired. No requests for more money. No demands to go home early. What do they want? They want to work harder and do more.

There was a huge meeting this afternoon of all the LETs, ETA, the deans and principals of the schools, with the chief of the county’s department of education. The ETAs kept their part positive, focusing on the potential for the program. But, we have a lot of hurt feelings among LETs, a lot of indignation among the schools, and a lot of questioning of the value of having these trouble-making ETAs in the schools in the first place. We have some repair work to do.

I have not worked this hard in a many years This was supposed to be my sabbatical year! 🙁