EXERCISE 實戰演練 Question: What is your favorite holiday? My favorite holiday is definitely Christmas. Because ... well when I was younger, it was always because of presents. You get so many presents from your family and friends. It also has a spiritual meaning because it’s the birthday of Jesus Christ. It’s always fun celebrating Christmas. People seem to be happier with holiday cheer. Everyone decorates Christmas trees, and Christmas music is everywhere. So you’re definitely in the spirit of this...
Jul 01, 2021•11 min•Season 2Ep. 6
EXERCISE 實戰演練 Question: Do you eat out a lot? Talk about some of your experience. In the busy modern life, you get used to going out and eating all the time. I think that kind of trend has followed in my life, because eating out is so cheap, it´s really delicious, it´s quick, it’s efficient. Sometimes I eat out three meals a day. I would have a bagel and a coffee in the morning on the go, have a salad or a box lunch for lunch, and have a slice of pizza for dinner. The outside food may not be as ...
Jun 28, 2021•11 min•Season 2Ep. 5
EXERCISE 實戰演練 Question: Tell us about your favorite food. My favorite food is fried chicken. Yes, I know, eating too much of it can be bad and unhealthy, but I really love it. Juicy, flavorful chicken, fried to a golden brown with a crispy coating over a tender chicken leg, wing or breast. My mouth just starts to water. This is, in fact, the most popular menu in our country. Different restaurants and vendors have their own recipes, but they are all good. One thing I believe we can all agree on, ...
Jun 24, 2021•10 min•Season 2Ep. 4
EXERCISE 實戰演練 Question: What do you usually eat? What are your eating habits? I would say that I am a healthy eater. I eat lots of fruits and vegetables. I also like to eat meat. I’m trying to get as many micronutrients as I can and that is basically from the raw source of fruits and vegetables. But sometimes I pig out on fried chicken, and ice cream and cake. I do have a sweet tooth. I really love those sweet foods or the fried foods, but they can be unhealthy. But overall I would say I am a he...
Jun 20, 2021•11 min•Season 2Ep. 3
EXERCISE 實戰演練 Question: Talk about your family and how close you are. I have a great extended family with aunts and uncles and cousins spread out all over the world. My grandmom is the oldest of six, so she had lots of brothers and sisters. We try to get together once in a while and keep in touch through telephone or some other Internet means. But the real joy of my life is my immediate family with my parents and my brother. We are very close and usually spend time together on the weekend. We of...
Jun 20, 2021•11 min•Season 2Ep. 2
A EXERCISE 實戰演練 Question: Please introduce yourself. Hello, my name is Kenneth. I’m from Taipei, Taiwan. Taipei is the biggest city, and I’ve been here for a long time now and really enjoy it. It’s a great place to live and work. As far as my hobbies go, I really enjoy going to the movies; I’m a big movie buff, so I try to catch all the movies when they’re out in the theater. Besides, I really enjoy any type of sport. I’m into jogging and swimming. I sometimes do marathon. LANGUAGE FOCUS 學習焦點 1....
Jun 18, 2021•11 min•Season 2Ep. 1
EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: The Tung Blossom Festival (客家桐花季) Every year, from mid-April until mid-May is the season when the Tung trees blossom. On the hills of Miaoli and Taoyuan, it is breathtaking views of flowering tung trees. White petals fall slowly like snowflakes and all over the ground--often described as “April snow” or “May snow”. During this period, the annual Hakka Tung Blossom Festival takes place. This festival celebrates the heritage and culture of Taiwan's Hakka community, which makes...
Jun 13, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 30
EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: Ai He / Love River The Love River (愛河, Ai He or Ai River) is in Kaohsiung, a harbor city in Southern Taiwan. The river was originally a canal used to transport timber during the Japanese colonial period, and after years of cleaning up, it is now a place for couples to spend time together. The waters flow clean and the bankside walk with shady trees and the benches, and outdoor cafes are popular hang-outs for both locals and visitors. A boat ride for 30 minutes after 6 pm is ...
Jun 10, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 29
EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: Jade Mountain / Yushan Yùshān (玉山), also known as Jade Mountain or Mt. Jade, is the highest mountain in Taiwan with an elevation of 3,952 meters. It has also been claimed to be the tallest mountain in Northeast Asia. Mt. Jade receives its name due to the fact that during the winter season, the snow-capped peak shines like stainless jade. Yùshān is one of the favorites among Taiwanese mountain climbers. The trail is well-maintained and there’s even a lodge (Páiyún Lodge, 排雲山莊...
Jun 06, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 28
EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: Ali Mountain / Alishan Alishan (阿里山, Ali Mountain, or Mt. Ali) is well known all over the world as the icon for Taiwan. It even has a song: "Alishan Girls". Located in Chiayi County in Central Taiwan, Alishan National Forest Recreation Area covers an area of 1,400 hectares and is at about 2,200 meters high above sea level. The average annual temperature is around 10.6 ℃ and the annual rainfall is up to 4,000 mm. Ali Mountain has long been famous for its sunrise over a sea of...
Jun 03, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 27
EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: Kenting National Park Kenting National Park(墾丁國家公園), the very first national park in Taiwan, is located on the southern tip of Taiwan. Bounded by the sea on three sides and having a warm tropical climate and magnificent white-sand beaches, Kenting attracts millions of visitors each year. The fascinating coastline and the green mountains constitute an amazing scenery. It’s a lovely place to go hiking, enjoy beautiful views, and return to nature. The park’s beaches are definit...
May 30, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 26
EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: Indigenous people in Taiwan The indigenous people have been living in Taiwan for thousands of years. There are 16 officially recognized indigenous tribes in Taiwan, and each of them has their own native languages and culture. Research shows that Taiwan’s indigenous people are considered Austronesian (南島民 族), or Austronesian-speaking people. They belong to the same language family as those in Southeast Asia, Oceania and Madagascar. Among them, the biggest six are Amis (Pangca...
May 27, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 25
EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: Taroko National Park (太魯閣國家公園) Taroko National Park was established in 1986 and is famous for its spectacular mountains and marble gorges. It’s definitely one of Taiwan’s most beautiful sights. Named after the local Truku aboriginal tribe, Taroko is a marble gorge along the east coast of Taiwan and was formed by the Liwu river. It’s mostly mountainous, with almost flat mountain walls rising several hundred meters above the Liwu River. Do stop by Swallow Grotto (yànzikǒu 燕子口)...
May 23, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 24
EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: Sun Moon Lake Sun Moon Lake is located in the mountains of Nantou County, the geographic center of Taiwan island. It’s Taiwan's largest lake, with an elevation of 748 meters above sea level. The name of the lake is inspired by the shape of the lake: the east side of the lake is round, like the sun, while the west side is long and narrow, like a crescent moon. The Xiangshang Visitor Center (向山遊客 中心) is a great place for visitors to enjoy beautiful views of the lake from the t...
May 20, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 23
EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: Jiufen (九份) Jiufen is an old mountain village in the Ruìfāng (瑞芳) District of New Taipei City and perhaps the most-known old street in all of Taiwan. It is said that in the old days only nine families settled in Jiufen, which is how it gets its name (九 Jiu=nine 份 Fen=portion). With narrow and winding alleys, sloping steps and traditional Chinese architecture, Jiufen also has great views of the Pacific Ocean. Multiple historical sites still exist within the town. Shengping Th...
May 17, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 22
EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: Beitou hot springs After a long day, there is nothing better than relaxing in natural hot springs. Did you know that Taiwan is ranked among the top 15 hot spring places in the world? Beitou is a beautiful geothermal region, which is very easy to get to and about half an hour by MRT from downtown Taipei. Beitou has long been famous for its hot springs, and the history can go way back to the Japanese colonial era in the 19th century. If you have time, stop by the Beitou Hot Sp...
May 16, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 21
EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: Fort San Domingo (紅毛城) Fort San Domingo has been known for its enriched historical background. It was first built in 1628 by the Spanish when they occupied the north of Taiwan. It was destroyed by the Spanish themselves in 1642 when they lost the war to the Dutch. In 1744, the Dutch rebuilt the fort using stone and renamed it Fort Antonio. Over the years the fort is still much the same as it was. In 1868, the British took the fort as their trade consulate for the region. The...
May 13, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 20
EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: Tamsui (Danshui) Old Street Located along the Tamsui River, Tamsui (Danshui) Old Street is a historic walkway that is famous for its delicious food and old-time atmosphere. Just about a 30-minute ride away from downtown Taipei, the old street has beautiful views of the river, great shops, lots of food stalls, and plenty of cafés. As one of the most popular and well-known old streets in Taiwan, Tamsui (Danshui) Old Street has all kinds of local delicacies that leave you wanti...
May 12, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 19
EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: Ximending One cannot leave Taipei without wandering around Ximending, the center of teen culture and fashion. Ximen (西門) means west gate in Chinese, as the district is located by the west gate of the old town of Taipei, and the final word ding is a character referring to the word “district” in Japanese. Ximending was founded during the Japanese colonization era as a recreation district, and today it has grown into a cultural icon. The well-known Ximending Pedestrian Zone was...
May 11, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 18
EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: Religion in Taiwan Taiwan is a society of religious freedom and toleration. The major religions of Taiwan are Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. Though these are technically three different religions, it is not uncommon to see Taiwanese who practice a little bit of all three, mixed with their own family’s beliefs and traditions. Many of the temples in Taiwan reflect the fusion. This is in part due to Japanese occupation, which led many Taoists to secretly worship in Buddhi...
May 10, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 17
EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: The Longshan Temple The Longshan Temple is probably Taiwan's most well-known temple. It’s one of Taiwan's busiest places of worship and is always croweded with people. The temple’s history dates back to 1738 when it was built by the Hokkien as a gathering place for Chinese settlers. The Longshan Temple is primarily dedicated to Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy or Buddha of Compassion. Like many other temples in Taiwan, it has shrines set up to Taoist and Chinese folk religion g...
May 09, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 16
EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is one of the most notable landmarks in Taipei. It was built in memory of Chiang Kai-shek, the former president of the Republic of China, who died on April 5th, 1975 at the age of 89. Designed by Cho-cheng Yang (楊卓成, 1914-2006), also the designer of the Grand Hotel (圓山大飯店) and the Central Bank Building (中央銀行), the white-walled hall with the blue roof is a good example of the neoclassical Chinese style. The square...
May 06, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 15
EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: The National Palace Museum The National Palace Museum is a great location to visit if you are an art lover. Established in 1965, the National Palace Museum has one of the world’s largest collections of Chinese imperial artifacts and art, with a collection size of nearly 700,000 pieces. These treasures were brought to Taipei from mainland China by the Chiang Kai-shek government. And don’t forget to see the Jadeite Cabbage and the Meat-shaped stone, two of the most popular exh...
May 05, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 14
EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: Taiwan tax refund Travelers who enter Taiwan on non-ROC passports and stay for no more than 183 days can apply for VAT refunds (VAT = value-added tax, which is a sales tax or consumption tax). If you spend over NT$2,000 from the same store in a single day and at designated stores (stores with “Tax Refund” sign), you are entitled to a full VAT refund. Some shopping malls give you the money on the spot, and you need to submit the VAT form and get it stamped. For the other stor...
May 04, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 13
EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: The Xinyi shopping district When you come to see Taipei 101, don’t forget to stop by the Xinyi Shopping District. The newest area of urban Taipei, the Xinyi district is home to City Hall, the famous Taipei 101, numerous department stores, the flagship bookstore, and all kinds of upscale stores as well as other entertainment, shopping, and dining restaurants. If you want to spend the whole day shopping, this is by far the best place to go. With the highest density of shopping...
May 03, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 12
EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: Taipei 101 Taipei 101, formerly known as the Taipei International Financial Center, is the tallest building in Taiwan and was the tallest from its opening in 2004 until 2010. In 2011 Taipei 101 was certified to be the tallest and largest green building in the world. Designed by the famous Taiwanese architect Chu-Yuan Lee (李袓原), the building resembles a bamboo tree, which represents fast growth and flexibility in Taiwan’s economy and culture. Get in one of the world’s fastest...
May 02, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 11
EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: The pineapple cake The pineapple cake (鳳梨酥) is a Taiwanese shortbread filled with pineapple jam. It is also called pineapple tart or pineapple shortbread. Pineapple cake has become one of the most sought-after souvenir treats in Taiwan. The pineapple cake tastes more like a tart than a cake. It is covered with crispy crust. The moist, sour jam in the middle perfectly balances the dry, buttery coat outside. It is only available in Taiwan. What makes Taiwan’s pineapple cake so...
Apr 29, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 10
EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: Pearl milk tea & bubble tea Bubble tea shops are everywhere in Taiwan. Bubble tea, also pearl milk tea or boba milk tea, can be said to be one of the most iconic drinks in Taiwan. It is a Taiwanese tea-based drink, which is said to have been invented in tea shops in Taichung during the early 1980s. “Pearl” means the chewy tapioca balls commonly added to the drink. Besides the most popular bubble milk tea, there are many variants of the drinks. There are two major kinds o...
Apr 27, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 9
EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: Dumplings In Taiwan, you can taste a variety of “dumplings” such as shuǐjiǎo (水餃), zhēngjiǎo (蒸餃), potstickers (鍋貼), or xiǎolóngbāo (小籠包)--keep in mind that they are different types of food in Chinese, but in English they are all dumplings. One of the most famous Chinese steamed dumplings is xiǎolóngbāo, which originated from the south of the Yangtze River (長江). The soup inside this bite-sized pleated dumpling with pork filling is the most memorable. There is a proper way to...
Apr 26, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 8
EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: Stinky tofu Stinky tofu, the most iconic Taiwanese street food, is a big question mark for many visitors. True to its name, stinky tofu is as stinky as it gets. Stinky tofu is actually fermented tofu. The process may take months to allow for the bacteria to ferment, which results in its unique smell. Stinky tofu is often deep-fried, served with salty sauce and pickled vegetables. Stinky tofu has an interesting texture: the inside is soft while the “skin” of the tofu is crunc...
Apr 25, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 7
