Wen-Hsin Wang is a year 1 PhD student at Nanyang Technological University, Department of Linguistics and Multilingual Studies. Her research interests lie in bilingualism and multilingualism, bilingual education, and language policy. 

Exploring the Bilingual Education Policy in Taiwan: Pedagogical Challenges, People’s Attitudes, and Future Prospects 

My research introduces the impact of Taiwan’s bilingual education policy, Bilingual 2030, exploring its multifaceted influences on Taiwanese people. It argues that the policy, despite its complex and sensitive nature, should serve the best interests of the Taiwanese people. The research first discusses the pedagogical challenges faced by both teachers and students since the implementation of bilingual education policy and EMI teaching. Next, the focus shifts to the examination of ideological and political aspects. By posing a fundamental question – “How do Taiwanese people perceive this language policy?” – this approach seeks to reveal public attitudes and concerns through interviews. Subsequently, I argue that understanding the geopolitical context can also empower the public, enabling them to make more informed decisions about either supporting or opposing their education and language policy. I conclude that the expanding use of English in Taiwan should be carefully planned to prevent the potential threat it poses to the linguistic rights of Taiwanese citizens; also, bilingual education and EMI teaching should be gradual to ensure the quality of education for students. It should be further investigated in what ways could the EMI teaching policy best be realized in the classrooms to secure students’ learning outcomes. After all, it is a language policy designed to enhance the welfare of Taiwanese people.