The owner of a pastry shop in Taitung saw the light after realizing that he had been using the wrong word, “green bean,” to introduce to foreigners the famous pastry “lu dou gao.” Lu dou gao, made of mung bean, has long been translated as “green bean cake,” confusing foreigners for years.
Another owner of a souvenir shop in Pingtung embarrassed himself when he told a foreigner the 200 NT product cost “twenty dollars”. Although it was just a slip of the tongue, he gets nervous when speaking English. Every time a foreigner comes in his shop, he hopes that he won’t be asked any questions.
To respond to the need of local merchants and to fulfill the country’s Bilingual Policy, the Department of Commerce of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, commissioned the Commerce Development Research Institute (CDRI) to hold English training workshops and individual consultations in Jiufen (New Taipei City), Lukang (Changhua County), Donggang (Pingtung County) and Chenggong (Taitung County). In cooperation with Studio Classroom, CDRI held English training classes for shop owners that taught short conversations, retail business English, as well as English translations on signs, instructions, and local specialty products. The goal of the activities was to help the shops provide better customer service to foreigners.
Yu Wen Zhai, a lantern shop in Changhua, offers DIY courses that combine calligraphy, painting and traditional craft. Thanks to the workshops, the owner doesn’t need to rely on body language anymore. After improving his speaking skills, the owner can now offer lantern-making DIY courses taught in English to attract foreign tourists.
CDRI will start to offer one-on-one courses for local merchants in August. Foreign teachers will teach courses to further meet specific needs in various scenarios.
Next time when foreign friends ask you for must-visit attractions in Taiwan, don’t forget to mention these English-friendly towns. Moreover, visit these historical and cultural towns with your friends and family during summer vacation to experience the local vibe and the English-friendly environment.
