On October 26th, the Huan Yu Abacus Academic Society held a student assistant training camp at the Nan Wan Qiao Jiao Center. The training was led by 13 student leaders from the Youth Volunteer Group, instructing 35 students. At the end of the event, Deputy Director Cai Jiahua from the Nan Wan Qiao Jiao Center, Chairman Lin Xiuchun from the National Day Committee, and President Chen Zongyi of the San Francisco Taiwan Association were present to award certificates of completion to the participants.
The training took place from 10 am to 4 pm and covered topics such as homework grading, volunteer hour management, teaching strategies, and parent communication. Through ice-breaking games, group projects, and team activities, the students learned practical skills and communication abilities as assistant teachers, enhancing their leadership and teamwork skills.
President and founder of the Huan Yu Abacus Academic Society, Xie Xiuzhi, mentioned that the society has been promoting assistant teacher training programs since its establishment, with full implementation by the Youth Volunteer Group (comprising middle and high school students) from 2018 onwards. Participating students must be above fifth grade, have passed the second level abacus test, and assist teachers in grading assignments.
This year, a total of 35 students participated in the training, making it a significant annual event for the society.
During her speech, Cai Jiahua encouraged students to cherish learning opportunities and emphasized that the Taiwan Cultural Center is like a second home for everyone, welcoming them to participate in activities and learn about Taiwanese culture. Chen Zongyi praised the students for their excellent strategies and problem-solving abilities, calling them “future little teachers” and wishing them continued growth. Lin Xiuchun shared the story of the National Day gift “茄芷袋” to encourage students that even though they may be small in size, they can become the pride of their schools, families, and a shining example for Taiwan.
The head of the Youth Volunteer Group, Cui Jiali, mentioned that the preparation for the event began two months ago, with teachers and leaders designing the curriculum together. The training content covered four main themes: assistant teacher responsibilities, Google Sheets data management, children interaction skills, and parent communication methods, along with team-building games to foster collaboration and problem-solving skills.
Reflecting on her experience, Cui Jiali shared that she started learning abacus mental arithmetic in sixth grade and has been involved for eleven years. Through her journey from a student to a leader, she has learned the importance of communication, leadership, and time management, as well as the significance of serving and giving back to the community.