Members of English Reading Group 英語讀書會成員

Group Sarah 【Tourism】

Hello everyone! My name is Sarah, and I’m from Korea. I’m studying at the Graduate Institute of Management, and I’m excited to be leading our discussions on travel and tourism over the next five sessions.

A little about myself—I love exploring new places and learning about different cultures, which is one of the reasons I’m here at NTNU as an international student!

Over the coming sessions, we’ll be exploring various aspects of travel, with the goal of understanding how it impacts us and the world around us.

We’ll discuss topics such as the effects of tourism on local communities, sustainable travel practices, current travel trends, the role of technology in travel, and the cultural exchanges that occur when we explore new places.

We’ll be using articles and other reading materials to support our discussions. While it’s not necessary to prepare or read the articles beforehand, doing so can provide more context for our conversations. Don’t worry if you haven’t read them in advance, as we’ll go through the key points during each session.

I’m looking forward to our discussions and hearing your experiences. Let’s get started and hope we can make the most of our time together!

Thank you, and see you all soon!

Group Alex【World Literature & History】

Hello everyone! My name is Alex Socop. I’m an indigenous K’iche’ Maya person from Guatemala, currently pursuing a PhD in Educational Psychology and Counseling at National Taiwan Normal University. I have always been passionate about history, and good storytelling. Therefore, I believe that books offer something special: They present a unique window into history, society, and the human experience.

My intention with this reading group is to have a way for us to explore the world together through literature and history. In our busy, modern lives, it is easy to get distracted and lose perspective about the world. But I think it is incredibly important to build a wider perspective, one that includes voices and stories from cultures and times that might be very different from our own.

Literature, in my opinion, is one of the best tools we have for building empathy. When we read a novel, a short story or poetry, we are not just looking at words on a page; we are stepping into someone else’s life, seeing the world through their eyes, and perhaps understanding a piece of the human condition a little better.

On the same page, understanding history is more than just memorizing dates and events. It helps us see the patterns and connections that explain how we got to where we are today, both as societies and as individuals. We might read a story from the past and find surprising similarities to our world today. We could explore how a historical event shaped a country’s identity and how that still echoes in the present.

As a group leader, I will select the readings and help guide our weekly conversations. We will meet up to share our thoughts in an open, relaxed discussion format. Please keep in mind that this reading group is not a formal class; it is rather a space for all of us, no matter our background, to exchange ideas, ask questions, and maybe see things from a new angle.

I’m really excited about having the opportunity to serve as a reading group leader, and I am looking forward to hearing what you think and I would love to have meaningful conversations with all of you.

Group JJ【Flash Fiction】

Hi! My name is JJ Solorzano. I’m from Guatemala, a country located in Central America, home of the ancient Maya civilization and some of the natural wonders of the world. I came to Taiwan almost three years ago to pursue a master’s degree and learn Chinese Mandarin.

Previously when I was back home, I had the opportunity of teaching for more than five years at a university and ever since I’ve been passionate about education and a firm believer that through reading, discussing and traveling your mind and your knowledge expands bringing you together with other people.

The English Reading Group that I’m proposing will take us on a journey through the world while we read Flash Fiction. But what exactly is Flash Fiction you may wonder. Flash Fiction is a genre in which every sentence, every phrase and every word has to fight for its life. Flash Fiction is the king of brief stories. Stories that can be a paragraph, even just one sentence, but that hold enough power to open many new possibilities for thinking about ourselves and the world.

In these five sessions we will explore several super short stories from the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Pacific region so that we can get an idea of how Flash Fiction works and captures big ideas in tiny spaces all around the world!

1st Session: we will explore what is flash fiction and some iconic examples.
2nd Session: we’ll start our journey in the cradle of civilization, Africa.
3rd Session: we will discuss about some examples from Europe.
4th Session: we will jump into Asia, from the Middle East to the Far East.
5th Session: we will take a look at some examples from the Americas, from Latin America to the US.

The goal of this journey is that through a relaxed discussion you and I can have the chance to explore some interesting stories, have fun, and practice our English skills together! Looking forward to seeing you this semester!

Group Jaylene【Travel & Culture】

The topic for this group is travel and culture. From exploring different countries to learning about the diverse cultures across the world, group members can discover new knowledge or share their personal experiences. The group will read engaging articles and stories about travel and culture, which can include topics such as holidays and festivals, local traditions, famous landmarks, food culture, and unique lifestyles of people around the globe.

Group members can have discussions where they share their opinions, discuss questions, and compare the reading material with their own experiences. In order to efficiently practice English, it is encouraged for members to actively participate in discussions about the readings. This is a safe space to practice English without fear of making mistakes, and members are welcomed to share their memories of past travels, personal cultural traditions, or ask questions about other cultures.

This reading group is a friendly and supportive environment that welcomes readers of all English levels to build confidence and fluency through practice. If you are interested in travel and culture and would like to practice your English and get to make new friends, please come join this reading group!

Group Lucyna【Movies】

Hi! My name is Lucyna, or 詩南, and I’m a PhD student from Poland. I graduated with honors from the faculty of Sinology at Warsaw University with my thesis on the cinema of Tsai Ming-liang, then pursued my Master’s at Peking University, with dissertation on queer Chinese female literature, and now I am here at NTNU’s department of Taiwan Culture, back with working on film. Since both my personal and professional life revolves around the topic of cinema, I would like our reading group to focus on films as well! For starters will it allow us to practice English reading in a fun way, but also find out more about cultural, social, historical, and political implications of films throughout different continents, countries, and decades. Aside from engaging with films through written articles and book chapters, we will focus on how to engage with different texts, and how to utilize them for our own purposes, such as gaining knowledge, or doing research. So, if any of this sounds appealing to you, I would love to co-create this reading space with you. The texts that we will be focusing on will be selected collectively, based on our common interests and expectations.

Group Richard【Cybernetics, AI or History & Culture】

My idea for a topic is to study the works of old cyber-theorists and discuss the relevance of past writings to contemporary societal issues. It will give students a chance to discuss AI from a more academically grounded foundation, and should be both approachable and interesting. I have multiple short articles and book chapters prepared depending on whether the students find it too difficult or uninteresting.

Group Grace【Tourism & History & Culture】

My name is Grace, and I am currently a PDD student in Health Promotion and Health Education at NTNU. I am very honored to be your leader for this English reading group, where we will explore and learn more about Taiwan together.

As a proud Taiwanese. I believe it is important for both local and international participants to gain a deeper understanding of Taiwan's rich culture, history, and natural beauty. Through this reading group, we will not only improve our English skills but also discover various aspects of Taiwan that make it unique and special.

We will cover five main topics in this English reading group:
1. Taiwan's History and Democratization Process: We will learn about Taiwan's fascinating historical journey, from its indigenous roots to its transformation into one of the most democratic societies in Asia.
2. Taiwan's Cuisine: Known as a 'food paradise,' Taiwan offers a variety of delicious dishes, such as beef noodle soup, bubble tea, and stinky tofu. We will explore the vibrant food culture, especially the famous night markets.
3. Taiwan's Biodiversity: Taiwan is home to incredible biodiversity, including many endemic species like the Formosan black bear and Taiwan blue magpie. We will also discuss the importance of ecological conservation.
4. Taiwan's Traditional Festivals: From Lunar New Year to the Mid-Autumn Festival, Taiwan's festivals are full of cultural significance and traditions. We will learn how these celebrations reflect Taiwanese values and heritage.
5. Taiwan's Natural Scenery and Ecological Conservation: Taiwan's breathtaking landscapes, such as Alishan, Sun Moon Lake, and Taroko Gorge, are not only tourist attractions but also important areas for ecological preservation.