National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology (NKUST) 2019 SOAR English Camp participants graced the campus during the Ateneo Cultural Encounters (ACE) program, a month-long initiative that serves as a means for partner institutions to immerse themselves in local culture. This year’s program ran from July 2 to July 30 and opened with an orientation at Faber Hall 101. Made possible by the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, ACE 2019 is in partnership with NKUST. 

SOAR 2019 primarily aimed to hone the English skills of its 80 Taiwanese participants. According to Sociology and Anthropology Department Chair Jose Canuday, aside from exposing participants to local encounters, one of the program’s goals was for participants to articulate their experiences in English. 

“The language that connects us is English. It is particularly through language that we can learn the art of thinking and questioning,” he said.

Among their lessons were discussions on conversational English skills, exercises on grammar, and practice for both spoken and written English. At the end of the course, each visiting student was assessed through an English examination. Additionally 

attendees put their English skills to use through an Amazing Race game where they had to navigate their way through the University by asking questions from students, staff, and members of the community. 

However, SOAR 2019 went beyond exercising its participants’ mastery of the English language. At the opening ceremony, Director of Chinese Studies Program Sidney Bata claimed immersion to be “the best way to experience culture.” In line with this, the program also provided the Taiwanese students with an immersive look into Filipino culture. With this goal in mind, organizers arranged for various local encounters that included, but were not limited to, riding jeepneys, going to sari-sari stores, watching local films,  visiting religious monuments, and shopping in local malls. 

Furthermore, participants were also given the opportunity to visit different educational sites around Metro Manila such as the Manila Ocean Park, Chinatown in Binondo, and the National Museum of the Philippines.