“A Seminar of the Achievement and Prospect of Junior Abroad Program” was held by College of Foreign Languages and Literature (COFLAL) on Dec. 10, 2003, at Ching-sheng International Conference Hall. After listening to the briefing, Founder Clement Chang and President Horng-jinh Chang requested that in addition to College of Foreign Languages and Literature, every department of TKU should actively promote this program.

In addition to the chairs of seven departments of COFLAL, who gave reports about the achievement for the past ten years, Founder Clement Chang and President Horng-jinh Chang invited two vice-presidents, deans of all colleges, and chairs of all departments to participate in the discussion at the seminar, which lasted for three hours. Besides the retrospection of the ten-year achievement of the program, Mr. Chou Ming-yi, Agent of Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Education, was invited to give a keynote speech. After that, Dr. Song Mei-hua, Dean of COFLAL, moderated a round table discussion.

Most of the chairs in COFLAL endorsed this program and indicated that after participating students returned, they showed apparent progress not only in language ability but also in communication in general, and they actively joined in the departmental activities. Dr. Tsai Shu-ling, Chair of Department of French, praised them for they were more active than other classmates not only in class but also in activities. Dr. Liou Charng-huei, Chair of Department of Japanese, affirmed that they were actively exploring new schools for cooperation. Dr. Vladimir Maliavin, Chair of Department of Russian, pointed out that courses in Russian universities were usually conducted in a small class, which might be a challenge for TKU students, who were used to a much larger class; however, such a way facilitates greatly in learning listening and speaking. After they come back, they create a positive competitive atmosphere for their fellow students.

Things may not all work well in practice. Dr. Reinhard Dussel, Chair of Department of German, expressed his regret that the students who went abroad did not necessarily perform better than other students when they returned. The reason is that, the students who go to German universities do not take the normal courses as the German students, but courses designed specially for the overseas students.