Taipei, Taiwan Report of what it's like to live there - 11/07/16
Personal Experiences from Taipei, Taiwan
School Name:
Taipei American School
Background Information:
1. Are you the parent of a child(ren) attending this school? A teacher at the school? Or both?
Parent of a student at TAS.
2. What grade or grades do/did your children attend at the school? During what year(s) did they attend the school?
11th & 12th grade
3. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?
government
4. Are other schools available to expatriates in this city? Why did you choose this particular school?
Taipei European School & Morrison Academy Taipei
Admissions & Welcome:
1. Are the admissions and placement procedures clearly stated to prospective families, either on the school website or through other means of communication?
Yes
2. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?
Integration for new students, especially at the high school level, is extremely difficult. Unlike other American schools we have been involved with over the years, TAS is a Taiwanese school with an American curriculum meaning that 90% of the students are local who have been in the school from kindergarten. It is a school with the main goal to prepare students to enter high level universities around the world.
Administration & School Procedures:
1. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
Outside of the two parent teacher conferences per year, I have communicated with the teachers solely through email. There has been a disconnect with several teachers on how my student feels about the grades they are getting in class and the teacher's perception of my student's ability. This has led to much frustration in getting the additional help we have needed.
2. Aside from school fees, are there required expenses such as uniforms, laptops/tablets, musical instruments, or field trips that parents are expected to cover? What are the approximate costs?
A junky laptop is provided by the school.
Academics & Resources:
1. What personal or academic counseling resources are available at this school? Is there a dedicated college counselor at the school? Is he/she familiar with universities worldwide?
There is an overemphasis on college preparation. Each junior is assigned a college counselor and has additional homework assigned by them. It doesn't matter if the student knows exactly what schools they want to apply for, they are required to find reach schools and spend additional time in research on this. This service is excellent for the student wishing to reach for the top schools in the world, but for a student who already knows where they want to go, it is an extra layer of stress.
2. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
Beautiful sports facilities
3. Are Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses available in upper grades? If this is an IB school, is the full diploma required of all students?
Standard American curriculum, AP and IB diploma are available. There is a wide range of interesting classes for non-IB students to take.
4. Are students generally challenged appropriately by the curriculum? Please describe any particular strengths or weaknesses in this area. Do you have any thoughts how the curriculum is applied and implemented at this school?
This is an academically challenging school. The student must be prepared to spend large amounts of time outside of class studying.
5. What fine arts electives are available (music, drama, visual arts)?
This school has a very strong drama and dance program.
6. Are the teachers at the school required to speak English as a first language--or at least fluently?
Fluently, but not as a first language.
7. What services are available for gifted/advanced students at the school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
TAS will go to many lengths to help the gifted student excel.
8. What services are available for students with learning disabilities at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
This is a very difficult environment for the child who struggles in school.
9. What extra-curricular activities (including sports) are available at this school? Have your children participated in these activities? What activities do you feel are missing at the school?
There are many sports available, but it is very difficult to get accepted on a team if you have not been at the school for several years and already established yourself in that sport.
Social & Emotional Well-Being:
1. Do expatriate students socialize with local students at the school? Are both groups successfully integrated into the school culture?
No, there is a large divide between the expat students and the locals. There are not many events at the school to encourage socialization on a fun level.
Overall Impressions:
1. What letter grade (ranging from A, excellent, to F, fail) would you assign to this school based on your overall experience? Would you choose it again?
I would not choose to put my child at this school again.
