Taiwanese people have long been renowned worldwide for their hospitality, which is something my Russian husband loves to talk about.
A foreigner with distinct facial features finds life in Taiwan very convenient and safe. However, there are two aspects that make him feel uncomfortable. Firstly, in many places, there are no sidewalks, leaving pedestrians with no space to walk. They often have to contend with cars and motorcycles for the road. Secondly, while walking on the streets, he is frequently approached with questions like, “Hello! Are you an English teacher? How long have you been in Taiwan?” Every time he’s asked this, the other person is incredibly enthusiastic, with a shy smile, as if they’ve encountered a truly exceptional English teacher. Initially, my husband used to respond seriously in Chinese with a Beijing accent, saying, “I’m not American, I’m Russian.” This would elicit exclamations like, “Wow! Your Mandarin is excellent!” But inevitably, the next comment would be, “Come to Taiwan to teach English!” At that point, my husband would smile silently, and I would explain that he isn’t an English teacher or an American.
However, for Russians who have settled in Taiwan for their wives and children, this stereotype isn’t entirely unfounded. According to the latest statistics from the Immigration Department in September 2017, there were over 763,000 foreigners in Taiwan that month. The largest group consisted of foreign migrant workers, followed by teachers, businesspeople, engineers, and missionaries. The majority of foreigners in Taiwan come from Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Japan, South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and France also have significant populations in Taiwan. Examining these statistics, it becomes apparent that the stereotype does have some basis. Apart from easily recognizable Asian races, most blond and blue-eyed individuals are indeed Americans.
Now let’s address a more fundamental question: Who are considered “foreigners”? Literally speaking, anyone who isn’t of Taiwanese nationality can be called a foreigner. However, in terms of cultural habits, Taiwanese generally refer to foreigners as “European, American, Japanese, and Korean people.” Even the Southeast Asian migrant workers, despite being the largest group, are still regarded by many Taiwanese as having a certain degree of economic and cultural superiority. They are also classified as “foreign workers.” This is a topic worth pondering in the future, but for the purposes of this discussion, we’ll use the cultural definition of “foreigners.”
Why do Taiwanese people study English? Well, due to Taiwan’s geographical location, it has been a trading hub throughout history, making English the desired language for communication. But beyond that, I believe there is a hidden reason—when Taiwanese interact with foreigners, they become exceptionally considerate. I once saw a video where a YouTuber pretended to be a Japanese person who didn’t understand Chinese and asked for directions on the street. Every group of people he approached, men, women, and children, made a concerted effort to explain the directions in English. When encountering foreigners, Taiwanese enthusiastically greet them with phrases like “Hello” and “Good”! In contrast, in Japan, even if you ask for directions in English, nine out of ten people will respond in Japanese.
Whether it’s due to cultural consideration or economic necessity, the fact remains that the Taiwanese learning English can be considered a national movement. I, myself, started learning English at the age of 5. Fortunately, my first English tutor was kind and would often take us to eat at “My Steak” after completing a bunch of vocabulary tests. Eating steak became associated with learning English for my children, so they didn’t feel the pain of being forced to learn. The only thing that bothered me was the bias of my English teacher in the third grade of junior high school. They only cared about scores and not the individuals, which temporarily shook my confidence in English. But thankfully, I regained my interest in high school. My English grades may not have been outstanding, but I always enjoyed studying with a positive attitude. At the time, learning a foreign language meant being able to communicate with foreigners—a concept that I found cool.
Later, I pursued Russian studies at university. During my third year, I went to Moscow University as an exchange student and was surprised to discover that these “foreigners” didn’t speak English. All the English I had studied for more than ten years was useless there. However, my knowledge of Chinese characters helped me make significant progress. After returning to Taiwan, I completed my senior year and entered the workforce. I was employed by a company involved in exporting industrial computers, which made me realize the importance of English. I silently acknowledged that my business English skills were lacking. In my first month of work, I bought several business English books and used them as dictionaries, consulting them whenever needed. Today, due to my children, English has become the common language I use with other parents on a daily basis. Although I don’t hold any certificates, English has become an integral partof my life.
In summary, Taiwanese people study English for various reasons. Some learn it for practical purposes, such as communication in international business or travel. Others learn it out of cultural consideration and hospitality when interacting with foreigners. English has become an important language in Taiwan due to its historical trading connections and the desire to communicate effectively with people from different countries. The stereotype of assuming foreigners in Taiwan are English teachers, particularly Americans, does have some basis in reality, but it is not applicable to all foreigners living in the country. Overall, the Taiwanese people’s enthusiasm for learning English and their friendly attitude towards foreigners contribute to the reputation of Taiwan as a welcoming and accommodating place.
