Texts to include Jay Chou, Wang Chien-ming
Source: China Post
Credit: noreen (
www.jay-chou.net)
TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Move over, Confucius! Elementary school students in Taipei County will soon practice reading with a couple of Taiwanese superstars.
Yankees pitcher Wang Chien-ming and singer/actor Jay Chou are among famous faces to be featured in grade school reading textbooks under a new government curriculum unveiled by the Taipei County Department of Education yesterday. The content was chosen specifically to appeal to youngsters' interests, said Taipei County Magistrate Chou Hsi-wei.
All Taipei County students in grades three through six will have the option to learn vernacular reading through modern writings and articles by and about well-known Taiwanese personalities. More than 20 Chinese-language teachers spent about a year creating the supplemental lessons. The new texts add contemporary relevance and color to the often traditional teachings of Taiwanese institutions.
Students are reportedly delighted at the prospect of reading about their idols. According to news reports, a fourth-grader surnamed Chen said that such materials were “so cool” while sixth-grader Lee was so excited she couldn't wait to get her hands on the new textbooks.
The four new textbooks, with four lessons and 24 articles each, could be available as early as this month. The materials include prose, short stories, fairytales, modern poetry, newspaper articles and magazine editorials. Texts include an exclusive interview with Wang, as well as coverage of Chou's work.
A spokesperson for JVR Music, the record company co-founded by Chou, said that Chou has always cared about kids' well-being and is happy to be a part of anything that will bring them joy and encouragement.
Also appearing in the textbooks are excerpts from Chinese novelist Jin Yong's martial arts novels about heroes voyaging in China's mythical past.
# Oh my! I wish I could have Jay's articles in my textbooks too!
[07/10/09] Texts to include Jay Chou, Wang Chien-ming
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