Each year, I am honored to be part of the annual training for the reading competition, working with students beyond my own classes. This experience allows me to guide and support learners from different grade levels and backgrounds as they prepare for a meaningful academic challenge. During our training sessions, I focus on helping them improve their pronunciation, fluency, and expression. I also encourage them to understand the stories deeply so they can connect with the message and read with heart. It’s a joy to watch their confidence grow as they practice and gain a stronger command of the English language.

Being involved in this competition has also been personally rewarding. I get the chance to collaborate with other teachers, share strategies, and witness the students' incredible progress from day one to the final performance. The excitement, dedication, and teamwork that go into preparing for the event are truly inspiring. It reminds me of the importance of giving students the opportunity to shine and use their voices—both literally and figuratively—in a supportive and enriching environment.

Joining the Reader’s Theater competition has been both a fun and challenging experience. I worked closely with my co-teacher, Ted, who wrote the script. While the foundation of the story was solid, I wanted to bring more energy and creativity to the performance, so I made a few edits to the script. I added engaging elements like songs, chants, and expressive actions to make the story come alive for both the performers and the audience. It was important for me that the students not only read fluently but also enjoy the experience and express the story with emotion and movement. 

Our shadow play journey started with a simple idea and a lot of heart. When we joined the competition in Lukang, I took on the challenge of writing the entire script, shaping the story, and directing every part of the performance. I also made all the props by hand, from big cutouts to meaningful details, and it was definitely tough to do everything on my own. But with my love for drama and strong belief in my students, we pushed through. Even with limited time and materials, we were able to put on a powerful performance that truly impressed the judges, and to our surprise and delight, we won first place.

That win opened the door for us to represent our school at the national competition in Keelung. It was a much bigger stage, and we knew we had to step up our game. I revised the script, fine-tuned the scenes, and spent more time working with the students to perfect their movements and timing. We practiced over and over, adjusting lights, shadows, and music to bring the story to life. It was tiring and overwhelming at times, but seeing the students perform with such confidence and heart on the big stage made it all so rewarding. In the end, we proudly took home the first runner-up award.

Looking back, this was one of the hardest but most meaningful projects I’ve ever taken on as a teacher. From writing and directing to making props and leading the team, I poured everything into it because I truly love drama and teaching. When we heard our name called as the first runner-up at Nationals, I couldn’t hold back the joy. More than just a win, it was a moment that showed how far we had come and how powerful storytelling can be when students are given the chance to shine.