學英文不用背單字 EP-27 CEFR A2-B1 A Weekend in Taipei with a Mission

Episode 41: Standing Up to Tradition: Living Away from In-Laws Format: Dialogue Episode (Host & Yolanda) Theme: Family Boundaries, Modern Marriage, and Social Expectations CEFR Target Level: B1

Podcast Title: More Than a Game – Basketball at the Special School Host: Duncan Focus: Cause-and-effect structures (because of this, it allows them to), expressing empathy, and community service. [Script] "Welcome back, everyone. Today I want to share a story that is very close to my heart. Recently, I started a new teaching journey that has really made me reflect on what kids truly need to grow up happy and healthy. Once a week, I travel to a special residential school. The students who go here stay at the school during the entire week from Monday to Friday. Many of these young people come from difficult backgrounds. They haven't had an easy life, and unfortunately, they are often lacking two very important things: discipline and love. I was hired to teach them basketball for an hour every week. When I first stepped onto the court, I wasn't sure what to expect. Some of the kids looked tough or angry, and some sat on the bench with their arms crossed, looking at the ground. It didn't take me long to realize that these kids don't need a strict coach shouting plays at them. They don't need someone to judge them. What they really need... is someone who shows up, someone who listens, and someone who genuinely cares about them. They just need love and company. Basketball is a fantastic sport for these students. On the court, when they run fast, pass the ball, and sweat, it gives them a healthy outlet. They use basketball to release all the negative energy, stress, and anger that builds up inside them during the week. When they shoot a basket and everyone cheers, you can see their faces light up with joy. Teaching at this school has been a wonderful experience for me so far. It reminds me that sports are not just about winning trophies or scoring points. Sometimes, a basketball is just a tool to help heal a heart and show a child that they matter." [Script]

Podcast Title: Where Are All the Dads? Host: Duncan Guest: Yolanda Focus: Equal Parenting, Gender Roles, and Father Involvement [Script] Host: Welcome back! Today we are discussing modern parenting roles and a confusing phenomenon I observe every single week. Whenever I visit local children's play centers or parks, I look around and see moms everywhere—and almost no dads. Yolanda: I notice the exact same thing! Whether it is a weekday morning playgroup or a Saturday afternoon at the indoor playground, 90 percent of the adults supervising children are mothers. It really makes you wonder: where are all the fathers? Host: Exactly! Even on weekends when men are off work, moms are the ones carrying the diaper bags, pushing strollers, feeding snacks, and calming down upset kids. Are dads working overtime, resting on the couch, or just leaving family duties entirely to their wives? Yolanda: Traditionally in Taiwan, the societal expectation was clear: the husband earns the money outside, and the wife handles the home and children. But in modern society, most mothers also work full-time jobs. If both parents contribute financially, household duties and parenting should be shared equally. Host: Absolutely. Being a dad isn't just about paying bills or playing video games with the kids for ten minutes before bed. Being present at the children's center, managing tantrums, and actively participating in their daily routine is essential for a child's confidence and emotional development. Yolanda: Some dads claim they feel uncomfortable in child-centered spaces because they feel judged or don't know how to play with young toddlers. But parenting is a skill you learn by doing, not something you are born knowing automatically. Host: That is no excuse! You only get better by spending hands-on time with your children. When fathers withdraw from daily caregiving, they miss out on forming deep emotional bonds with their children, and mothers burn out from carrying the entire mental and physical workload alone. Yolanda: A balanced family responsibility means partners act as a team. If mom manages Saturday morning, dad should take over Saturday afternoon—not just act like a helper who needs explicit instructions for every task. Host: Well said! Let us hope we start seeing more active, confident fathers showing up at children's centers, playgrounds, and school events every weekend. [Script]

Podcast Title: A Very Different Mid-Autumn Festival Host: Duncan Focus: Expressing likes and dislikes (I'm not a big fan of..., I prefer...), social nuances, and personal boundaries. [Script] "Hello everyone! Welcome back to the podcast. I’m Teacher Duncan. If you walk outside in Taiwan around this time of year, what do you smell? You smell charcoal, grilled meat, and sweet pomelos. That’s right—it’s the Mid-Autumn Festival, or Moon Festival! Most people in Taiwan celebrate by gathering on the sidewalk with big groups of people, eating piles of barbecue, and staying out until midnight. But today, I have a confession to make: I am a bit unusual when it comes to the Mid-Autumn Festival. In fact, I don't really like most of the typical traditions! First of all, I don't eat meat, so traditional barbecue isn't very exciting for me. Second, I really dislike crowded, noisy places. If there are fifty people shouting over loud music on a hot street, my brain gets tired very quickly. And as you know from my morning routine, I definitely don't like staying out late! By 9:00 PM, my body is ready for sleep. There is another social thing that happens here in Taiwan sometimes. Have you ever been invited to a gathering, you walk in, and nobody introduces you to anyone? You just stand there awkwardly with a cup of tea, wondering who everyone is, while people chat in their own little groups! It feels a bit strange and uncomfortable, doesn't it? So, does this mean I hate the festival? Not at all! What I do love is the true spirit of the holiday: genuine company. I love spending quiet, quality time with good friends. My ideal Mid-Autumn Festival is very simple. I like sitting on a quiet balcony or in a cozy living room with a few close friends. We can drink hot tea, eat some fresh pomelo, talk about life, and look at the bright full moon. No loud crowds, no smoke, no meat, and everyone goes home early! You don't have to follow every single tradition just because everyone else is doing it. It’s okay to celebrate holidays in a way that fits your own personality. How do you like to spend your Moon Festival?" [Script]

Podcast Title: Unlocking Confidence on the Basketball Court Host: Duncan Topic: Youth Coaching, Building Self-Belief, and Sportsmanship [Script] "Welcome back, everyone! Today was a special day for me because I officially stepped onto the basketball court as a youth coach for my very first class! Ah, I love that sound! Going into today's first session, I was feeling a mix of excitement and curiosity. Teaching English in a classroom is one thing, but guiding a energetic group of kids on a basketball court is a whole different ballgame. By the end of the class, the parents were giving me wonderful feedback, and the kids were running around with massive smiles on their faces. But as I watched them play during our drills today, I noticed something very interesting about their performance. Physically, these kids can play! They know how to dribble with both hands, they can run fast, and their shooting mechanics are actually pretty decent for their age. They have all the basic tools. But what they are severely lacking right now is not physical skill—it is pure confidence. During our mini-game at the end, whenever a player received the ball, you could see them hesitate for two full seconds. They looked down at their feet, second-guessed whether to pass or shoot, and seemed terrified of making a mistake. The moment they missed a shot or turned the ball over, their shoulders dropped and they looked completely discouraged. That was the exact moment I realized my true role as their coach. My main job isn't just to teach them how to do a crossover dribble or a proper lay-up. My primary mission is to build their inner confidence. I stopped the practice, gathered all the kids in a circle, and told them: 'I don't care if you miss ten shots in a row. I only care if you stop trying! Shoot the ball with courage, pass with pride, and trust yourselves!' You could instantly feel the shift in energy. They started cheering for each other, moving faster, and playing with freedom. Whether on the basketball court, in the classroom, or in daily life, skill only takes you halfway—self-belief carries you the rest of the way." [Script]