One-person armies: the border-crossing Taiwanese native-language teachers in technology-rich classrooms

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to explore native-language teachers’ efforts in technology-rich classrooms. The advancement of classroom technology and educational policies in Taiwan prompted native-language teachers to leverage technology that improved learning and instruction in native languages. Fifteen senior teachers participated in in-depth interviews and shared their observations and teaching experiences. Results showed that native-language teachers, while working mostly alone, leveraged technology as learning scaffolds, show-and-tells, and tools for mastery. However, teachers struggled with approaching, smoothing out, and stabilizing the use of technology in classrooms due to the marginal availability of both subject matter and technological content. The researchers examined the teachers’ experiences in the light of border pedagogy, where teachers in marginalized subjects such as native languages must accommodate, connect, and empower themselves and learners by using culturally aware technologies. Clearly, both native-language education and assisted technology should move beyond the function of transmission and technician.

KEYWORDS:

• Native-language education
• native-language teachers
• border pedagogy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ken-Zen Chen

Ken-Zen Chen is an associate professor of e-Learning at National Chiao Tung University. Prior to becoming an academic, Kenzen was an instructional designer and research analyst in the USA. He teaches and researches in the areas of learning technology, online education, MOOCs, and learning analytics.

Yuan-Hung Lee (Singko Laway)

Yuan-Hung Lee (Singko Laway) is an elementary teacher and indigenous Amis. He was the Deputy Director of Central Curriculum & Instruction Consultant Team for Indigenous Languages. In 2021, Singko is seconded to the Taichung City Government to establish the Resource Center for Indigenous Education. He holds a PhD in e-Learning from National Chiao Tung University.