Since she was young, being a Chinese teacher has been Yi-Hua Shih’s dream. Now, as a Fulbright Scholar from Taiwan, her dream is being realized through a global education lens as she takes courses at LMU and works as a teaching assistant in the LMU Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, where she works with students in 13-14 drill sessions per week to learn Chinese.
Shih majored in Chinese literature for her undergraduate degree and minored in Japanese, where she completed two programs, including teaching Chinese as a second language program and an education program for secondary school teachers. To extend her education, she continued to study Chinese literature into her graduate work by attending National Cheng Chi University, where she completed a dissertation about Chinese lexicology, focusing on how vocabulary develops and transforms.
Shih has enjoyed learning from and working with LMU students practicing the Chinese language. Most of the time, the drill sessions are for students to practice speaking Chinese, but sometimes it includes studying the written language because students are required to memorize all Chinese characters. “I always enjoy my interactions with LMU students, and I find them very intelligent and diligent about their coursework,” said Shih. “Whether I’m talking with them or teaching them Chinese during the drill sessions, I feel very proud of them and the impact I am getting to make by teaching.”
One of Shih’s favorite parts about LMU is the overall academic environment on campus, from the abundant list of courses to choose from to all of the professors she works with. As a Fulbright Scholar, she takes two courses per semester, and is able to select those courses from an abundant list of options. Shih also enjoys the William H. Hannon Library. “I love that I can go any time and find so many books and even books for children that can help me in my studies and also learn about American culture,” said Shih.
“All of the professors are kind and very willing to help students,” said Shih. “I’m taking a course on race and ethnicity in America from the History Department. Growing up in Taiwan, I didn’t have as much knowledge of American history before coming to LMU. So, I have to take more time than my classmates to reach the reading materials every week. But I appreciate it because the professor is really kind and guides us on how to structure and answer questions in class with a historical context. Most students in the class have had some sort of course on history in high school or middle school and are more familiar with the topics, but most of it is my first time seeing these articles and news, so it’s all new and fresh for me.”
She added, “It takes me maybe two to three times longer to read and try to make sense of the historical perspectives and prepare for each class. When I’m in class, I don’t always feel like I can express myself the way I would like to, and it can be frustrating because I will have lots of thoughts I’d like to share, and my challenge is finding ways to communicate them as precisely as native speakers in the room.”
Shih has found success as a student at LMU by learning from her professors and the students in class with her and the ones she’s teaching Chinese to each week. “I’ve found a lot of support as an international student from the Office for International Students and Scholars,” said Shih. “Before I came to LMU, I received a lot of helpful information on transitioning to LMU, and I also have found that by following the OISS Instagram account, I can get connected with a lot of helpful information and resources that I need as an international student. I got to learn what it would look like being on campus and some of the places I could visit or eat nearby.”
Shih has also enjoyed getting to use the Burns Recreation Center and has been attending a few of the programs and events from LMU’s Chinese student organizations and Graduate Students of LMU. “A few weeks ago, I got the chance to attend a pumpkin carving for graduate students,” said Shih. “We also had a tour of the library, where I got to learn about all of the resources and tools available to me as a student. For me, my journey at LMU has been about living a life of purpose between being a student and a teacher, which keeps my schedule very full but allows me to have a clear sense, and I’ve been able to accomplish so many things I’ve never done before. Studying and working abroad can sometimes be challenging, but with all of the resources and support from LMU, I feel like I am finding a harmony here.”
Shih will continue teaching and taking courses this spring and remain in the U.S. through May 2023, when she returns to Taiwan upon completing her Fulbright. After returning home, she hopes to look for a position as a Chinese teacher in Taiwan or the U.S.
