2025 IJRSE – Volume 14 Issue 13
Available Online: 10 July 2025
Author/s:
Kuo, Fang-Yu
Chen, Nai-Tzu
Wu, Yu-Yen
Wu, Chen-Yi
Chien, Wen-Shan
Low, Yu-Xuan
National Chengchi University, Taiwan
Abstract:
This study investigates the implementation and stakeholder perceptions of bilingual experimental classes under Taiwan’s Bilingual Nation 2030 policy, which aims to enhance English proficiency and global competitiveness. Despite policy support, schools face persistent challenges, including teacher shortages, unclear curriculum guidelines, and unequal resource distribution. Drawing on surveys and in-depth interviews with one mathematics teacher and 14 tenth-grade students from a junior high school in Kaohsiung, the study explores classroom practices, learning outcomes, and implementation barriers. Findings show that 71% of students expressed satisfaction with the program, citing improvements in English listening, comprehension, and communication skills, as well as increased subject engagement and international awareness. However, students noted limited interaction with foreign teachers and inconsistent adherence to the 50% English instruction target. The teacher reported increased workload, diverse student language abilities, and insufficient teaching materials as major obstacles. Collaboration with foreign teachers was hindered by mismatched subject expertise and scheduling constraints. The study highlights the need for enhanced teacher training, clearer curricular goals, and stronger mechanisms for integrating foreign educators. It also calls for equity-focused measures to prevent bilingual programs from widening academic gaps. These findings offer actionable insights for refining Taiwan’s bilingual education policy and supporting its sustainable implementation.
Keywords: Taiwan Bilingual education, bilingual experimental classes, Bilingual Nation 2030 Policy, content and language integrated learning, CLIL, teacher and student perceptions
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2025.25206
Cite this article:
Kuo, F.-Y., Chen, N.-T., Wu, Y.-Y., Wu, C.-Y., Chien, W.-S., & Low, Y.-X. (2025). Bilingual education in Taiwan: Analyzing the current practice and teachers’ and students’ perceptions in bilingual experimental classes. International Journal of Research Studies in Education, 14(13), 49-74. https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2025.25206