by Sue Chen
On the evening of May 7th, a full house packed the AV Center’s mini theater for the DFLL’s annual drama contest. Unlike previous years, there were four contesting plays instead of three. Also different was the number of judges - in addition to three DFLL judges, (Prof. Michael Keevak, Ms. Karen Chung, and Prof. Erin Chiu , there were two professors, Prof. Lin Hsien-hui and Prof. Chu Cheng-jung , from the Graduate Institute of Theater and Drama. Freshmen Karl Chang and Phoebe Chen collaborated as masters of ceremony. Three’s Company, performed by the freshmen, was a stage version of the first episode of the popular television series, and evoked hearty laughter from the audience. The two sophomore plays were Pendragon, the legend of King Arthur and his court, and Sorry, Wrong Number, a modern spoof of the original play, exploring the consequences of telephone technology. Tennessee Williams’ famous The Glass Menagerie was adapted by the junior class into a condensed version of the poignant drama. Before announcing the awards, DFLL chairman Prof. Tony Kao showed his support for the plays by presenting each performing group with a financial contribution. The award for Best Play went to Pendragon, as did that for Best Costumes (almost all the costumes were handmade), Best Adapted Script (the play was adapted from the verses of a musical), and Best Director. Laura Jane Wey, director of Pendragon, was moved to tears on receiving the award, and thanked the cast for their admirable teamwork. Best Leading Actor Walter Hsu gave an outstanding performance in drag as a frustrated middle-aged woman on the brink of insanity in Sorry,Wrong Number, while Best Leading Actress Wu Hsu-chuan did an impeccable job of dramatizing the introverted Laura with her glass menagerie. Everyone agreed that Fu Tsung-ling was a dead-ringer for the eccentric Mrs. Roper, so it was no surprise to hear her announced as Best Supporting Actress. Best Supporting Actor went to Lawrence He for his portrayal as Jim, the innocent visitor who tried but failed to boost Laura’s self-confidence. Best Stage Design, Best Lights, and Best Music went to Three’s Company, Sorry, Wrong Number, and The Glass Menagerie, respectively. Months of hard work paid off for all those involved in this year’s drama contest, and we all are looking forward to next year’s performances!
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por Iris Yim
Este verano he ido a Ingleterra y Francia. Las vacaciones estuvieron llenas de emocion. Durante el mes de Julio he estado en Cambridge para hacer unos cursos internacionales. Estuve con estudiantes de todo el mundo. Tuve companeras de America, Italia, Japon y asi sucesivamente. Pero, para gran sorpresa mia, habia mucha gente mayor en la escuela de verano. Uno de mis ancianos amigos era abogado y otro era escritor. Tuve la experiencia especial en estar con mis amigos mayores y aprendi mucho. Ademas de hacer amigos de todo el mundo, me diverti mucho en Cambridge porque la ciudad es muy bonita. Hay muchos edificios antiguos que contienen historia y tradicion. Cada dia, iba de paseo por la ciudad y tomaba el sol en la hierba al lado del rio Cam. Despues de acabar los cursos de la Universidad de Cambridge, fui a Francia. Hice un viaje sola por primera vez. Primero tuve miedo. Luego aprendi a ser valiente. Estuve en Paris durante una semana. Visite el Louvre, la torre Eiffel, Notre Dame y muchos otros sitios famosos y lujosos. Luego fui al valle del Loire que esta lleno de magnificos castillos y leyendas. Cuando estuve en los castillos, conoci la historia de la familia real de Francia. Por ultimo, fui al Pays Vasco. Me gusto mucho. Tiene playas soleadas, pueblos encantadores y montanas bonitas. Son una combinacion de misterio y tipismo. Viajar es mi sueno. Volvere a Europa de nuevo el verano que viene. This Summer by Iris Yim This summer I went to England and France. My vacation was full of excitement. In July I stayed in Cambridge, taking some international courses. There were students from all over the world, including America, Italy, Japan, and so on. To my great surprise, however, the summer school had a lot of elderly people. One of my friends was a lawyer, and another a writer. It was a special experience to be with my elderly friends, and I learned a lot. Besides making friends with everyone, I also had a great time in Cambridge, because the city is very beautiful. There are many ancient buildings full of history and tradition. I went for a walk in the city and sunbathed on the grass near the river Cam every day. After finishing the courses in Cambridge University, I went to France. It was my first time traveling alone. At first I was afraid, but later on I learned to be brave. I was in Paris for a week. I visited the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and many other famous and luxurious places. Then I went to the Loire Valley, which is full of magnificent castles and legends. I got to know the history of the French royal family when visiting the castles. Finally I went to the Basque Country, and liked it a lot. It has sunny beaches, charming villages, and beautiful mountains. It combines mystery and quaintness. Travel is my dream. Next summer I’ll return to Europe again. By Brian Lin
If you are a regular user of the ccsun workstation, you must have noticed that for the last several weeks, when you log in to your account you are not able to use pine, elm or any other common features under the UNIX system, although you do get a message telling you that “you have new mail”. This is naturally a frustrating and confusing experience and so far, the authorities in the computer center have only posted a letter of apology stating briefly that “part of the hard disk hosting the ccsun server has been broken into and some data may be permanently lost even though they are trying to find the monthly backup tape”. Translating that into plain language, it means that if you cannot find anything in your account when you log in, you are most likely never going to. Exactly what happened is yet to be confirmed by the computer center, and they have been awfully silent except for the one posting I found on the cc.ntu.help newsgroup apologizing for the mishap. There have been speculations that the system was broken into by a hacker and the whole system, due to out-dated security measures, was wiped out as part of a sick practical joke. Another rumor states that there was a power outage which resulted in the total burn-out of the hard disk. Yet another explanation is that the hard disk was filled to capacity and thus crashed. Regardless of what happened or how it did, there’s not much left to do on the account user’s part except for grieving over the lost personal mail or other data stored in each account. The chances for retrieving them are slim. In that respect, I strongly suggest that ccsun users switch their service to the newer ms server group, namely ccsun 31 through 57. As long as you have a ccsun account you are automatically set up with an ms account and your log in name and password are identical. Just sign on to ccsun 31 through 57 and login with your ccsun name and password, you are set for surfing the web on a much more stable and secure server within the campus. If you decide to move, you might want to inform your friends of your new email address on the ms server. If your old email address is [email protected], your new email address on the ms server would be [email protected]. You may also like to set up a “forward” command in the old ccsun account so any mail sent to the old server will be automatically forwarded to your new e-mail address. Simply open a new file with one of the word processor programs under UNIX (pico, vi, etc.). In the file type in the forwarding address, then close the file, naming it .forward (don’t forget the little period “.” at the beginning). You can now use your new ms account without worry. If you insist on using your old ccsun account but are having trouble using pine or elm, this is because when the hard disk crashed, it also wiped out all the programs under your UNIX account which enable you to run email. In other words, you now have a totally empty disk space. In order to retrieve these program files, type in “tar xvf /remote/etc/rc.tar” (without the quotes) at the UNIX prompt, log out, then log in again, you will now start over with an empty mailbox but capable of reading in-coming mail and other email tasks. For homepage hosts, you can either rebuild your homepage under the same ccsun account or transfer them to the ms account. You still need to make the public_html directory under which to store your HTML and graphic files but the opening page should be named index.html instead of Welcome.html as those under the ccsun server. And to open access to your page, type “chmod +x .” without the quotes under your home directory prompt. Your new URL under the ms account will be http://www_ms.cc.ntu.edu.tw/~b0123456, providing that your account name is b0123456, of course. In light of this disaster, one must always remember that all important information must be backed up on a floppy disk or on your own personal computer if available. Computers are smart, but they are still operated by human beings who are permitted to make mistakes. by Amy Chao
Last December, a survey of student needs in second foreign language (SFL) learning revealed that 84 per cent of the 155 respondents were interested in a more intensive SFL program (e.g. 6-8 hours per week); and 84 per cent said they would be more interested in such a program if it could lead to a degree or certificate, for example, a minor degree. At present, students relying solely on their DFLL second foreign language training will probably end up with a rather limited knowledge of their respective languages, since only 12 credits in an SFL are currently required for graduation. In order to address and help remedy the situation, a number of SFL teachers got together and drew up a new SFL program, which will include a two semester, 4-credit culture course for French and German, covering media, film and historical background, and starting next semester. The new courses will adopt an interactive approach, in which students will give presentations and/or work on individual projects. Professor Jaumann, for example, would like to do something creative, like having students catch with a camera any German sights they encounter, such as a German car, a German cafe, or German people in the streets of Taipei; then maybe hold an exhibition of all the works collected. As Taiwan’s trade and cultural relations with Europe continue to grow ever closer, NTU SFL teachers are exploring the possibility of an interdisciplinary course in European tudies. The proposed culture courses for German and French will approach the European Community as an integral entity. Since the new culture courses will be given mainly in the respective foreign languages, students taking these courses must have completed at least two years of language study. There are various options to avoid adding an extra year onto the student’s program of study. One is to take summer courses at NTU; another is to attend an overseas summer language school. This year, for example, over 60 students signed up for the summer course in German at the Bremen Hochschule. After their return to Taiwan, students can receive six credits for German II or German III if they pass a proficiency test administered by the DFLL. The new SFL program will aim to offer students a broader view of the world, for example, by preparing students for a trip or graduate studies in European countries, or even for a career in a related field. According to the survey, students from levels II and III of each respective language believe that they are quite likely to make use of their SFL in their future professional career. There is another proposal, also pending approval, to award students an intradepartmental minor degree, a minor degree, or a certificate issued by the DFLL, if they complete 32 required credits in a second foreign language. These 32 credits will include levels I, II and III of the respective language, a culture course and a literature course. This proposal has been OK-ed by the DFLL Curriculum Committee, and is now being forwarded to the Ministry of Education’s Department of Higher Education for approval. If passed, students will have the option of earning an additional qualification or certificate as part of their DFLL program. This “little” change, however, has caused SFL teachers a lot of hard work in trying to fit all the new courses into their already busy schedules. But as Professor Jaumann says, “hopefully this new program will benefit students and teachers who are eager to learn and teach something more demanding.” Interested? Then why not go for it? by Sue Chen
While some students tutor, wait on tables, and ring up purchases as their first step toward financial independence, an increasing number of university students are turning towards a more controversial kind of work direct marketing. The three largest direct marketing corporations in Taiwan Nu-skin, Forever and Amway are keenly recruiting new blood on university campuses. A wide variety of merchandise is marketed through these companies, ranging from cosmetics to health food to kitchen utensils. Most university students are introduced to these businesses by friends or family members, while others read about it on the popular BBSs (bulletin board services). Each company has a similar operational structure: in order to become a legal retailer, the interested party must be recommended by one of the existing members. That person is called, in Chinese, one’s shang4 hsien4, sort of like a “mentor”, and a specific amount of the new member’s net monthly profit is counted in the ‘mentor’s’. This means that the more new salespeople one can bring into the firm, the larger their profits will be. New members are usually offered a thirty percent discount on the products, and student marketers normally sell them at full price or at ten percent off. After one has sold a certain quota, or reached a certain position in the firm, everything is sold to them for half price. There are several ways to sell by direct marketing. Telephone marketing is one of the most convenient and frequently used methods. Networking therefore is a fundamental part of the job, because every acquaintance is a potential customer! A large proportion of Taiwan University’s student marketers are business and law school students. According to one student in the Economics Department, this is a job that trains a person’s eloquence, salesmanship, and public relations skills. In other words, it gives participants a taste of life in the real world before graduation. The companies often hold big training seminars for members who wish to enhance their sales ability. Massive crowds gather to hear successful entrepreneurs share their experiences and offer tips and advice. Each of these seminars is marked by an atmosphere of excitement that fills the room; and people leave with the confidence that they, too, can fulfill their dream of becoming a multimillionaire. Lots of students are lured into this job by the prospect of high profits, but one must not forget that direct marketing is a twenty four hour job! Those who don’t devote lots of time and effort to it usually quit after a few months, because it isn’t “easy money”, as some hopefuls may have initially anticipated. They may even end up with negative profits if they initially stocked up on too much merchandise which may eventually end up collecting dust on the shelf! On the other hand, some put all their energy into selling their wares and forget about everything else in their life. In some extreme cases, not only do grades plummet, but friends gradually disappear too, because they have now been degraded to “customers”. For students mainly interested in cosmetics at a lower price, though, direct marketing offers a good deal. This kind of direct marketer typically rationalizes: “If business comes my way, then I’ll gladly accept it; if not, no harm done!” Whether one decides to go into direct marketing or any other job, the most important thing is to be able to strike a balance between one’s full-time occupation and part-time job. There are two sides to every story, and I conclude with the aphorism, “One man’s meat is another one’s poison.” by Brian Lin
The Academy Awards, affectionately known as the “Oscars”, are now broadcast all over the world within 24 hours of the actual ceremony. We see them in Taiwan with Chinese subtitles added. But have you ever wondered how theevent is translated so well in such a short time? With less than 12 hours for translation, editing and other standard post-production procedures, the first thing to know about this sizable and time-pressing mission is that it is not done singlehandedly. It is a task entailing delicate and utter cooperation. This year’s Academy Awards, aired March 25 on TTV, was divided up into tapes of five minutes each and translated by over 20 people who were assigned instantly as the footage came in over satellite. Then the tapes were passed on to others for final checking and polishing. Of course, great attention is paid to correct translations of movie titles and celebrity names, not to mention technical film-making terms. The famed World Screen Magazine provides references to make sure all personal names and technical terms are translated correctly, and film titles are consistent with the Taiwan release of the picture. So what kind of pay do you get for such a job? Chiang Ming-hsueh , one of the translators involved in the project this year, revealed that the remuneration is quite generous. He received a pay check for NT$4,000 for translating four of the five-minute tapes. However, opportunities like this come only once a year and thus most of the translators involved in the Oscars translation are only temporarily employed for the project. The rest are regularly employed translators of the TV station. Candidates for the job are usually chosen on the basis of a personal recommendation coming from a current house interpreter; otherwise translators involved in the project in preceding years may be called back. So in this particular case, not only ability counts but also experience, and perhaps most of all, connections. Florence Chou: I’m going to Berkeley with Susan Hu this summer to attend their summer acting course before looking for a job. Or I’d like to study hotel management.
Jennifer Wu: I want to study Education or in Taiwan and work in these fields. Beth Tsai: I’ll try out for NTU’s Music Grad School. Otherwise I want to go abroad to study music or education. Ray Lin: After finishing my military service I’ll probably find a job at a newspaper. Or I’ll study English and American Literature in grad school. Mel Lee: I would like to study Public Administration and then go into government service. Cathy Chin: If I am accepted by a good school, I’ll go to the States; if not, then I’ll just have to find a job. However, I’m still not sure what I want to study or what job to do. Casey Tsai: I simply try to avoid thinking about this question. After all, I’m still a junior. Wendy Chung: I’d like to work as a PR officer for a year first to see if I’m cut out for this job and whether I’m really interested in it. If the answers are affirmative, I’ll go to America and get a master’s degree in public relations. Sheryl Tu: I want to go abroad and study fashion design. But first I want to spend the next year improving my language ability and learn some basics about things like sewing and sketching. Iris Yim: I’m quite interested in PR right now. Even if I were to go to grad school, it’ll be after working for a year or so, so that I know what I really want to study. Jesse Lai: I’m looking for a job right now. I have no plans for going to grad school in the near future. Continuing to study seems to be escaping from reality to me. Peggy Tsai: I’ll try to pass the entrance exam for the DFLL grad school because that’s where my interest lies, and moreover, I want to postpone entering the “Real World”. Susan Teng: I would like to get engaged with my boyfriend after I graduate. Then I’ll work for a year to wait for him to finish his military service, and we will go abroad together. |
Authors
The Taida Student Journal has been active since 1995 with an ever-changing roster of student journalists at NTU. Click the above link to read about the authors Archives
May 2024
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