Interview with Rhonda Stone, Lead House Parent of Y2 Montessori School – Adolescent Community (Y2MAC)
Many people are curious—just how exactly is residential life at a Montessori middle school? Life in the Montessori boarding community is structured and independent with steady rhythm, allowing new students to adjust quickly to the environment.
The Montessori Adolescent Education Observation comes out of the Y2 Montessori School - Adolescent Community (Y2MAC). It seeks to introduce the public to Montessori educational concepts by observing schools on a day-to-day basis.
(Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels)
Unary equations, geometry, π=3.141592... junior high school math is without a doubt one of the most sleep-inducing subjects, especially when combined with sleep-deprived knot-tied brains. Almost everyone has been guilty at one time or another of daydreaming or dozing off in class. And despite a teacher’s best efforts, even Montessori middle school students drift off to the "land of nod” now and then.
Fankan Hsu, a Montessori mathematics teacher, when faced with the dilemma of students face-down fast-asleep at their desks did not take the traditional approach of throwing chalk to wake the sleepyheads up or bawling them out for a mid-class slumber. Montessori middle school instructors have been trained to respect individual differences and needs. Of course, when a student is sleeping, it affects the learning atmosphere and other students' states of mind. However, if students seem drowsy, Mr. Hsu thinks, "Should I wake the kids?" or "If the students are tired, shouldn’t I let them rest? How should I handle the situation?” He put the question to other teachers.
(Photo by fauxels on Pexels)
The instructors engaged in a serious discussion on sleeping in class. Why do students fall asleep? Is sleeping in class strictly forbidden? How does sleeping affect others? And how can students balance schoolwork and rest? The consensus was that the focus should not be on whether students should be permitted to sleep in class but on how to help the kids develop self-discipline. Before discussing the issue with their classes, the teachers first conducted simulated discussions before broaching the subject in the classroom and asking students to brainstorm solutions.
"Can I sleep in class?" The question sparked intense interest on the part of the kids in classes. But teachers, having examined all sides of the problem in their mock discussion, were well-equipped to help students hash out their opinions. The result was a unanimous decision: If you’re really tired and want to sleep, then go right ahead! However, students would be required to sign a log and would be given a timer to remind them when break time was over. If they were sleepy, they wouldn’t need to raise their hands or inform the teacher; just leave the classroom silently and return when the time is up.
Thanks to this “siesta system,” students would no longer have to study reluctantly or feel guilty because they’re sleepy. Everyone would be free to leave and catch a few winks before returning, and teachers would no longer have to worry about whether to awaken a somnolent student. The discussions bore fruit; everyone now understood that the solution at its core was the setting up of a system for self-discipline. After all, if you’re nodding off, learning will be compromised.
Montessori middle school teachers spend lots of time talking over issues of a similar nature; such as, if a door lock is broken, should it be replaced or repaired? What are the pros and cons? What should be discussed with students, and what should be left to the school to decide? Everything in life is a learning opportunity. Through discussion and reflection, students can enhance the application of logic in their thinking by looking at all sides of an issue. Moreover, the decisions reached in this manner are more open and democratic, so everyone will naturally be more inclined to abide by them. Sleepy? Then lie down and recharge!
Written by Yu-Hsiu Su
Images provided by Y2MAC
Translator: Robert Fox／Graduate Institute of Translation and Interpretation, NTNU
Established in 2022, Y2MAC is Taiwan’s first fully residential Montessori middle school. By creating a well-prepared environment, cross-disciplinary projects, and meaningful work for young people, we assist them in understanding themselves, connecting with the community, and developing the courage and wisdom that they’ll need in their adult lives.
The Montessori Adolescent Education Observation comes out of the Y2 Montessori School - Adolescent Community (Y2MAC). It seeks to introduce the public to Montessori educational concepts by observing schools on a day-to-day basis.
“Today we’re having mapo tofu for lunch. The ingredients are tofu, rice, pork, chilis and garlic. Please enjoy the meal.” K and V, the two chefs in charge of preparing today's lunch, self-consciously but with open hearts stand in front of the dining table, introducing the dishes and inviting everyone to enjoy the meal, guests included. Teachers and students queue up to serve themselves rice, then scoop up ladles full of spicy mapo tofu to pour it, and finally sit back and dig in.
An hour earlier, the "chefs" left the classroom, rolled up their sleeves, and went to work preparing lunch. Montessori middle schools don’t hire cooks; meals are not simply provided. Students write the menu, select the ingredients, and do all the cooking themselves because meal preparation is a lifelong lesson. As for delectability, well, that’s a question of taste!
Today, it was Principal Jan Gaffney’s turn to observe and assist, watching carefully to ensure students handled cleavers properly and safely, or whether they used they needed more attentive guidance. Alarmed by a bowl overflowing with red-hot chili peppers, she didn’t show her apprehension, but simply asked the kids light-heartedly, "How many chili peppers do you plan to add to the mapo tofu?" "All of them,” said the head chef casually. Jan then asked, “Have you tested the spiciness?” The cook replied that it shouldn’t be a problem. So, at noon a big pan of fiery red mapo tofu appeared in the lunchroom. "How much chili pepper did you put in?” students asked, choking on the heat. “It's super spicy!” Consequently, the cooks on duty that day learned a valuable lesson: When you prepare mapo tofu, temper your dish and don’t dump the whole bowl of chili peppers in.
The teachers don’t weigh in on the discussion but only provide assistance or offer comments at the students’ request. That’s how the kids learn to take responsibility for their cooking and decision-making!
If you’re planning a meal for nine people and your budget is NT$500, how would you spend it? Kids who once had no idea about food prices are now like budget czars, keeping an eye on every cent. How much is a catty of cabbage or a package of ground pork? “Just buy tofu; it’s the cheapest!” one student says. “But will that make a balanced meal?” says another. “Shouldn’t we add a little meat?” “What can we cook if Principal Jan has to have gluten-free meals?" The students continue the discussion, carefully planning lunch for the entire school. Some even go home and cook for their families, much to the delight of their hardworking parents.
Once a week, the students go back and forth in groups like this, discussing dishes, researching options online, and all the while keeping in mind everyone’s different requirements. Who doesn't eat what? Who’s allergic to this or that ingredient? The cooks on duty carefully attend to the dietary needs of every student and teacher in the school because if they slip up and cook the wrong food, somebody will go hungry. “Oops, I forgot that Freya is a vegetarian!” The kids are annoyed and upset with themselves for forgetting that the operations director was visiting that day. Although they're unaware of it, cooking teaches them empathy.
As the Taiwanese saying goes, “When it comes to eating, everyone is a king or a queen.” That’s why balanced nutrition is essential. One of Montessori teacher Susan’s tasks is helping students learn about nutritional values, calorie counts, and other relevant information; because, when shopping for food, you can’t just choose the cheapest—you also must consider balanced nutrition. "In all, we’ve cooked mapo tofu five times this year!” the students beam. “Today’s is an upgrade!”
After the meal, the kids tidy the tables and wash the dishes without being told to, and the kitchen falls silent again, awaiting tomorrow’s chef-of-the-day.
Written by Yu-Hsiu Su
Images provided by Y2MAC
Translator: Robert Fox／Graduate Institute of Translation and Interpretation, NTNU
Established in 2022, Y2MAC is Taiwan’s first fully residential Montessori middle school. By creating a well-prepared environment, cross-disciplinary projects, and meaningful work for young people, we assist them in understanding themselves, connecting with the community, and developing the courage and wisdom that they’ll need in their adult lives.
Susan pays meticulous attention and records the small details of students' daily activities. "Observation is a crucial part of Montessori education, and I guide students based on their interests," she explains.
What is most impressive about Y2MAC is the level of dedication shown by the guides. They hold nothing back and invest almost all of their energy into the students, observing them with a level of detail that even the students' own parents might not match.
The guides are constantly thinking about how to help the students with their self-development and growth as well as how the curriculum plan should be adjusted accordingly.
Susan keeps a notebook that is almost the size of an A3 paper, in which she writes down her daily observation of each student. She notes every detail, whether it be related to their learning or interactions with others. "Observation is an essential part of Montessori education," she explains.
After observing the students' states, what should or should not be done is a big question. For example, Fankan noticed that some students would feel proud and superior because they finished their work first or thought they knew more than others.
He chose to observe further and understand the student's "pride." He found that the sense of pride was a learning motivation for one student. It did not lead him to look down on others, and he would help other students who did not understand.
Therefore, Fankan said, "I'll leave it alone for now," and if it does not cause trouble for other students, he will continue to observe and see how it goes. Leaving things alone for now is also a kind of wisdom.
In Y2MAC, how does the team ensure that all the adults know the status of every student? To ensure all information about student affairs can be kept timely and transparently, the team cleverly uses “Notion,” a software where records of individual students can be searched easily for further analysis and around which discussions can be centered in the curriculum meetings.
"We conduct a comprehensive assessment for each student every term, and there will be two assessments for math goals, mainly to help students set up their goals. We usually help students think about the issue by designing some questions for them to better understand themselves, which is more important than achieving any goal," said Fankan.
Apart from observing and recording from the sidelines, teachers and students spend a lot of time together in their daily life.
Since students are not allowed to bring mobile phones, everyone gathers in the living room for free activities after school, such as playing the guitar, reading, and playing board games—the enjoyment of real interaction amongst each other.
Jan shares the importance of this after-school time at the residence: "We hope that adolescents have more opportunities for face-to-face communication. Real friends are better than virtual friends. Because there are no smart phones here in our school, attention will naturally be focused on the "people" in front of them.
Adolescents need close and deep interpersonal connections, to share their feelings with friends. Whether it is joy or fear, knowing that they are not alone, even if they are comfortable and quiet together."
It is the whole-hearted care for each student that allows for such meticulous observations and adjustments. "The teachers work extremely hard and have exceeded my expectations, which makes me proud ," says Jan.
For parents, whose children are attending the first boarding Montessori middle school in Taiwan, are living in the residence away from home, and cannot be contacted by cellphone anytime, there is bound to be some concern.
Jan, Fankan, and Susan are grateful that the parents choose to trust the school. Fankan jokes that the parents are really brave. This trust comes not only from detailed parent briefing during in-depth sessions before enrollment and monthly parent-teacher meetings, but also from the administrative team who constantly handles numerous details and communications behind the scenes.
Freya, who is responsible for operations, has all the parents' contact information in her phone. If parents have any problems, they can contact the school immediately.
"At the beginning, everyone messaged me frequently. As the understanding between parents and teachers gradually grew, it has become much less now." Freya's high EQ and patience have become the guides' big assistance, allowing them to focus on the needs of the students and curriculum planning.
Freya, who is responsible for operations, has all the parents' contact information in her phone. If parents have any problems, they can contact the school immediately.
From small things like electricity and water bills, it is the work of the administrative staff to ensure the school can operate smoothly.
Fortunately, with the assistance of project manager Amy, the system can be built from scratch, allowing Freya to have time to think about the future growth of the school.
At this moment, she is also thinking about how to better support the development of every team member, how to attract more adventurous people to join the team, and how to make the workplace more female friendly and inclusive !
During the interview, it was strongly felt that the principal, guides, and administrative staff have fully dedicating themselves, putting all of their hearts and minds into the students.
Behind the seemingly relaxed classroom scenes, there are countless meticulous plans and preparations.
How can students who want to learn erhu and play guitar take music classes together? What are the meanings conveyed in drama? How can the adolescent community prepare lunches that everyone can enjoy within the budget?
For every on the team of Y2MAC, which was established just a year ago, it is a learning experience. Jan pointed out that in New Zealand, it takes adolescents about one to two years to truly adapt to Montessori education. Considering the more authoritative education system in Taiwan, she estimated that students may need two years to truly get used to asking questions and engaging in self-directed, project-based learning.
In a blink of an eye, new students are about to join the Y2MAC family for the upcoming school year. The current 7th graders will become seniors.
Their new task will be to guide visitors and new comers and to introduce the adolescent community to them. Jan has already begun planning her new project, with a focus on the recent COVID-19 pandemic, guiding students to learn about the history of plague and epidemics.
In addition, students will start new small businesses, including making organic soaps and selling them to learn business logic in the real world. Those of you reading this article may be the audience, to whom they intend to sell!
A brand new Montessori middle school landscape is unfolding in Zhudong, with each person holding a different paintbrush yet working together to create the future—a future where students can be themselves, be independent, be willing to take risks, explore the unknown, and be happy to work with others!
Written by Yu-Hsiu Su
Images provided by Y2MAC
Translators: Robert Fox, Jen Hsu／Graduate Institute of Translation and Interpretation, NTNU
Interview with Y2 Montessori School – Adolescent Community (Y2MAC)
This is a story about love and growth, exploration and trust, waiting and understanding.
The story takes place in a school surrounded by greenery in Hsinchu, Taiwan. The protagonists of the story are nine adolescents, three guides (teachers), and the administrative staff who support them from behind. This is the story of the birth of Taiwan's first Montessori boarding middle school. Everything is still taking shape, constantly evolving, and being created...
Arriving at Y2MAC from Hsinchu High-Speed Rail station takes only about 15 minutes, and it is only about a three-minute drive from Baoshan Reservoir.
What catches the eye is a vast residential community surrounded by peaceful and soothing greenery, including cherry blossoms, maple leaves, olive trees, and coconut palms.
As soon as it's time for school, the students proactively head towards the spacious community center classroom from their four-story residence.
Some prefer to walk, some like to ride their bicycles, and some adolescents are asking the principal, Jan, to borrow her electric skateboard. "Why do you need it?" The principal leans against the stairs, casually yet seriously asking for the reason for borrowing.
The adolescent scratches his head and tries to explain the reason with basic English vocabularies, hoping to get Jan’s approval.
After two or three minutes of conversation, he finally receives Jan’s nod and "OK." The adolescent excitedly rushes out of the residence and slides towards the classroom, looking cool.
Such small stories are common in Montessori middle schools. “What do you want to do? What interests you? What don't you want?” All of these can be freely expressed.
This group of seventh graders are expected to learn to how express and discuss in English; of course, this wasn't the case in the first term when the Montessori middle school first opened.
For those students accustomed to traditional directive teaching, it is not easy to learn without textbooks and to think about what they want to learn. When the teachers ask, "What topics are you interested in?”, the response they get is often a pair of confused and puzzled eyes.
Those adolescents have never thought that they can customize their learning topics, so the teachers at the Montessori middle school have to guide them patiently and indirectly, using various methods to encourage them to explore and think about the topics they want to delve into.
After two terms, some students have gradually entered a better state, knowing what topics they are interested in, while others are still exploring.
However, the teachers are not in a hurry because, for Montessori middle school, every student is unique and at a different pace. Even if they observe certain characteristics in a student, the teachers will not openly reveal them, but will, instead, quietly observe and carefully make a record, waiting for the adolescents to grow and change gradually.
"Waiting" is a deeply rooted belief for Y2MAC teachers, who always wait for adolescents to discover their own inner beauty. Jan, the principal with over 30 years of Montessori education experience, says that waiting is key.
Adults must wait for children to be ready, to "discover their inner beauty, and then be willing to share and show that beautiful self to the world."
Therefore, in a Montessori middle school, you won't hear reminders like "Wake up! It's time for class! It's time to eat! It's time to take a shower! Bring out your dirty clothes to wash!"
Instead, teenagers complete their daily tasks at their own pace and speed. All of these daily tasks are part of Montessori education, because developing independence is the most important task for teenagers aged 12-18.
One of the guides, Fankan Hsu, echoes the importance of waiting by explaining: “Because adolescents at this stage are going through a transformation, their body and mind are in turmoil, as they are practicing and preparing to grow into adults."
"So, if an adolescent doesn't want to wear dirty clothes, they must learn to wash them because there are no adults here to help with laundry," Jan winked and said with a smile.
When a student takes too long to shower, others will complain. Fairness and justice are the values they prioritize most at this developmental stage. Naturally, with the influence of peers, adolescents learn to be responsible and respectful of others' needs.
This is why boarding is emphasized in Montessori middle schools. Here, adolescents are seen as independent individuals; at home, they are seen as children who need to be taken care of by their parents.
What makes Jan most pleased and satisfied is that the students are more willing to try now. Adolescents become more independent and take care of each other. “From knowing nothing, they naturally become capable of doing everything!”, explains Jan.
The adolescents usually go home once a week, and parents can see the transformation from their once-pampered children who were used to having everything served to them, to mature and considerate young people who are willing to help out with chores in the kitchen and to openly share their school experiences with their parents.
These changes are evident to parents, who feel more at ease knowing that their children have grown and matured. "The changes in their children are the best proof that they can trust the school," says Jan.
Before enrollment, the parents already knew that a Montessori middle school did not follow the traditional exam system, but instead focused on various learning projects.
All the parents agreed that it was not about getting high grades, but rather what the students learned. As the math guide, Fankan sees his role as that of a "tour guide," leading the students to turn math concepts learned from elementary to middle school into a map of math.
The students can then choose which areas they want to explore. Because every student has a different starting point for math, there are no unified learning goals here. Instead, learning is based on the students' interests and areas of exploration, with the guide helping them assess if they have reached their own learning goals.
Both teachers and students need time to adapt and prepare for this learning style. The guide provides the direction, allowing students to follow the path and discover the beauty of the journey for themselves.
In addition, as English is the instructional language of the school, and as each student has a different language level, it is a challenge for English Language Arts (ELA) guide Susan Chen.
"I guide students based on their interests. If they like to write poetry, we start learning English from poetry.” She thinks the biggest challenge is encouraging students to speak English to each other.
However, because the principal and house parents are foreigners, students automatically switch to English when they see them. After two terms, Susan plans to adjust the ELA curriculum to include an English supplementary class in the morning.
"We want to try to activate the English mode early in the morning and see if students will be more willing to speak English throughout the day," she shared.
It Is the guides’ whole-hearted care for each student that allows for such meticulous observations and adjustments. "The guides work extremely hard and have exceeded my expectations, which makes me proud,” says Jan.
>> Knock-Knock, Open the Mysterious Door of A Montessori Middle School (2-2)
Written by Yu-Hsiu Su
Translators: Robert Fox, Jen Hsu／Graduate Institute of Translation and Interpretation, NTNU
Interview with Y2MAC Teaching Team
It has always been an integral part of Y2’s plan to promote Montessori education by establishing a 0-18 Montessori school in Taiwan. This school would explore the possible ways the Montessori method, which has been practiced for over 100 years around the world, can be incorporated in the teaching environment in Taiwan.
After five years of purposeful deliberation and preparation, Y2 Montessori School - Adolescent Community (Y2MAC) assembled its initial faculty team in late 2021, and is officially established in September 2022!
photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash
Y2MAC is headed by Jan Gaffney, who has over 30 years of Montessori teaching and training experience in New Zealand and Bali, Indonesia. With a head of blond hair and eyes emanating wisdom, the Program Director enjoys adventure, exploring different cultures, and learning different languages.
“I don’t expect to undertake simple tasks. I like challenges and yearn to grow,” Jan said, as her eyes beams with over half a century of wisdom and curiosity.
In fact, Jan’s whole family relishes exciting new opportunities and challenges. Jan’s children, who were educated in Montessori schools, also encouraged their mother to come to Taiwan to lead the new program, saying, “Now we have a reason to visit Taiwan!”
Jan, the school principal of Y2MAC, mentions that adolescents (ages 12-18) go through drastic developmental changes. They individuate and ponder questions of their life. During this period, dread turns into confidence, and fear transforms into courage. (Image provided by Jan Gaffney)
The first step is always the hardest. Starting a Montessori school involves innumerable decisions, both big and small. Jan has faced all these challenges with a smile, which has left a strong impression on Fankan Hsu, a teacher on the Y2MAC faculty team.
He recalls that “Jan’s starting point in any thought process would be to consider the conditions and needs of the adolescent, such as whether the environment is suitable for adolescent activities. This is in stark contrast with Taiwan’s usual education approach, which focuses on standardization and ease of management.”
Jan explains that children between the ages 0-6 begin to have their first opportunities to shape their self, and their second chance for self-formation is during the ages of 12-18. This is also the brain’s last opportunity to reset.
At this stage, adolescents will gradually develop their sense of independence and evaluate their life goals, considering how they can contribute to humanity.
This is also a time of tremendous change, where adolescents begin to shed their fears, develop self-confidence, and build courage against criticism.
Rates of depression and suicide among adolescents continue to climb. One of the reasons for this is the emphasis on academic performance as determined by exams and grades—much to the detriment of the students’ other, more important needs—in the traditional education system.
The founding of Taiwan’s first ever Montessori middle school not only aligns with the explosive growth of experimental education on the island, it also brings with it more options and possibilities for middle school students.
For Jan, the time has come! Since moving to Taiwan, she has witnessed students spending long hours at school with no free time and not enough sleep. They don’t have time for themselves, much less think about who they will become.
This type of education in traditional school settings is not suited to the student’s physical and mental development. Jan emphasizes that “physical, mental, and psychological health is the most important thing in a child’s growth.”
We must all face the challenges of globalization in our own ways. However, our education system has taught us to always be competitive and seek victory over others, even though this will never lead to the type of cooperation and collaboration that is needed more than ever.
Jan’s sincere hope is that she can dedicate herself to this cause.
“It is important that adolescents learn to become independent human beings, building the foundation so that they may cooperate with others and work toward the common good in the future. I firmly believe that the Montessori method provides an excellent solution.
Education centered on the adolescent allows students to recognize and respect differences in others and to collaborate based on one another’s strengths, rather than compete. Through more creative learning processes, they are better prepared to face the many challenges of tomorrow. The time for change is now!”
Montessori education has always emphasized a connection with the land, a wide open space where adolescents can learn, work, live, and exercise. In Jan’s plan, this will be a space for students to live and care for plants and animals, operate shops, and have many other experiences—all the elements to aid the adolescents’ development.
Fankan Hsu is eagerly anticipating building a wooden greenhouse with the students by hand. Everyone involved in the birth of this new school is abuzz with exhilaration.
What sets apart a Montessori middle school from others? Because adolescents are about to enter into adulthood, the school functions as a microcosm of society.
They need an environment where they can take risks and try different things. The school’s farm and shops allow them to engage in production and business endeavors. Jan explains,
“A Montessori middle school provides a safe space where adolescents can realize their ideas and put them into practice. They need to prove that they can do it and discover who they are in the process.”
Why do the students need to reside at the school? Adolescents need to build their own community, language, and tribe.
As soon as they’re home, they often revert back to being treated as children by their parents. In a Montessori environment, the students are treated as emerging adults, who are accountable for their own actions.
Together with their community, they must prepare their own meals rather than being waited on by adults. When living with their own family, the family’s needs are a priority; in a Montessori school, the needs of the adolescent are at the forefront.
Being immersed 24 hours a day with other students, the adolescent lives in a micro society. They must meet their own needs, abide by communal rules, practice problem solving, and learn to get along with others. These are all important skills as the students prepare to enter society in the not-so-distant future.
With clear logic and good humor, Jan is a person who already has a blueprint of the middle school in mind. However, she is in no rush. After all, it takes time to create the prepared environment that is a focal point of Montessori education.
She good-naturedly explains that her role is not that of a manager. She is not in charge of anyone. She is there to ensure that the environment is prepared, to listen to teachers and students, and understand what is happening.
“My job is simply to help everyone!” exclaims the ever warm and motherly Jan.
Jan is mindful of the limitless possibilities of adolescents. Her experience in New Zealand’s education system has shown her that, upon graduation, many of her young students focus not on achieving success and garnering accolades, but rather on their dedication to serving others in the profession of their choosing, such as immigration lawyer, starting a business, engineering, or in the field of medicine.
She believes that adolescents, who have grown up in a Montessori environment emerge with hearts filled with curiosity. They find joy in working with others, are driven by a different sense of innate motivation, and go on to make a tangible change in society.
Fankan hopes to develop close relationships with the adolescents and, at the same time, be the parents’ ally in the nurturing of their young adults. “I am confident because I have a breadth of life experience, which has more to do with the attitude one takes towards life rather than a person’s age.”
Y2MAC is led by a director with a wealth of experience and has also invited Fankan Hsu, who has received the Presidential Education Award, and Susan Chen, who comes with many years of experience in Montessori education, to serve as guides mentoring the adolescents on their journey of growth.
Sporting black rimmed glasses, Fankan conveys his zest for life when he speaks. When he was 15, he underwent a very dark period in his life.
A bacterial infection caused him to suffer acute renal failure, suddenly plunging his young life into pain and turmoil. Days filled with medication and dialysis treatment pushed him to suicide ideation.
However, his mother never gave up on him and cared for him at the hospital day in and day out; this made him build up the courage to choose life.
After his brother donated a kidney to him and though still being sick, he gained entrance into Taipei Municipal Jianguo High School and later National Taiwan University and received the Presidential Education Award in 2013.
Recalling past life events, Fankan’s heart is full of gratitude.
“I once thought that I was the unluckiest soul in the whole world, but looking back on the span of over 10 years, I realized that I was very protected when I was most broken.” Instead of falling into despair, he found that he was cocooned in love. “Sometimes in your darkest moments is when you see the light.”
When he reached that point in his recovery, Fankan recalls asking his doctor when he would be well enough to help others.He decided to channel his energy into education.
Fankan learned about different forms of experimental education in Taiwan through his participation in Teach for Taiwan and National Chengchi University’s Taiwan Experimental Education Center.
In 2021, Fankan joined Y2 where Jan selected him out of scores of applicants. Finally, Fankan is now fulfilling his wish to support and assist others. Having experienced life’s extreme highs and lows as a youth, Fankan, now in his 30s and is confident that he can relate to adolescent students. He says with a smile,
“I will share my story with them. Through the lens of time and the realm of possibilities, many things can be viewed in a different light.”
The Montessori method portrays his ideal education. It is not bound by tradition and is accepting of diverse and innovative thought processes. He passionately proclaims that this project is an “educational startup”, a community where students live, learn, and better themselves together, an environment that is centered on the individual and will instill a sense of social responsibility.
Fankan hopes that he can become an adult figure who has very close relationships with his students and works with parents to guide them on their journey.
“My confidence is not based on age, but on my attitude toward life and on the breadth and depth of my life experiences. An individual’s education has great effect for on his or her whole life. Although there are fewer adolescents now than before, our future lies in their hands 100%, so we cannot give them any less than 100%.”
Fankan vows to devote 100% of his love and energy to nurturing his students.
Susan observes that children who have experienced a Montessori education are not only more independent, but they also tend to be more stable and wholeheartedly as well as naturally respectful of others.
Susan Chen, another guide at Y2MAC, also has an interesting life story.
Unlike Fankan, who first learned about Montessori education after participating in Montessori teacher training upon joining Y2MAC, Susan is an experienced teacher who has worked in Montessori classrooms.
She graduated from Cornell University’s Department of English and both lived and traveled in Malaysia and Europe.
Susan started as a language teacher in 2007, but after nine years, she started to question the purpose of education.
Susan set out in search of answers. In 2019, she attended the one-year AMI Montessori 6-12 Diploma Course at the Washington Montessori Institute while receiving her Master’s degree.
She recalls with excitement, “When I first stepped into the world of Montessori, it felt like a rebirth.” She discovered how different the Montessori approach was from traditional forms of education.
For example, teachers should not heap exaggerated praise on their students but simply acknowledge their progress and achievement with a direct statement “You did it.” Thus, she gradually rediscovered the purpose of education.
After returning to Taiwan, she served as a full-time teacher at Taiwan International Montessori Experimental School. During this time, she traveled to Hershey Montessori School to receive the Montessori AMI 12-18 Orientation Course.
She describes this period as her second rebirth, “It feels like new skin growing over an old wound. It feels like I’ve let go of the past and discovered my true self.” Each rebirth is a rediscovery of the self, just like students’ transformations over time while transitioning from the traditional school system to experimental education.
Filled with delight and positive energy, Susan explains how ready she was to take on the challenge at her old school when they set up a middle school, “We didn’t have a farm there, so we would hold classes in cafes scattered throughout the city.
The students all have fond memories of that period.” Starting from scratch, the students learned solid life skills, such as how to set a budget and choose paint for the walls.
She observed that Montessori students tend to be more independent, self-reliant, and aware of who and what their needs are. If they get lost or confused, they know how to seek help.
Their interpersonal relationships come from an innate understanding of who they are and respect for others, rather than a set of arbitrary social norms.
Some describe Susan as an inspirational teacher with a magic touch. She herself hopes to inspire students to live up to their full potential, saying “We are guides, not teachers.
I will guide adolescent students, but in the end, they are the ones who must evaluate who they want to be, explore their possibilities, and get back up again after falling down.”
After her many rebirths in her own Montessori journey, in August 2021, Susan came across Y2, whose aims of affecting change deeply resonated with her. Change requires a community to encourage each other, to support one another, and to learn and grow together.
“I am honored to embark on this journey with adolescents, to help them discover themselves, and am ready to inspire and to be inspired.”
(Photo by Pixabay on Pexels)
As a graduate of Cornell University’s Department of English, Susan approves of Y2MAC’s plans to incorporate English in students’ classrooms and daily lives.
She believes that it is indeed a challenge for the school to adopt English as the primary language for instruction but believes it’s better for Taiwan as a country in the long run. Students will be able to learn both English and Mandarin and switch between them naturally.
More importantly, they will be able to view the world through the lenses of both languages. Each language has an innate worldview; for example, the Greek has different words for the various types of love one feels for a lover or family member, and the Japanese tends to omit the word “I” in favor of a more collective perspective.
For parents, who are worried about their child’s language abilities, Jan says reassuringly that “Children are more adaptable and have greater potential for learning than adults give them credit for!”
As Jan explains, “The time has come.” Expectations are high as preparations for the middle school are underway, with an internationally renowned director and two unique and inspiring mentors. “Although change is slow, we must act to affect change.
To change the world, we must start by changing education!” says Jan with every certainty.
Written by Yu-Hisu Su
Translator: Jen Hsu / Graduate Institute of Translation and Interpretation, NTNU
Images provided by Y2MAC
This article is an excerpt from Y2 2021 Annual Report.