Hundred-Year-Old Stores Learn English to Keep Up With the Times — Government’s “Classic Towns Project” Helps 40 Stores Sell in English

In early August, Studio Classroom teacher Rebekah went to Changhua’s Lukang to conduct 1 on 1 English training sessions with local stores, helping hundred-year-old stores’ staff improve their English for selling to foreign tourists.

Under the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Department of Commerce’s “Classic Towns’ Stores English Improvement Project,” the government hopes to raise the English level of stores in four of Taiwan’s most popular historical towns, including: Jiufen (New Taipei), Lukang (Changhua), Donggang (Pingtung) and Chenggong (Taitung). Forty retail stores participated in the project, where Studio Classroom conducted English training classes, 1 on 1 training sessions with the stores, and translation of product names and promotional materials to help the stores become more internationalized and ready to receive foreign tourists.