Hualien’s Indigenous Language Immersion Program Wins Five Major Awards at the 2025 National Joint Recognition Ceremony

(中央社訊息服務20251212 16:41:07)On November 22, 2025, the Council of Indigenous Peoples held the 2025 Joint Awards Ceremony for Indigenous Language Immersion Preschools and Indigenous Language Nanny Program at the Sheraton Taitung Hotel. Amidst the sounds of traditional music and joyful family laughter, Hualien County stood out with its deep cultural foundation and committed educational efforts—earning five top honors and becoming the most celebrated county at the event.

The awards symbolize not only the power of Hualien’s unique mountains and coastline but also the resurgence and blossoming of Indigenous languages and culture across the region.

Hualien’s Full List of Award Winners:
1.Gold Award for Indigenous Language Learning Baby: Jianqing Affiliated Preschool — Yan Shao
With natural and genuine language expression, this young learner demonstrated how language lives and breathes in daily life.
2.Gold Award for Indigenous Language Educator: Mingli Affiliated Preschool — Yang Chuan
A long-time companion to the children, this educator brings language to life through stories, rhythm, and games—earning the trust of every young learner.
3.Gold Award for Co-Teaching Educator: Mingli Affiliated Preschool — Geng Pei-Wen
With strong classroom collaboration and high-quality instructional support, this educator plays a vital role in Indigenous language development.
4.Best Principal/Director Award: Mingli Affiliated Preschool — Hu Yung-Pao
Through vision and action, Principal Hu has created a quality language environment and serves as a key leader in Hualien’s Indigenous language education.
5.Gold Award for Indigenous Language Immersion Preschool: Mingli Affiliated Preschool
This award reflects the school’s excellence in overall teaching and establishes it as a national model for Indigenous language immersion education.

During the ceremony, Hualien teams were repeatedly called to the stage, drawing the spotlight and showcasing the county’s steady, grassroots progress in language revitalization. Each round of applause reflected years of dedication, and every child’s smile served as living proof that Indigenous language and culture are once again taking root in Hualien.

Hualien County Mayor Hsu Chen-Wei remarked, “Every educator’s persistence is a force that carries our culture forward. When we see children confidently singing and speaking in their Indigenous language, and hear the pride in their voices, it’s the greatest reward for all of us in education. These award-winning preschool teams—whether educators, principals, or those who work quietly behind the scenes—are planting seeds of hope for the future of our communities. The County Government will continue advancing immersion-based Indigenous language education with the vision of ‘culture in daily life, language in everyday use.’ Our goal is to build an environment where children and families can engage with the language from an early age, allowing Hualien’s children to carry forward the stories of this land through language.”

Department of Education Director-General Weng Shu-Min added that the county will continue expanding resources for Indigenous language immersion, enhancing curriculum materials, and collaborating with tribes, elders, and cultural groups to build a national benchmark for Indigenous language education. Hualien will move forward with greater resolve to make Indigenous languages part of children’s everyday lives, and to ensure that culture continues to shine and thrive across the county.

Media Contact: Wu Yu-Cheng, Department of Education, Hualien County Government
Tel: +886-3-846-2860 ext. 264