All too often, Taiwan is left out of the narratives of world history, economics, and government in the classroom. If you are an educator wanting to teach about Taiwan, these featured resources are designed for you. The websites linked below offer informative primary sources, organized curriculums, and other classroom materials aimed at bringing Taiwanese history and culture into the classroom. In addition to the resources featured here, our Resources for Teachers page includes more generalized resources on East Asia as well as resource pages designated to specific East Asian countries (China, Japan, Korea). You can also find many other online materials listed on The National Consortium for Teaching About Asia's website. Be sure to also visit NCTA's Partner Sites, who provide excellent content on East Asia for K-12 educators.
Taiwan and U.S.- China Relations | Asia for Educators
This article from Columbia University's Asia for Educators is a detailed resource for teaching and understanding how Taiwan fits into the narrative of U.S.-China relations. The article includes a summary of international relations between the countries, two primary source documents, and discussion questions to encourage critical thinking and engagement with the topic.
This article from the Library of Congress includes primary sources for teaching about the Taiwanese government. The digital collection of resources includes information on the Taiwanese Constitution, branches of government (executive, judicial, legislative), as well as legal guides and general resources on the country. Considering its unique position in relation to China and the U.S., thriving economy, and recent strides in human rights, Taiwan is an important player in international history and affairs. We encourage you to utilize these helpful resources to include Taiwan in your classroom discussions!
Religion | Tourism Bureau, Republic of China (Taiwan)
Taiwan, as all countries are, has been heavily influenced by religion and today is home to an incredibly diverse assemblage of religious thought. As Taiwan boasts much freedom of religion, beliefs such as Taoism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and many others coexist within the culture. This guide by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau discusses the many beliefs present within the country, a brief history of religion in Taiwan, and complementary images that display the beauty and originality of religious practices in Taiwanese culture. Understanding the role that religion plays within a country is essential to understanding the culture therein, utilize this resource to bring Taiwan into the narrative within your classroom.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the need for online resources has never been greater. The ARNCTA is committed to facilitating teaching and learning about East Asia in elementary and secondary schools nationwide. As we extend our digital presence in 2021, ARNCTA will be developing original resources for teachers. For more information about COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines, please visit the CDC's website.