Following years of implementing Taiwan’s Bilingual 2030 Policy, a discernible discord has emerged between centralized policy formulation and the practical realities confronted by schools. To provide actionable suggestions for policy refinement capable of bridging this gap, the present study investigates the implementation challenges and potential issues of Taiwan’s Bilingual 2030 Policy through the lens of an adapted Six Argumentation Framework (Lei, Conway, & Zhao, 2008). By applying deductive thematic analysis to qualitative data gathered from 21 educators in central Taiwan via individual interviews and focus groups, the present study explores key standpoints on this reform. Prior to data analysis, validity was strengthened through member checking, and inter-rater reliability was established after the coding process by two coders. Analysis of 145 coded responses revealed critical insights: the "Fear" argument highlighted a significant lack of teacher confidence in bilingual instruction, while the "Hope" argument emphasized students' confidence in using English to foster global perspectives. Regarding "Simple Access", opinions on resource sufficiency were divided, whereas "Sophisticated" arguments favored AI integration for lesson preparation and classroom management despite concerns over excessive dependence on technology. Furthermore, the "Equity" argument linked learning disparities to socioeconomic and ethnic differences, and the "Aesthetic" argument prioritized cultural immersion. The present study concludes that to build a resilient and inclusive bilingual education system, future policy adjustments must give precedence to professional teacher development, equitable resource allocation, pedagogically sound technology integration, and strong family-school partnerships.

Authors:
Yawei Chen, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan
Kenzen Chen, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan

About the Presenter(s)
Mr. Yawei Chen is currently a PhD student at the Institute of Education, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan

See this presentation on the full schedule – Thursday Schedule

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