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Magnolia A 
Primary School English Teachers Training in Taiwan: An Investigation 
Yui-narn Leung and Johanna E. Katchen
National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan

In September 2001, Taiwan will commence teaching English in all primary schools, with instruction initially beginning in the fifth and sixth grade. By this date, over 6000 new teachers will be needed. College graduates with or without teacher training/teaching experience may take a screening exam (both written and oral) to enter this program. Under the guidance of Ministry of Education, a number of universities will train these prospective teachers. Trainees who pass the Spring 1999 exams start courses in mid July and are required to complete a minimum of 360 contact hours of training within three months to one year. Course emphasis is on developing communicative skills and pedagogy. In this paper we explain the Ministry of Education's objectives for this program, analyze curriculum development, describe potential problems, and review the initial stages of implementation of this fast-track training of primary school English teachers.