Chinese and Western Comedy – an Introduction into Cross-Cultural Humour Research between Taiwan, China and the West

The use of humour, both proper and improper, can influence the outcomes of meetings and shape entire relationships. Hence, although often trivial in nature, humour can play a significant role in human lives and deserves to be taken seriously. The same is true when it comes to the analysis of humour across cultures. In today’s increasingly globalized world, where people from various cultures interact on an almost daily basis it is important to understand the other persons culture, including their sense of humour. Consequently, this article provides a basic overview of humour of the world’s two biggest and most prominent cultures: the English speaking West and the Sinitic world. There is no doubt Chinese and Western humour differ in history and contemporary structure, therefore this article presents the various forms of comedic expression found in both cultures, but also provides basic explanations as to the reasons behind these differences.

This study investigated dimensions of academic performance, learning motivation and learning attitudes by adapting peer tutoring as the major EFL classroom activities in an elementary school classroom. Exams, classroom observation, exit survey and comments after each class were administered as the source of research data. Results indicated that peer tutoring has a positive effect on tutors’ and tutees’ academic performance due to the increase in students’ grades. Students’ learning motivation and attitudes toward EFL learning also increased significantly. On the whole, the use of peer tutoring significantly contributed to better English ability, motivation and attitude.

The tradition of ‘sitting the month’ derived from China is still a practiced custom to have a postpartum month after childbirth. Traditional rules applicable in a postpartum period were to help women rejuvenate their bodies after childbirth, to restore the balance of the body and ensure its future health. Today’s intensive economic development of China along with the increase in Chinese people’s savings contributes to creating a special and sophisticated offer for affluent social groups. An example of such an offer are postnatal clinics designed for wealthy Chinese women who want to have their postnatal period in accordance with traditional practices. The objective of this article is to show the business aspects of Chinese contemporary postnatal clinics and attempt to answer the question on how modern postnatal clinics combine tradition with modernity to make life easier for mothers, and to what extent they are another idea for doing business. The article addresses the major factors of the demographic and economic environment, which may have an impact on the prosperity of society and on the development of the market of postnatal clinics in the region. It also presents the essence of traditional postpartum practices in China. Offers of services to mothers and their children from fortysix clinics from Taipei in Taiwan were also analysed. It turns out that postnatal clinics are a phenomenon that could occur only within the Asian community. It is a product, which is very well inscribed in the Asian mentality and cannot be transferred to any another, such as, for instance, to the European mentality. Its future is limited to the Asian markets, or, possibly, to countries which have a Chinese diaspora on their territory. Over time, along with the spread of this traditional practice with a modern twist, the number of postnatal clinics can grow, which can translate into lower prices, a worse quality and a narrower range of services offered.

The working paper consists of the analyses of different forms of Taiwanese public diplomacy and it also contains a future development scenario as far as such an essential tool of foreign affairs is concerned. The research project has been conducted from many points of view. There are institutional, strategic and operational dimensions of public diplomacy with the engagement of government officials and agencies, NGOs, public institutions and citizens as well. Having analysed the whole activity concerning public diplomacy, the main conclusion ought to be made, i.e., the official development assistance and humanitarian aid shall be provided as the most effective tool to enhance Taiwanese international visibility.

Taiwanese Attitudes toward the Political Newcomers in 2016

Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan (LY) is commonly seen as an institution comprised of career politicians. In fact, candidates without prior experience in elected seats of the island’s political structures are no strangers to the LY. Moreover, in the 2016 parliamentary elections, the political novices enjoyed unprecedented support and achieved relative success. The New Power Party (NPP), which only formed in early 2015 and popular mainly due to the several debutants it fielded, including Freddy Lim, Hung Tzu-yung and Huang Kuo-chang, emerged as the LY’s third-largest party. Although it garnered only five of the 113 seats (4.4%), it was a great win for the fledgling party, ranking it third behind the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which have reigned over the island’s political scene for the past several decades. This article examines the phenomenon of Taiwanese novices. It looks at them from the voters’ perspective. It surveys the demographic profiles and political preferences of Taiwanese who support the newcomers’ engagement in the political process, and compares them with citizens who express negative attitudes toward the newcomers.

Taiwan between the East and the West. Toward Democratisation in Education

The article sheds light on the modifications that have radically been changing the face of education since 1949 and depict Taiwan’s multi-level „balancing” between the East and the West, i.e. Taiwan’s policy toward China, orientation on economic growth, as well as progressing democratization processes that are reflected in educational policies. The article scrutinizes the processes that have been stimulating educational policies and have been of key importance to Taiwan’s development and success (not only economic, but also educational). Also, two key processes of democratization and Taiwanization, which have constituted the country’s goal, are isolated and analyzed, as well as the manner of educational changes and their intensity in three periods: authoritarian, transitional and contemporary.

Celem artykułu jest zwrócenie uwagi na te elementy polityki edukacyjnej, które odnosiły się wprost do procesu kształtowania tożsamości narodowej obywateli Tajwanu (Republika Chińska) i wyodrębnienie ich kluczowych założeń widocznych w misji edukacji, programach kształcenia oraz znaczeniu przypisywanym kulturze mniejszości etnicznych. Przyjęto założenie Michaela Foucaulta oraz Timothy Mitchella, którzy wykazali, iż edukacja oraz język stanowią efektywne narzędzia zabezpieczenia władzy przez panującego i jej umocnienia. W takim rozumieniu edukacja jest postrzegana jako przedłużenie władzy rządu i panowania nad społeczeństwem poprzez kształtowanie nowej tożsamości obywateli podporządkowanej reżimowi. Przyjęcie założeń Foucaulta i Mitchella w analizie polityki edukacyjnej i językowej pozwala również zauważyć na Tajwanie zmianę paradygmatu i odejście od sinizacji na rzecz tajwanizacji; pozwala też wydobyć wiele innych procesów z tym powiązanych, jak: przejście od jednolitości do różnorodności, od autorytarnej centralizacji do decentralizacji, deregulacji i pluralizmu.

Strategic ambiguity, or the deliberate policy of uncertainty as to whether the United States would use force to defend Taiwan against an invasion by the People's Republic of China, has been the centrepiece of US policy towards the Taiwan issue for decades. This paper discusses the factors driving the redefinition of strategic ambiguity and its recalibration throughout Donald Trump's presidency (2017–2021). The fundamental driver of this change was to balance the rising power of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The paper applied offensive realism as a theoretical framework for its analysis. Under President Donald Trump, Washington modified its policy of strategic ambiguity, explicitly framing relations with Taiwan within a broader Indo-Pacific strategy. While the US retained key elements of strategic ambiguity, including the 'One China' policy, it added new features to deploy it offensively against Beijing's growing regional hegemony. The increased dynamism and unpredictability of relations with Taiwan were matched by a welcoming attitude towards strengthening Taiwanese identity and highlighting the systemic differences between communist China and democratic Taiwan. America stepped up arms sales and encouraged Taiwan to build its self-defence capabilities. Washington engaged in countering Chinese attempts to isolate Taiwan internationally and included it in restructuring global supply chains. Although the United States has not formally revised the boundaries of the 'One China' policy, the modification of strategic ambiguity increased Taiwan's prominence in US-China power competition and pushed back the prospect of peaceful unification.

The presented study was conducted to investigate vocational high school EFL teachers’ professional knowledge and teaching efficacy from teachers’ perspectives. Data were collected through a questionnaire and analyzed by frequency distribution, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation and stepwise regression. The results indicated that teachers have higher performance on professionalism and attitude to professional knowledge; teaching and class management in teaching efficacy. A significantly positive correlation was found between EFL teachers’ professional knowledge and teacher efficacy. Teachers reported that professional skills, professionalism, and attitude in professional knowledge were significant predictors of teaching efficacy. Professional knowledge helps to shape effective teaching.

Tsai Ing-wen, the president of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in 2016–2024, is one of Asia’s most extraordinary female political leaders. A self-made woman who managed to enter politics independently – she was not born into a political family as is usually the case in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia – and who succeeded in her presidency. Tsai has enhanced the global profile of her country and impressed the world by combating the COVID-19 pandemic in a model way. She has also skillfully handled delicate cross-strait relations despite Beijing’s growing assertiveness. Tsai and her presidency are important for several reasons; the one highlighted here is her role in enhancing and trying to modify Taiwanese nation-building. During her presidency, Tsai Ing-wen advocated a “Third Way,” officially called “21st Century Taiwan’s Overall Cultural Construction”, based on accepting both the Taiwaneseness and the heritage of the Republic of China and merging both of these features. In other words, it emphasizes Taiwaneseness while not rejecting Chineseness. This is an interesting and bold attempt to forge a compromised identity, but one with an uncertain future due to domestic and international variables.

Despite the distance, Ukraine and Taiwan share parallels in the domain of geopolitical struggle and identity issues. Both are experiencing an ongoing process of national identity strengthening and redefinition. External factors, such as Russia’s 2014 occupation of Crimea and the subsequent 2022 invasion of Ukraine and China’s increasing pressure on Taiwan, have shaped both Ukrainian and Taiwanese identities and people’s attitudes. On the one hand, this paper explores the transformation of Ukrainian identity in the wake of Russian aggression, focusing on how the invasion has influenced the strengthening of civic attachment among Ukrainians. On the other hand, we explore the development of Taiwanese identity in the context of growing distinctions from mainland China, primarily focusing on Taiwan’s ongoing democratization process and developing a self-confident national identity distinct from the mainland. The rise of Taiwanese identity coincided with growing sympathy for Taiwan’s independence. Additionally, we consider the evolving nature of civic and national identities, emphasizing their fluidity and adaptability in response to political and social complexity.