To thank Doris Brougham, the late founder of Studio Classroom magazine, for her contribution to English language education in Tainan, Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che honored her with the Outstanding Citizen status during the City Council Meeting. Studio Classroom Group CEO Daniel Hsieh received the honor on Brougham’s behalf. The Mayor said that in addition to having a significant impact on our society, Doris Brougham and her life have influenced the lives and education of numerous generations in Taiwan. She was undoubtedly the “Godmother Of English Language Education” in Taiwan and her selfless spirit and great deeds will remain in the hearts of Taiwan’s people forever.
In addition to expressing his sincere appreciation to Brougham, Mayor Huang reiterated the educator’s pivotal role in Tainan’s transition into an English-friendly city: as a member of the Promotion of English as the Second Official Language Of Tainan City Committee, Brougham actively participated in the formulation and promotion of the city’s policies. She also witnessed and recognized the progress of Tainan’s second official language policies. Under her guidance and suggestions, the City Government successfully implemented a number of initiatives to increase Taiwan’s international visibility. These measures include constructing an English-friendly city environment, providing bilingual documents and information, setting up an online English menu system, and supporting CLIL models for bilingual education.
The Tainan City Government commented that Doris Brougham not only inspired English language pedagogy but also promoted the notion that education provides the power to look beyond national borders. She placed a strong emphasis on looking at the world from a global perspective, keeping an open mind, and having respect for all cultures. These values greatly affected Taiwan’s education environment and cultivated many talents with a global view. Brougham’s efforts to transform English from a classroom subject into a means of communication with the world established a solid international connection for Taiwan, and this spirit will continue to lead us forward.