Learning Records

Activity Theme:

interview the founders of Yu Jen—Father Ma Shi Guang (Father Toom Maes)

Place:

School Library

Time :

28/06/2007 Thursday, 12:10pm~13:10pm

People:

Lin,Shuang-Chu、Wang,Chia-Yu、Lin,Yi-Yun、Chan,Ya-Ting、
Chang,Kai-Hsiang、Chao,Yi-Ching、Chen,Yu-Jou、Chen,Chu-En、
Huang,Yi-Chieh、Lee,Shu-Mei、Huang,Yu-Hsuan、Wang,Tzu-Wei、
Lee, Pi-Chu、Tsai, Hui-Chen、Yang, Fei-Ting

Content:

How are you, Father Ma? We are from the team attending this year International Schools CyberFair. Father Ma, because you are one of the founders of Yu Jen Catholic Elementary School, we would like to ask you some questions which can make us understand our school more.

Friendly Father Ma

Wang,Chia-Yu:

Father Ma, What's your full name in Chinese and English? Does your Chinese name have its special meaning or origin? Could you sign for us?

Father Ma:

My Chinese name is Ma Shi Guang, Shi means the world and Guang means lights. English name is Toom Maes. My Chinese name is given by the former principal of Viator High School. The reason that he gave me the name is that the pronunciation of Maes sounds like ‘Ma Shi’ in Chinese and after adding Guang, Ma Shi Guang becomes my Chinese name.

 Father was signing for us

 Father's signature is so cool!

Chang,Kai-Hsiang:

Where is your hometown, Father Ma?

Father Ma:

It is Belgium sharing borders with France and Germany.

Chen,Chu-En:

Do you speak Chinese, Father Ma? Do you think learning Chinese is difficult? What other languages do you speak?

Father Ma:

I can only speak a little Chinese (P.S. In fact, Father Ma speaks Chinese very well. He has no problem to chat with us.) I think no language is simple and learning languages is very difficult.

I can speak eight languages, including French, Dutch, English, German, Taiwanese, Chinese, etc. I learned most of those languages in my hometown. (Amazing! Father speaks Taiwanese also! )

 Father was answering our questions delightedly

Chen,Chu-En was asking questions

Lin,Yi-Yun:

When did you come to Taiwan, Father Ma?

Father Ma:

I came here in 1959.

Lin,Yi-Yun:

Have you always been in Taichung since you came to Taiwan?

Father Ma:

No. I haven't. After I graduated from a college of languages in Hsin Chu, I went to Taipei and then moved to Taichung. I often go to Taipei and Dan Shui.

Huang,Yu-Hsuan:

Could you tell us the reason that you chose to come to Taiwan? What kind of issues do you deal with in Taiwan?

Father Ma:

If your mother buys you a tasty food, will you say, ‘This is mine, only I can eat it.’? No, I won't. I will share the good thing with my friends. The reason that I came to Taiwan is to share good things with you and the good thing is Jesus Christ. Therefore, my work in Taiwan is to preach and introduce Jesus to everyone because Jesus loves everyone in the world and he wants to teach each child to be a good child. Jesus also teaches everyone support, love, and take care of each other.

Chang,Kai-Hsiang:

Which section do you live on the Da Ya Rd.?

Father Ma:

I live in the Catholic Church which is No. 27, Da Ya Rd. and is close to Wu Kung Rd. and Wen Hua St.

Father was paying attention to our questions

Father was telling stories to us with gestures

Wang,Tzu-Wei:

Father Ma, what countries have you been to for preaching Catholics?

Father Ma:

I have been to France for teaching for 3 years. I had stayed in Hsin Chu for two years and spent another year here to learn Taiwanese. I had stayed in Taichung for 6 years and for the rest of years, I stay in Taipei. Most of time is to preach.

Huang,Yi-Chieh:

Would you mind to tell us how old you are?

Father Ma:

I am 75 years old. (It is hard to tell, Father always rides bicycle to our school.)

Huang,Yi-Chieh:

What is the reason that makes you want to be a Father?

Father Ma:

No special reason. I follow its own nature.

Chan,Ya-Ting:

Do you like the environment that you stay? Do you like Chinese food?

Father Ma:

I like where I have ever lived. I like Taichung and also Dan Shui. If I were appointed to be in Taipei, I think I can get used to the place.

Chan,Ya-Ting asked Father with respect

Lee,Shu-Mei questions evoked Father's happy memories

Wang,Chia-Yu:

Have you ever encountered any difficulties or interesting things when you are in Taiwan? Could you share with us?

Father Ma:

Although the life was hard in the beginning of my staying in Taiwan, the public security was great and it was quite safe everywhere. At that time, you didn't need to be afraid of being outside at night or midnight. In addition, because there were no valuable things in my house, I was not worried about thieves when I went to bed with door opened. However, there are many thieves now.

As for some interesting thing, I cannot recall one, when I remember, I will tell you. I feel very happy to do what I likes to do in Taiwan.

Chen,Yu-Jou:

Father Ma, what kind of relationship between you and Yu Jen Catholic Elementary School do you think?

Father Ma:

I came to Taiwan with Fathers of CICM. We bought a land where we built an elementary school Guangren Catholic Elementary School. Then some of our Fathers went to Taichung to build a church. We bought two lands in Taichung and were discussing about the use of the two lands. Were we going to build a memorial center or an elementary school? Although building a school cost much more money than building a memorial center, we finally decided to build a school which is Yu Jen Catholic Elementary School. I have been watched the growth of Yu Jen, and have a profound and solid relationship with the school.

Lee,Shu-Mei:

What aspects of Yu Jen do you like the most? Do you have special feeling with Yu Jen?

Father Ma:

I like the atmosphere of Yu Jen which is different from that of other schools. Our school was not such a beautiful school. It becomes much more beautiful than before. In addition, students and teachers get along with each other very well. I feel great.

Wang,Chia-Yu was asking Father with big smile

 Father let us look at some pictures of our school

Lin,Shuang-Chu:

Father Ma, do you think that Yu Jen is much more different than before? In which ways?

Father Ma:

Our school is much more beautiful than before. However, my relationship with other teachers becomes not so close, because I used to have meal together. I don't know many new teachers. If I meet a new English teacher, I only say, ‘Hello!’ Although it is a pity, I cannot find a good way to improve it.

Chen,Yu-Jou was paying attention to Father's answer

  Everybody continued to ask other related questions

 Lee,Shu-Mei:

Father Ma, what are the differences between education of Yu Jen and other foreign schools?

Father Ma:

Our students have more pressure of schoolwork. Students of foreign elementary schools are not so busy in doing schoolwork. They can play happily after school because they don't have to take additional classes after school. Most of our students need to take lessons after school. I think this is the difference.

Chao,Yi-Ching:

Father Ma, what are the differences between students in Yu Jen Catholic Elementary School and students in foreign elementary school?

Father Ma:

I think that students in Taiwan are well-behaved and obey teacher's instruction. Students in Belgium are freer. Because they don't have to wear uniform, it is hard to distinguish which school they attend. I did not have to wear uniform while I was an elementary school student. I had to wear uniform in my junior high school—namely, the uniform was only a hat. School life is relaxed and exams are not so strict. Students in Taiwan are always nervous in taking exams.

Huang,Yi-Chieh:

Thanks very much for Father's accepting our interview. Could you give us some encouragement?

Father Ma:

I hope that you can concentrate on the teaching in class. In addition, you not only take classes, but also have some leisure activities. I think there are fewer places for play in our school, so if you have time, remember to exercise to keep yourselves healthy.

Picture of Father with us

Learning Records