US educator Doris Brougham yesterday received a posthumous commendation from President William Lai (賴清德) for her contributions to English-language education in Taiwan.
Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) bestowed the honor upon Brougham on behalf of Lai at a concert that was held in Taipei in remembrance of the Studio Classroom founder.
Overseas Radio and Television (ORTV) chairman Simon Hung (洪善群) and executive director Daniel Hsieh (謝光哲) received the written commendation on behalf of Brougham.
Photo: Tien Yu-hua, Taipei Times
Brougham is a cofounder of ORTV, which in 1962 launched Studio Classroom, an English-language teaching publication and radio program.
Politicians from across party lines — including former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and former Taipei mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) — attended the event to pay their respects to Brougham.
Tsai thanked Brougham for being a companion to many Taiwanese in their journeys to master English, as well as for her missionary work and the positive impact she had on society.
Tsai also recalled handing Brougham her Taiwanese passport at Studio Classroom’s Taipei headquarters in June last year and how Brougham beamed upon hearing the words: “You are a bona fide Taiwanese now.”
Former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) also made an appearance in a pre-recorded video, in which he praised Brougham’s significant contributions to Taiwan’s English-language education and said that he was deeply moved by Brougham’s famous quote: “Where your heart is, is home. And my home is Taiwan.”
At the concert, it was announced that the Y. L. Lin Hung Tai Education and Culture Charity Trust had donated NT$21 million (US$657,030) to Studio Classroom to help realize Brougham’s vision of bridging the gap in English-language education between urban and rural areas.
The Heavenly Melody choir, joined by Studio Classroom staff, performed a musical, The Journey of Love, which tells the story of Brougham’s life.
Brougham died on Aug. 6 at Mackay Memorial Hospital Tamsui Branch in New Taipei City. She was 98 years old.
Brougham left her hometown, Seattle, 76 years ago and worked as a missionary in China. She arrived in Taiwan in 1951 to spread the gospel in Hualien County.
Seeing a pressing need to improve English education among the local population, Brougham launched Studio Classroom in 1962.
The publication started as a single-page lesson sheet with an accompanying radio program and was later expanded into a magazine.
In 1981, Brougham launched Let’s Talk in English, a magazine designed to help learners improve their English conversation skills.
In 1963, she formed the Heavenly Melody Choir, beginning another important chapter in her career.
For her many achievements in Taiwan, Brougham was given citizenship in May last year.
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