• 2021-11-25

The “Reading Youth Create Their Lives” reading image posters were announced on November 21, 2021 at 10 am in the International Conference Room of the Arts and Culture Center at NCL. The event was hosted by famed MC Ethan Liu. It started off with a passionate performance by Taipei Yongle Elementary School called “Reading, GO GO GO!” NCL Director-General Shu-hsien Tseng and the department head of the Ministry of Education’s Lifelong Learning Department Shu-chuan Lee both spoke. Chih-chun Tang, Yu-cheng Deng, Yung-wei Yang, Wen-huei Chen, Chia-ling Lo, and the other reading ambassadors unveiled the image posters together, which brought a strong energy for reading to the venue.
 
“Exercise Lets Me Stand on the World Stage – Reading Makes My Mind More Active”

In an effort to promote reading nationwide, NCL extended a special invitation to Olympic athletes from the Tokyo Games to be reading ambassadors, including Chih-chun Tang, Yu-cheng Deng, Yung-wei Yang, Wen-huei Chen, Hsiao-wen Huang, Tzu-yun Wen, and Chia-ling Lo. They had photoshoots for 6 sets of reading image posters, which used the youthful image of these Olympic athletes to encourage the nation’s youth to exercise more and read more. The reading posters that were printed will be sent to public libraries, junior high schools, and high schools for display. The aim is to encourage the youth, and the public in general, to read more, so as to bring about a societal important on exercising and reading in activating the brain.

　　NCL Director-General Tseng stated that exercise and reading can activate braincells. Exercise can train and strengthen our bodies, while reading can nourish our hearts and mind. Both are important leisure activities in life. NCL has for some time been focused on promoting reading and bringing together those in the education and cultural circles, such as schools, public and private libraries, and publishers. Together we can improve social reading habits. In order to promote reading habits among the youth, this time we extended a special invitation to Olympic athletes to make reading image posters. We hope that through the diligence and youthful vigor of these athletes to promote reading, and thus influence young students’ reading and learning habits.

 

　　Head of the Department of Lifelong Education at the Ministry of Education Shu-chuan Lee expressed that she was please to represent the Ministry of Education in attending the image poster announcement that brings together reading and exercise. She specifically quoted British essayist Joseph Addison: “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” This is the same message that these posters are portraying. In recent years, the Ministry of Education has actively promoted multifaceted policies and measures to let reading habits grow deeper roots. These will help students to gain greater learning ability through reading and help exercise become a part of life. That way, citizens can have healthier bodies through exercise and enjoy happier lives. In the future, the Ministry of Education will continue to support promotion programs. It also invites everyone nationwide to learn to love reading and love exercise and create a happy and healthy life together.

　　The athletes that attended the poster picture shoot said their experience in making the posters was novel and meaningful. They were happy to be able to play the role of ambassadors. Chun-heng Wei, Chih-chun Tang, and Yu-cheng Deng expressed their love of fantasy and classical manga. Reading is one way for them to relax and prepare for the next competition. Wen-hui Chen mentioned that any exercise can help wisdom develop, and reading habits are an important foundation for all types of knowledge. Yung-wei Yang believes that the way his poster brings together judo and reading is really amazing. He likes reading self-help books to help him develop more a positive attitude. Reading can help settle one’s thoughts and change one’s mood. A positive attitude in training means a better performance. Tzu-yun Wen is happy to have this chance to promote reading. She reads books on a lot of different topics and believes that reading is a wonderful thing. It is a wonderful medium in acquiring knowledge. Hsiao-wen Huang says that in addition to her regular training, she likes reading uplifting prose and self-development books. These books can help her relax and are an important nourishment for her mind and body after exercising. Chia-ling Lo was happy to have the opportunity to shoot pictures for a reading poster. She began learning taekwondo from a young age. Each day she would have to continuously practice for long hours. This is the only way one can progress in taekwondo. But reading is also a habit that needs nourishing. Only then can replenish one’s mind and heart at any time and provide positive energy for oneself each day.

　　The meeting ended with the Olympic athletes and fans taking pictures together and getting posters signed. Reading helped these athletes be full of confidence before each competition. NCL invited them to be reading ambassadors in the hope that the public will gain motivation to read more from these posters!