On October 19 and 30, VIS Grade 8 students in Chinese as a Second Language visited Toad Mountain Settlement, which is located near the VIS Junior High campus. The class visited historic houses and spaces and explored historic architecture, everyday artifacts, and traditional decorative tiles.

The tour began with the Open House Taipei special exhibition, where students stepped inside the settlement's old houses and observed the layout and living conditions of former military dependents’ village homes. They learned how military personnel and civilians who came to Taiwan made the most of limited resources and living conditions, overcoming various challenges as they gradually built their lives in a new environment.

Students then visited Collective on Toad Hill to explore an exhibition of traditional tiles. All the tiles on display had been collected from houses in Toad Mountain Settlement that were renovated or demolished. The exhibition showcased different geometric patterns commonly found in traditional Taiwanese decorative tiles. These everyday decorative elements reflected the homes and living environments of the time. The aim of the field trip was allowing studnets to discover a part of Taiwan's history and culture, and creating a closer connection between language learning and an understanding of the local community.

We would like to extend our special thanks to Collective on Toad Hill for opening its space to VIS teachers and students!