Cultural and Adaption Lectures of Kao Yuan University to Care for the Mental Health of Filipino Foreign Students

Foreign students who have traveled across the ocean to Taiwan, while studying and trying to adapt to an unfamiliar environment, are likely to be under psychological pressure. The Counseling Center of Gao Yuan University recently held a special lecture on culture and life adaptation for foreign students from the Philippines. It is a great honor to invite Yang, Xin-Yu, a counselor from the Meet Psychological Counseling Center(遇見心理諮商所), as a lecturer to host the activities and discussions in English.

The theme of this speech is "Turning Stress into Strength". At the beginning of the lecture, the lecturer asked the students to think about the feelings and difficulties they face as foreign students. Through the communication between students, they can become a harbour of support for each other. The psychologist guides the students to be aware of their own stress and emotions through body scans and go further evaluates whether they feel personal emotional exhaustion. At the same time, they also teach students several self-care methods. During the process, the lecturer attracts the students' attention through small games to increase students' willingness to participate in group discussions.

There were a lot of small games and discussion included in the lecture, which brought good evaluation from students. The Counseling Center held activities for foreign students, look forward to implementing the primary prevention in the three-level prevention, to help foreign students cope with the pressure of living in Taiwan early which allows foreign students to adapt to life in Taiwan better.

President Zhao, Bi-Xiao of Gao Yuan University cooperates with The New Southbound Policy of the government and values the effectiveness of foreign students' enrollment and the responsibility of follow-up education. He especially encourages his colleagues to fulfill their social responsibilities and try their best to promote citizen diplomacy. Therefore, he attaches great importance to the adaptation of foreign students and teaching goal of learning-practice. In addition, Dean, Yang, Kai-Lin emphasizes the importance of speeches or counseling activities held by the Counseling Center for foreign students. She is also positive that the content of this speech will bring the best experience and benefits to foreign students.