Building Global Language Partnerships: Taipei American School and Punahou School Align for Long-Term Collaboration

On November 12 and 13, 2025, Taipei American School welcomed six educators from Punahou School’s Middle and Upper School World Language Department for a two-day exchange designed to foster professional dialogue and global collaboration. Based in Honolulu, Hawaii, Punahou School is one of the largest independent K–12 schools in the United States. Like TAS, it is committed to academic excellence, global citizenship, and innovation in teaching. 

The visit included classroom observations, curriculum discussions, and cultural experiences that revealed striking alignment between the two institutions. The partnership began through a warm introduction from a former TAS teacher. As conversations unfolded, both teams quickly discovered a shared vision for language education grounded in real-world application, cultural responsiveness, and student-centered learning. 

“We expected similarities, but we didn’t anticipate finding such deep alignment,” said Elisa Lo, a Mandarin teacher at Punahou and former TAS student. “When TAS teachers described their goals, it felt like we could have given the exact same answers.” 

The collaboration was a full community effort. From start to finish, the visit reflected the commitment and engagement of TAS faculty, administrators, and students. Angela Sheu, Upper School World Language Department Head, worked closely with the Upper School Academic Dean and Associate Principal to coordinate logistics. TAS administrators, including the Head of School, Upper School Principal, Director of Teaching and Learning, and both Middle School and Upper School academic leaders, were on hand to give our guests a warm TAS welcome and send off.  

The Middle and Upper School World Language teams opened their classrooms to the visiting teachers and participated in rich dialogue. TAS faculty members, as well as the Punahou teachers, participated in key sessions, including a curriculum debrief focused on three essential questions: How can proficiency-based curriculum design better support student growth? How can schools strengthen alignment across grade levels? And how can they maintain teacher autonomy while building coherence? The students even got involved. The Calligraphy Club prepared a hands-on cultural activity, which was a highlight for the visiting team. 

“What stood out the most was the remarkable level of collaboration across the entire TAS community,” said Sheu. “This visit was memorable because it was a true team effort. Everyone contributed to making the experience meaningful for our guests.” 

“This isn’t a one-time visit,” said Toshihiko Mori, Head of Punahou’s Middle School World Language Department. “We see a long-term relationship where both schools move forward together, whether it’s developing curriculum or exploring future student exchanges.” 

The Punahou team’s thoughtful participation left a lasting impression. After a busy day of teaching and meetings, they stayed late to type up notes summarizing feedback and discussions, hoping to reduce follow-up work for their TAS hosts, a gesture that Sheu described as both surprising and deeply touching. 

As both schools are currently in the first year of a curriculum review cycle, the conversations were particularly timely. Shared priorities include mapping courses to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) standards, aligning instructional practices across divisions, and strengthening assessments to support language proficiency. The visit also sparked reflection on broader trends, including the integration of Tier 1 Multi-Tier Systems of Support (MTSS) strategies and the growing emphasis on student-centered, inclusive practices in language classrooms. 

Among the most memorable moments was an exchange in an AP Japanese class. Instead of observing from the sidelines, two Punahou teachers jumped in, engaging students in Japanese and drawing on mini whiteboards. TAS students responded confidently, initiating follow-up questions in Japanese. “Watching the students' engagement and proficiency made me incredibly proud,” said Sheu. 

Looking ahead, both schools are exploring additional professional exchanges, visits, and even student-to-student connections. Mandarin programs in particular offer exciting potential for immersive and reciprocal learning experiences. 

This exchange reflects the TAS mission to inspire lifelong learners and globally minded contributors through thoughtful collaboration, cultural exchange, and a passion for educational excellence. As Taipei American School continues to build meaningful international partnerships, this collaboration stands out as a model for how shared values and vision can lead to lasting educational impact.