HOME || About HESS / Branch Profiles / Si Wei Branch

‧HESS in Hsinchu City
‧'Sister' Schools
‧Hsingchu City
‧People
‧Entertainment

 ‧Shopping
‧Getting Around Hsinchu
‧International Families
‧Health Care
‧Area Map
HESS in Hsinchu City

Si Wei Branch has a HESS Language School (HLS) and kindergarten and they are located on Si Wei Road near Lin Sen Road in Hsinchu City. Hsinchu is a medium-sized Taiwanese city with about 350,000 people.

Si Wei HLS opened in the mid-1990s and the kindergarten opened a few years later. The branch is located on the eastern edge of the downtown core. It is a big language school with an attached kindergarten. There are about 1,300 HLS students and about 150 kindy students. There are 11 full-time foreign teachers from Canada, the United States and South Africa. At the kindergarten, there are 8 Taiwanese homeroom teachers. There are also 9 full-time Taiwanese, English teachers at the language school. The kindergarten also boasts classes in two international languages: French and Japanese. Native speakers from Japan and Canada teach these classes.
Window Decorations
Many language school branches offer a 'Reading Corner' such as this one at Si Wei.
 
Window Decorations
The entrance of Si Wei Language School.
 
The programs taught at the language school for elementary aged children are: Step Ahead, Kids Club and Young Scholars. For junior high students, Si Wei HESS offers the Honors program.
'Sister' Schools
Including Si Wei HLS and Si Wei kindergarten, there are currently 6 HESS Language Schools and 3 HESS International Kindergartens in Hsinchu. Si Wei’s “sister schools” in the Hsinchu area are Windance HLS and Windance Kindergarten (both in the city center), Chu Bei 1 HLS, Chu Bei 2 HLS and Chu Bei Kindergarten (all in the suburb, Chu Bei) and Science Park HLS located near the Science Based industrial park on Kuang Fu Road. The schools work together to organize big activities such as sports days, field trips, speech competitions and social activities. Some teachers work at more than one school. Si Wei and Chu Bei, which are the furthest apart are a fifteen to twenty minute scooter or cab ride.
Hsinchu City
Window Decorations
Hsinchu is an old port city. The East Gate was contructed in the 1820's. A rebuilt version stands today at the heart of the city. A roundabout encircles it.
 
Window Decorations
Hsinchu is located on the Northwest coast of the island of Taiwan. Hsinchu is sometimes spelled ‘Xinzhu’. It’s located about an hour and a half south of Taipei (by train or car). Here is a picture of the Hsinchu Train Station.
People
Teacher's College
Hsinchu Teacher's College campus on Nan Da Road is a 10-minute walk from Si Wei HESS.
The population has been increasing rapidly since the 1980’s when the Taiwanese government set up a Science Based Industrial park south of the city. This has caused a small city to swell and has brought a large contingent of ‘skilled’ Taiwanese and foreign workers to manage and maintain the computer chip industry in the “Science Park”. Also, there are 3 universities and one teacher’s college in and around the city. By Taiwanese standards, it is a well-educated and affluent city.
Entertainment

There are a number of businesses that cater to the needs of the western inhabitants of the city. These include restaurants, pubs, bars and shops. The Pig & Whistle is an English style pub that boasts a satellite feed. Foreigners can often be found there watching football (both ‘gridiron’ and soccer) and rugby while sipping their favorite brew. In the evening, a disco opens up on the second floor.

Window Decorations
The Pig & Whistle is an English style pub that boasts a satellite feed.
 
Other popular bars include Mr. Seven, The Flying Pig, B52, and the View Lounge. All these bars are located near Dong Men traffic circle.
 
Some favorite restaurants are Kok and Café, Safari, and Lane 18. These restaurants are located in various areas of the city.
 
Other favorite activities include soccer at Chao Tong University (near the Flower Market) on the weekend, scooter trips to the mountains and martial arts training.
Shopping
Teacher's College
Sogo Department store is one of the most popular in Hsinchu. Because it is so tall, you can always find the train station close by.
Sogo Department store is one of the most popular in Hsinchu. It is across the street from Hsinchu Train Station. Because it is a tall building, you can always find the train station if you get lost. Just walk toward the big red Sogo sign. Mega Department Store, (also known as FE’21) on Xi Da Road is a five-minute walk from Si Wei HESS. It boasts an international foods grocery store, Orange Mart and a Warner Village theatre complex.Just like other Taiwanese cities, traditional markets, shops and famous brand name stores dot the Hsinchu landscape.
Getting Around Hsinchu
Window Decorations
The picture of Si Wei HESS shows the prominence of scooters as transportation for HESS staff.
Hsinchu is not a very big city in terms of area. One could drive across the city by scooter in about 20 minutes. By bicycle, this trip would take less than an hour. Although you can get to Chu Bei or the science park by bus, the bus service is not great. Most foreign teachers at Si Wei choose to get around the city by scooter or motorcycle. Some walk or use bicycles. Traveling between cities is relatively easy in Taiwan. Train travel is inexpensive and relatively easy as is inter-city bus travel. The train station is on Chong Hua Road. The city bus station is next to the train station.
International Families

Hsinchu International School caters to the needs of foreigners with elementary school-aged children. Hsinchu International Community Association (HICA) was formed in 2002 to help the growing foreign community in Hsinchu. To find out more about these organizations, please refer to their web sites.

Hsinchu International School
tel: +(886) 3 526 7837
fax: +(886) 3 524 8261

Hsinchu International Community Association (HICA)
http://www.hicatw.org.tw

There are many churches in Hsinchu including a Filipino Catholic church and a foreigner, multi-denomination protestant church.
Health Care

Although many Taiwanese prefer more traditional health care, there are many doctors who practice western medicine in Hsinchu including “Darwin’s Medical Clinic” three doors down from the Si-wei school. Dr. Chen owns it. There are a few hospitals in Hsinchu and many clinics in Hsinchu. The Cathay General Hospital is relatively small but it’s only a five-minute walk from Si-wei Hess. There are several bigger hospitals in Hsinchu City.

Window Decorations
As you can see, the clinic is only a few doors down from Si Wei Branch.
Branch Map
The branch map is merely a small chunk of Hsinchu City. The map is not to scale. All areas of this map are within walking distance. Dong Men traffic circle is about a 20 minute walk from Si-Wei Branch and Mega is only a 5-minute walk. There are many places that have been missed. You can fill them in for yourself when you find your favorite fruit stand or a good dumpling shop and others.
Si Wei Map
Si Wei Language School
Si Wei Rd., #50, Hsin Chu City, 300
Phone: 03-527-7903/td>
Si Wei Kindergarten
Si Wei Rd., #42, 1-3F, Hsin Chu City, 300
Phone: 03-528-2111
Send To Friend   Print   TOP  

www.hess.com.twEducationBookstorePublishingCLICKAboutCareers

Site MapContact UsHelp
Copyright 2006 © HESS INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.