The 2026 Ministry of Education's International Visit for Aesthetic Education Teachers [Pre-departure Briefing and Empowerment Seminar] was held on October 3rd. The program's host, Professor Zhao Huiling, welcomed the aesthetic education teachers. She mentioned that the International Visit for Aesthetic Education Teachers program is now in its fifth year, and each year's international visits have provided participating teachers with enriching and unforgettable experiences in aesthetic education. She also expressed her hope that this year's visit to Italy would be very fruitful.

To fully prepare for the upcoming international study tour for aesthetic teachers, we plan to invite two experienced teachers who participated in the Austria-Czech Republic tour in 2025 to share their experiences in the tour and its implementation. In the pre-departure seminar, we will also invite two experts to lead the group members on a practical and in-depth pre-departure training session, covering topics from everyday Italian culture to the Venice Biennale.

Ms. Chou Ya-yi, a teacher at Lukang Ludong Elementary School in Changhua County, shared her experience of cultivating an aesthetic dimension through questioning during field trips. She emphasized observing and reflecting from a comparative education perspective and suggested preparing by collecting relevant scenes and written records beforehand. This allows for quick note-taking of key points during the trip and serves as inspiration for subsequent reports and lessons upon returning home. Ms. Chen Hui-zhen, principal of Keelung City Moral Education Kindergarten, not only shared her experience in recording and interviewing during the trip but also shared how to appreciate every detail of a short yet wonderful international visit, emphasizing "Beauty in the Everyday, Embracing Every Moment."

The Italian Culture and Pre-Trip Guide was presented by Meng-Jen Chang, Associate Professor of Italian Language and Literature and Director of the Public Affairs Office at Fu Jen Catholic University. Professor Chang provided a comprehensive and engaging analysis of Italian culture, covering topics such as everyday body language, train etiquette, dining etiquette and the proper order of meals, and cost-effective shopping tips. He also explained the types of Italian coffee, the wine rating system, and the tax refund process, helping tour members develop a clear understanding of the culture and prepare themselves mentally and physically before departure.

The pre-trip introduction to the Venice Biennale was led by Ting Tsou, curator of the New Taipei City Art Museum, who provided an in-depth analysis of the Biennale's historical context, the exhibition format of the Taiwan Pavilion over the years, and this year's theme, "In Minor Keys." In addition to offering visiting suggestions for the Giardini and Arsenal, she also highlighted several national pavilions and parallel exhibitions, with a special emphasis on the must-see exhibition of Taiwanese artist Yi-Fan Lee's "Screen Melancholy."

The activity concluded with four project facilitators leading the two groups in group learning and discussion. Each group was composed of aesthetics teachers covering kindergarten to high school levels. After assigning tasks to each team, the facilitators shared their extensive experience from past international visits and offered practical advice. Finally, the group members introduced themselves and shared their initial motivations and expectations for this international visit, fostering a strong sense of unity and enthusiasm for the journey ahead.

To fully prepare for the upcoming international study tour for aesthetic teachers, this pre-departure lecture specially invited two experts to lead the group members in a practical and in-depth pre-departure training session, covering topics from everyday Italian culture to the Venice Biennale.