MIKE DISHNOW
MIKE DISHNOW
SOLDIERS GROVE - Soldiers Grove resident Michael Dishnow may be a retired educator, but when you hear what he’s doing it doesn’t sound much like retirement.
SOLDIERS GROVE - Soldiers Grove resident Michael Dishnow may be a retired educator, but when you hear what he’s doing it doesn’t sound much like retirement.
Dishnow has partnered with a retired Taiwanese English teacher deeply involved with expanding English language instruction in rural Taiwan. In fact, Luke Lin has founded an organization to foster cross-cultural understanding, while also increasing proficiency in English. It’s called My Culture Connect.
Dishnow has partnered with a retired Taiwanese English teacher deeply involved with expanding English language instruction in rural Taiwan. In fact, Luke Lin has founded an organization to foster cross-cultural understanding, while also increasing proficiency in English. It’s called My Culture Connect.
Harbor Isles resident makes connections across the globe
Harbor Isles resident makes connections across the globe
By ANNE KLOCKENKEMPER
By ANNE KLOCKENKEMPER
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
SOUTH SARASOTA COUNTY — Michael Dishnow, a resident of Harbor Isles, recently returned from a five-week trip to Taiwan with My Culture Connect, a Taiwanese nonprofit organization that provides opportunities for cultural and educational exchange to young people in isolated areas.
SOUTH SARASOTA COUNTY — Michael Dishnow, a resident of Harbor Isles, recently returned from a five-week trip to Taiwan with My Culture Connect, a Taiwanese nonprofit organization that provides opportunities for cultural and educational exchange to young people in isolated areas.
It was the fourth time Dishnow, 72, has made the nearly 30-hour trip to the island nation east of China.
It was the fourth time Dishnow, 72, has made the nearly 30-hour trip to the island nation east of China.
A retired educator, he has served as a secondary school guidance counselor, principal at an Alaskan Indian village school, history and psychology teacher and as an administrator at a technical college in Wisconsin where he used to live.
A retired educator, he has served as a secondary school guidance counselor, principal at an Alaskan Indian village school, history and psychology teacher and as an administrator at a technical college in Wisconsin where he used to live.
Dishnow became involved with MCC after friends asked if he would be interested in helping Taiwanese kids learn English via Skype.
Dishnow became involved with MCC after friends asked if he would be interested in helping Taiwanese kids learn English via Skype.
“I started doing one night a week, then several nights a week, and was really enjoying it,” he said, adding the same friends had a home in Taiwan and asked him to visit. “I spent 30 days over there (the first trip) and was treated like a dignitary.”
“I started doing one night a week, then several nights a week, and was really enjoying it,” he said, adding the same friends had a home in Taiwan and asked him to visit. “I spent 30 days over there (the first trip) and was treated like a dignitary.”
Dishnow said the basic premise of the program is to give kids in rural Taiwan a chance to practice their English. While children there start taking English in the third grade, “most have never met a foreigner face to face. Primarily what they know about Caucasians is what they see in the movies and on TV.” When Dishnow visits, it gives the children and others a chance to hear a native English speaker and interact with them.
Dishnow said the basic premise of the program is to give kids in rural Taiwan a chance to practice their English. While children there start taking English in the third grade, “most have never met a foreigner face to face. Primarily what they know about Caucasians is what they see in the movies and on TV.” When Dishnow visits, it gives the children and others a chance to hear a native English speaker and interact with them.
“My pronunciation, although very Midwestern, is very clear and distinct,” he said.
“My pronunciation, although very Midwestern, is very clear and distinct,” he said.
When he goes, he stays in Changhua, which is basically in the center of Taiwan and what Dishnow calls “the bread basket” of the country because it is so heavily agricultural. Although technically a county, Changhua has about 1.3 million residents.
When he goes, he stays in Changhua, which is basically in the center of Taiwan and what Dishnow calls “the bread basket” of the country because it is so heavily agricultural. Although technically a county, Changhua has about 1.3 million residents.
Dishnow said when he gets to a school, sometimes students are waiting to perform for him by playing music or putting on a play before he even gets inside. Sometimes an American flag is flying, too. Then he is taken to the principal’s office, where he meets with staff, the school’s English teacher and sometimes a parent, to drink tea. In the school auditorium, or a classroom, he will offer a PowerPoint presentation about his home in the Harbor Isles, area animals such as the alligator and manatee, and traditional American holidays.
Dishnow said when he gets to a school, sometimes students are waiting to perform for him by playing music or putting on a play before he even gets inside. Sometimes an American flag is flying, too. Then he is taken to the principal’s office, where he meets with staff, the school’s English teacher and sometimes a parent, to drink tea. In the school auditorium, or a classroom, he will offer a PowerPoint presentation about his home in the Harbor Isles, area animals such as the alligator and manatee, and traditional American holidays.
“I’m showing them our culture,” he said.
“I’m showing them our culture,” he said.
While the presentation is in English, Dishnow knows enough Mandarin Chinese to introduce himself — he tells the children his name is “Grandpa Mike” — and says he is honored to be there.
While the presentation is in English, Dishnow knows enough Mandarin Chinese to introduce himself — he tells the children his name is “Grandpa Mike” — and says he is honored to be there.
“Enough basic conversation to be polite and courteous,” he said.
“Enough basic conversation to be polite and courteous,” he said.
Sometimes he’ll play a role if the children are performing a play, and a lot of the students ask for hugs or his autograph.
Sometimes he’ll play a role if the children are performing a play, and a lot of the students ask for hugs or his autograph.
“One of the big questions is ‘How old are you?’” he said, adding he’s a different person when he interacts with the Taiwanese students. “I’m a very quiet man here, but I’m a clown there. You’re trying to get them to laugh and interact. You want them to get past their shyness.”
“One of the big questions is ‘How old are you?’” he said, adding he’s a different person when he interacts with the Taiwanese students. “I’m a very quiet man here, but I’m a clown there. You’re trying to get them to laugh and interact. You want them to get past their shyness.”
Dishnow said he was treated with great respect by everyone he met. Many of the students make him gifts — drawings, posters, paper lanterns. He is also given decorative wall hangings, T-shirts and jackets by others.
Dishnow said he was treated with great respect by everyone he met. Many of the students make him gifts — drawings, posters, paper lanterns. He is also given decorative wall hangings, T-shirts and jackets by others.
“I had to buy an extra suitcase,” he said, adding he has been interviewed by Taiwanese newspapers and even appeared on TV there. “The people are just so hospitable and so humble.”
“I had to buy an extra suitcase,” he said, adding he has been interviewed by Taiwanese newspapers and even appeared on TV there. “The people are just so hospitable and so humble.”
When he’s home during the regular school year, he does 30-minute Skype sessions, 4-5 days a week, with Taiwanese students and their teachers.
When he’s home during the regular school year, he does 30-minute Skype sessions, 4-5 days a week, with Taiwanese students and their teachers.
Dishnow said he would love for others to become interested in MCC, and volunteer to Skype with students in Taiwan.
Dishnow said he would love for others to become interested in MCC, and volunteer to Skype with students in Taiwan.
“We are constantly trying to find other volunteers. … It has never exploded like I thought it would,” he said, adding the 12-to 13-hour time difference could deter some people; he typically teaches his lessons at 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. local time.
“We are constantly trying to find other volunteers. … It has never exploded like I thought it would,” he said, adding the 12-to 13-hour time difference could deter some people; he typically teaches his lessons at 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. local time.
“You just have to be friendly and like kids and be able to use the computer for Skype. It’s not necessary to be an educator,” he said, adding “We’re living in a world right now where ... the future is not going to be us being isolated.”
“You just have to be friendly and like kids and be able to use the computer for Skype. It’s not necessary to be an educator,” he said, adding “We’re living in a world right now where ... the future is not going to be us being isolated.”
Anyone interested can contact Dishnow via email at mdishnow@outlook.com or visit www.mycultureconnect.org.
Anyone interested can contact Dishnow via email at mdishnow@outlook.com or visit www.mycultureconnect.org.