PEDAGOGICAL MINDSET
Our Approach to Immersive English Education in Kaohsiung
A Nine-Year Marathon in Education (Including Our Reading Club Years): Seeing Education as It Really Is, and Doing It Willingly
In Sanmin District, Kaohsiung, Jungle Lion has spent nine years (including our reading club years) answering one question: can immersive English education in Kaohsiung work without rote memorization and drilling? Our answer is to have children read full-length books in the original English, choose courses by their position on a learning path map, and think and argue in English through cross-disciplinary projects. All courses are taught entirely in English by international teachers, with one exception: Reading Taiwan, which is taught in Chinese.
CORE PRINCIPLES
What is Jungle Lion's educational philosophy? Four core principles
Jungle Lion's philosophy is to reject cramming and drilling. Through long-form original-text reading, level-based elective courses, interdisciplinary projects, and small classes at two campuses, we build children's critical thinking and expression.
01
No cramming, no drilling
Beyond rote learning.
We do not use word-list dictation or memorized grammar templates. Contemporary full-length novels and nonfiction books are the ground for thinking, steadily building children's stamina for long texts.
02
Finnish-inspired elective courses
Start from each child.
We do not group children by grade, but by ability level: from A0 phonics beginnings to B1, B2, and higher-level critical thinking classes. Children then choose courses from science, humanities, theater and speaking, and exam writing.
03
Interdisciplinary project inquiry
English as a tool, not a goal.
We put CLIL (learning subject content through English) and phenomenon-based teaching into practice. English is a tool for exploring the real world, and children practice speaking and arguing impromptu without a script.
04
Small local classes at two campuses
Small classes, close by.
Based at the Baozhong Main Campus and Yichang Branch in Sanmin District, Kaohsiung, we keep in-person classes to 6–10 children and online classes to 4–6. International teachers teach entirely in English, and we accompany children in Sanmin District and nearby school districts over the long term.
Wondering which class suits your child? Book a free 15-minute placement test →
Jump straight to the features: 01 The Beginning of Reading ↓ | 02 University Elective List ↓ | 03 Education as a Living Organism ↓
LITERATURE & LITERACY | Feature 1
The Spark of Reading: Setting Aside Mediocre Materials to Light Up Children's Eyes
Jungle Lion does not reuse packaged readers that haven't changed in twenty years. We keep refreshing our list of original English books and avoid adapted editions, so the difficulty of reading grows along with children's maturing minds.
"Why did we put down the Magic Tree House novels?" Why we no longer read the Magic Tree House novels
Full-Length Originals | No Adapted Editions | A Book List Renewed Every Year
In the cram-school industry, reusing a bestselling set of materials for twenty years is the easiest path. We would rather give up the low cost and keep renewing our book list, so that it matches the minds of today's children.
01
Starting from a Reading Club in Under 6 Ping
It began as a reading circle.
In 2017, Jungle Lion began as a reading club in a room of less than 6 ping (about 20 square meters). Parents often asked, "If my child starts now, can they keep up?" Today we have built a rigorous, step-by-step teaching system, but our pickiness about materials remains close to obsessive.
02
Why We Put Down the Classic Packaged Readers
Good books age; children don’t wait.
The cram-school world has long relied on readers that have been in print for more than 20 years, such as the Magic Tree House novel series. They have accompanied many children as they grew up, but the language style and subject matter of those stories can no longer catch the attention of today's children. We still keep the information-rich Magic Tree House Fact Tracker books as knowledge readers; for long stories, we now read original English novels that better fit the minds of today's children.
03
Reading Originals, Building Staying Power
Stamina for the unknown.
Our team would rather invest a great deal of preparation time in developing lesson plans, guiding children through full-length original books such as Wild Robot, Radium Girls, Wonder, and The Hunger Games. As the plot unfolds, they work out the context, build the staying power to face unfamiliar language, and rediscover the real joy of reading.
04
Let the Bookshelf Speak First: Pop-Up Mini Book Fairs
Let the shelf start the conversation.
From time to time, the classroom sets up themed mini book fairs on the bookshelves, from famous paintings and art history, to cooking and food culture, to an ancient Egypt display made to go with a course. During breaks, children are drawn in by a book's cover and reach out to open it themselves.
05
Film Is Also a Text
Muscle doesn’t mean everything.
In July 2025, we reserved a whole screening of How to Train Your Dragon. When the lights came up, Teacher Inky asked in a workshop, "What methods did Hiccup use to defeat the dragon?" The children eagerly answered in English. One child also shared a personal takeaway: "Muscle doesn’t mean everything." True strength comes from wisdom and courage within.
Book a free placement test to find your child's reading starting point →
ADAPTIVE EDUCATION | Feature 2
The University-Style Elective List: Customized Education That Sees the Forest Before the Trees
Jungle Lion does not place children by grade. We first use a learning path map to find each child's true starting point, then let children choose electives by interest from science, humanities, theater and speaking, and exam and writing.
"See the forest before the trees."
Level-Based Placement | Self-Chosen Electives | Learning Dignity
In the red ocean of cram schools that prize efficiency, this schedule may look a little complicated, but it reflects a gentleness we have held to for many years. Drawing on the spirit of Finnish education, which values each individual's starting point, we remind ourselves to "see the forest before the trees": first see each child's unique starting point, rather than putting children on an assembly line.
01
Step 1: Precise Placement (Level System)
Level, not grade.
We look at a child's real language level, not their grade: from A0 phonics beginnings, the A1 series, and A2, to independent critical thinking at B1 and above. New children can show their test results, tell us their Lexile level, or book a free one-on-one 15-minute placement test with our academic director.
02
Step 2: Customized Nourishment (Elective Choices)
Choose what feeds you.
Once the level is set, children choose their own electives within the same level from four paths: science and logic, original books and humanities, theater and speaking, and structure and exam preparation. The courses offered on each path this season are listed in the learning path map below.
03
Challenge and Dignity Together
Challenge with dignity.
Electives within the same level give children both a real challenge and the dignity of learning. The campus for each class (Baozhong, Yichang, or online via Zoom) is as shown on the schedule.
04
An Elective Outcome: A Board Game Born from a Novel
From the page to the table.
After 16 lessons of the "Bear Grylls Polar Adventure" reading course, teacher Inky gave the children just 20 minutes to turn the novel into an English board game. The children wrote their own chance cards (for example, "You're exhausted and want to go home: move forward 5 spaces"), shaped clay figurines, and argued over the bonus and penalty rules for every square. There were crashes, disagreements, and do-overs, and in the middle of the chaos the children learned to divide up work and communicate.
Book a free placement test and find your child's learning path →
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES | Feature 3
Education as a Living Organism: An Unplanned Spark Is the Most Precious Reward
Jungle Lion's teaching plans are not files that are written once and reused. They are reshaped at any time around the questions of the children in each term, bringing the real world into the classroom.
"If children can talk directly with a witness on the ground, that will be deeper than reading a hundred news reports."
Interdisciplinary Inquiry | Museum Projects | International Exchange
A teaching plan is never a file designed once and used again and again, but a living organism that changes with the children's breath. From South African specialties and the Bosnian War to pharaohs in the museum, we bring the world into the classroom.
01
A Curriculum That Breathes with the Children
A plan that breathes.
Our lesson plans are reshaped at any time to fit the character of each term's children, and many sparks are lit together by teachers and children.
02
Exploring South African Culture
History you can taste.
While Hannah led the children in reading Born a Crime, their discussion of South African history grew more and more passionate. Our team searched all over Kaohsiung for authentic South African specialties, and the school paid out of pocket to hold a South African food workshop, bringing history to life through the senses.
03
A Geopolitics Connection
Ask the witness.
While studying the Bosnian War in class, the children, through an introduction from a former Jungle Lion student, held a live online interview with Zdravko Ljubas, a veteran journalist with 30 years of reporting experience who once worked for the BBC (an on-the-ground reporter during the 1994 siege and a field research mentor at Princeton University). They asked a witness to history directly, practicing a global, eye-level perspective.
04
Pharaoh Inc.: A Brand Audit in the Museum
Kids as brand consultants.
On April 26, 2026, teacher Jessica took the children to the "Kings of Egypt: Pharaohs" special exhibition at the Chimei Museum. The children were not just visitors but brand consultants holding a "CEO Handbook." They noticed that pharaohs chose hard red granite to project an image of "eternal permanence," defined literate scribes as the most important employees, and, in the "corporate takeover (Usurpation)" mission, observed how leaders overwrote their predecessors' names to claim authority. After the visit, the children presented their discussion in English on the spot.
05
Food Diplomacy Without a Script
Introduce your home to the world.
On May 22, 2026, teacher Inky's mother came to Taiwan from the Caribbean to visit her daughter. Less than six hours after we announced it on LINE@, 16 children had signed up to come to the Baozhong Main Campus, each bringing the snack that best represents Taiwan to them, such as sweet potato balls, tofu pudding, oyster omelets, xiaolongbao, and pineapple cakes. They used English to introduce this visitor from far away to "old-fashioned flavor" and "crispy outside, soft inside." True global awareness is not memorizing a world map; it is being able to face an unfamiliar elder without awkwardness or stage fright and confidently introduce your own hometown.
FAQ
School FAQ: How to Choose Immersive English Education in Kaohsiung?
Here are the four questions parents ask most, covering what immersive teaching means, how to help introverted children speak up, what to look for when choosing courses, and how levels connect, all in one place.
What is immersive English education in Kaohsiung? How is it different from traditional cramming?
True immersive learning uses English as a medium for exploring knowledge, not as memorized grammar and Chinese-English translation. All Jungle Lion courses are taught entirely in English by international teachers (the only exception is Reading Taiwan, taught in Chinese), built on three pillars: 1) Reading full-length original books instead of fragmented adapted versions, building stamina for long texts and the ability to infer from context; 2) Interdisciplinary thematic inquiry (CLIL/PBL), where English is a tool for studying natural science, history, and geopolitics; 3) Unscripted critical thinking and output, building arguments directly in English during interactive seminars rather than reciting prepared speeches.
How do English drama and role-play help introverted, shy children speak up?
A character is like a mask: it dissolves a child's self-censorship and lets their real voice come out naturally in the role. Our guidance has three steps. First, speaking through a character lowers the guard against making mistakes and being judged. Next, combining tone of voice, body language, and eye contact brings children back to the essence of communication. Finally, we move from two-person scenes to small presentations, building the pride of performing in a safe peer environment.
When choosing English classes for elementary and junior high school children in Sanmin District, Kaohsiung, what should parents look for?
We suggest looking at three things: materials, level grouping, and long-term results. 1) Are the materials continually refreshed, with quality original books that suit the minds of today's children, rather than the same packaged readers used for decades? 2) Are children grouped by real language ability (such as CEFR A0 to B1 and above), with a range of electives in science, humanities, drama speaking, and exam writing? 3) Do term results show only paper scores, or can children comfortably finish a hundred-page original book and complete a well-structured project presentation?
If my child is only starting now, can they keep up with all-English classes?
Yes. We first place your child at the right level and then arrange a class. New children can show their Cambridge English results, tell us their Lexile reading level, or book a free 15-minute one-on-one placement test with our head of teaching. You can also arrange a single paid trial class: NT$380 for a 1-hour class, NT$550 for a 1.5-hour class, and NT$600 for a B1-level 1.5-hour class. In-person classes have 6–10 children and online classes have 4–6, so international teachers can look after every child.
VOICES
What do parents think of Jungle Lion's teaching?
In the Jungle Lion elementary division parent survey (n=56, self-reported), 49 parents gave a rating of 4–5, and 33 said their child learns English only at Jungle Lion.
Some parents also told us honestly that their child's learning path is not yet clear enough, with only 9 ticking "very clear." That feedback led us to create our Learning Path Map page.
VISIT US
Book a Consultation: Start by Finding Your Child's Starting Point
To learn which class suits your child, book a free 15-minute one-on-one placement test through LINE, where our head of teaching identifies your child's learning starting point.
Change in education is never loud. It happens in every focused, thoughtful afternoon and in every sincere word spoken. We warmly invite you to visit the Baozhong Main Campus or the Yichang Branch and talk with us in person, so we can find the most fitting starting point for your child.
Book a free 15-minute placement test via LINE →
Baozhong Main Campus
No. 155 Baozhong St., Sanmin District, Kaohsiung | Phone 0933-655-001
Yichang Branch
No. 40 Yichang Rd., Sanmin District, Kaohsiung | Phone 0966-454-001
The two campuses are about 260 meters apart, a 4-minute walk, and we also offer online Zoom classes. The campus for each class (Baozhong, Yichang or online by Zoom) follows the timetable.
Hours: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 16:30–21:00; Wed 15:30–21:00; Sat 08:30–12:30. On Tuesdays the Yichang Branch stays open until 21:30.
The full picture of Jungle Lion's English education in Kaohsiung →
Cambridge English Coaching Class →