Interview with individuals
Interview Letter Content
Dear Legislator Hong and Director Zhang,
We are students from Linkou Cambridge International School, participating in the 7th to 8th-grade web expo competition. After considering various themes, we collectively decided to explore election issues in alignment with next year’s presidential and legislative elections. To prepare for this, we watched the “Wave-Makers” series and began researching the topic with enthusiasm.
We wanted to understand Taiwan’s election culture and the motivations of elected representatives, so we spent our summer break and after-school hours conducting research. We are grateful to the legislator for providing us with this valuable learning opportunity and guiding us through the process. The chance to visit the parliament and meet the legislator in person has fueled our excitement, and we are committed to presenting our best work to you.
We hope to gain insights into your election process and parliamentary work, which we plan to compile into a learning website for the World Web Contest. Your assistance in this endeavor is greatly appreciated.
Below are the interview questions we have prepared over the past two months. We apologize for any unintended rudeness or inappropriate language:
Regarding Election Planning:
1.How do you assemble your campaign team?
2.How do you keep team spirits high during the campaign?
3.What activities does your team organize to win more support?
4.Which activities do you think attract the most supporters?
5.What worries you the most during the election?
6.How do you budget for the campaign?
6.Have you faced opposition from family or friends about running for office?
Regarding Election Strategy:
1.How do you respond to criticism from opponents?
2.How do you retain your existing supporters?
3.What lessons have you learned from previous elections?
4.How do you interact with your competitors?
5.What mindset do you adopt at the start of a campaign?
6.Does your team conduct opinion polls? How do you handle the results?
7.How does your team deal with criticism?
Regarding Election Budget:
1.How do you secure resources for your campaign?
2.Which areas require special budgeting attention?
3.Is there a significant difference in your budget compared to previous elections?
4.Where does your campaign funding come from?How do you obtain it?
5.What decision during a campaign stands out the most to you?
6.Does your team follow any budget planning models?
Thank you once again for your time and support. We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Team Members: Chun-Huang Yang, Ho-Chin Chen, Chih-Yin Chang, Feng-Tseng Kuo, Hao-Yo Wang, Peng-To Kung, You-Ting Lin
Advisors: Ren-Jing Lin, Jyun-Jie Wu, Yiyun-Chen
Content sharing from the legislator interview
In this discussion, the lawmaker and two questioners talked about election issues and campaign strategies.
First, the lawmaker explained his interactions with competitors during elections. He mentioned that as the incumbent, he focuses on his daily work like attending meetings and serving constituents. He stressed the importance of transparency, updating constituents through social media as part of his campaign.
Then, another questioner asked about his biggest fear during elections. The lawmaker expressed concern about managing time efficiently, comparing elections to a fast-paced game like football where every candidate needs to make the most of each day to reach voters.
Overall, the conversation highlighted election challenges and strategies, with the lawmaker emphasizing the importance of reaching out to voters and managing time effectively.
When asked about his views on elections, the lawmaker emphasized the need to make his appeals understood and gain support. He admitted to being afraid of mismanaging time due to his extensive electoral district, requiring careful scheduling to reach voters effectively.
Responding to another question, the lawmaker expressed his commitment to serving constituents and not changing his focus due to elections. He sees himself as a trustworthy brand, striving to bring about change through continuous effort and service.
Asked why he chose this job, the lawmaker explained his desire to make the world better, influenced by his experiences in college and as a legislative assistant. He recounted interactions with government officials during his studies, leading him to run for election.
Addressing how he handles rumors and remarks from others, the lawmaker said he blocks inappropriate comments but welcomes constructive criticism. He takes action against slander and personal attacks, emphasizing responsible online behavior.
The lawmaker shared his journey during his first candidacy, highlighting his wife’s support and understanding throughout the process.
He expressed gratitude for his wife’s support, acknowledging her role in balancing family life and election work. He recounted how she encouraged him to carefully consider running for office and supported his decision wholeheartedly.
This story illustrates the lawmaker’s appreciation for his wife’s support and the importance of family understanding in both political and personal life.
Reflections on the legislator interview
Harry Wang: After a rush of arrangements, we finally got to interview Legislator Hong. As I was heading to his office, even though I had gone over the material after class and had some ideas in mind, I still felt really nervous. I kept going over the process and thinking about the questions I wanted to ask. Our questions and learning about the legislator’s experiences helped us understand more. I could also imagine how hard the legislator works and the challenges he faces. But as a legislator, the goal is to protect and help the people under the same roof, so being fully prepared is important. I’m sure the legislator was pressed for time too, coming from far away to the office. I really appreciate the legislator giving us this chance to learn.
Dorina Kung: When we got there, Legislator Hong was really nice to us. He patiently explained and answered our questions. This interview taught me a lot about running for office and the tough parts of being a legislator, and the various problems you can come across. For example, how to handle bad comments online, what legislators do usually, and if they’re busy or not. I’m really thankful the legislator took time out to talk to us.
Justin Lin: We found out we were going to interview a legislator at the last minute, and when I heard about it, I felt both excited and nervous. Before the interview, I tried to remember the questions and things I wanted to say, but when I got there, I was so nervous that I forgot everything. The legislator patiently answered our questions and explained things to us, and I learned a lot during this interview. It gave me a deeper understanding of the challenges and how to solve them. Even though we were short on time, I learned a lot, and I’m grateful to the legislator for talking to us.
Chih-Yin Chang: We were told suddenly at lunchtime that we were going to interview a legislator, and we only started coming up with questions a few minutes before the interview. Even though I was nervous like everyone else, I knew we had to start asking questions. The legislator answered all our questions really well, and I was impressed. This interview helped me understand more about how legislators work and how they solve problems.
Ashley Chen: This visit was really sudden; we found out about the interview only after lunch. Even though I was nervous, I was also excited. This interview taught me a lot about politics and the work of legislators, and the challenges they face. I also realized how important the work of legislators is and how hard it can be.
Jennifer Kuo: This visit was quite sudden; we found out about interviewing a legislator only after lunch. Even though I was nervous, I was a bit excited too. This visit taught me a lot about politics and the work of legislators, and the challenges they face. I understand now that being a legislator means working together as a team to solve problems, and it’s not something one person can do alone.
