“Can you help protect this little hedgehog?” With a knee on the ground, Hsiao Chao-Hung kneels in front of a shy elementary school student, holding a cardboard prop he made for the lesson. As the child remains still, Hsiao gently guides and encourages interaction, often finishing classes with his shirt soaked in sweat.
Hsiao, originally from Taichung, began his education in linguistics and worked as a part-time actor in a theater group during his spare time. At just over 20, he was on a path to a performance career until a transformative experience teaching a drama class at a rural kindergarten in Taiwan changed everything. He recalls a boy grieving the loss of a parent who found solace in their drama session. “He said, ‘Teacher Hsiao, like in our play, my dad has become a star in the sky. When I look up and talk to him, he can hear me.'”
This profound moment made Hsiao understand the significance of drama in life. It compelled him to transition from the stage to the classroom and become a children’s drama educator. “Drama mirrors life. By experiencing the joys and sorrows of different characters, it encourages people to do more joyful things and fewer regrettable ones.”
In the early 2000s, Taiwan’s children’s education sector was booming, but the looming issue of declining birth rates left Hsiao feeling uncertain as he entered the field. He authored books, held workshops, and taught, despite friends questioning why he would invest in what seemed to be a fading industry. His simple response? Working with children and leveraging his skills brought him immense joy.
In 2007, Hsiao moved from Taiwan to mainland China, continuing his role as a children’s drama teacher. “Taiwan’s training industry matured earlier, so parents in both regions share similar anxieties and pressures,” he observed. Upon arriving in mainland China, he noticed that parents were initially hesitant about drama education. To bridge this gap, he introduced children’s English drama classes, which attracted parents seeking English learning. Many of them were surprised by the positive changes drama brought to their children, far beyond just language skills.
When asked which child has left the most lasting impression on him, Hsiao pauses thoughtfully. After over a decade of teaching, choosing one student is a challenge. He reflects on his first collaboration with a kindergarten in mainland China fourteen years ago; those children are now in college, and their connection remains strong. On birthdays, he often receives well-wishes from far and wide, reinforcing his belief that “educators’ fulfillment often comes from the smallest things.”
Currently, Hsiao promotes drama education through partnerships with local schools and educational institutions, frequently traveling to cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Rizhao, and Lianyungang. “There’s tremendous potential for growth in the education sector on the mainland,” he notes. With the implementation of policies aimed at reducing pressure on students, more parents are embracing high-quality companionship and scientific parenting concepts, which opens up promising opportunities for fields like drama and aesthetic education.
Looking ahead, Hsiao doesn’t envision a large commercial empire. “Education isn’t measured by scale; stability is the fastest path to growth. I just want to focus on being a good teacher and treating every student and parent who believes in me with care.”
“Perhaps a public class might reach 50 parents and children, with 5 wanting to give it a shot. Then we’ll dedicate ourselves to teaching those 5 children well. For the remaining 45, at least we’ve planted a seed of drama education,” he concludes, rising to greet parents waiting at the door, ready to discuss enrollment with new families.
