在臺灣與世界做朋友－我的英語街頭徒步導覽經驗回顧 Connecting Taiwan with the World: A Look Back on My English Free Walking Tour Guiding Experience in Taipei

（本文所有內容禁止媒體引用 All content in this article is prohibited from being quoted by the media.）

在《程人頻道》分享讀研究所的經歷時，提到進入資訊領域前，我曾經是「城市導遊」，再回頭看過去寫的文章，發現主題好像都從芬蘭的「極地導遊」開始，但要不是先前還有更長一段時間在臺北的帶團經驗，我恐怕無法有機會一當完兵就來段意外的北歐之旅。

When I shared my graduate school experiences on an engineering podcast, I mentioned that before stepping into the field of information science, I had once been a “city tour guide.” Looking back at the articles I wrote in the past, it seems the stories always begin with my time as an “arctic guide” in Finland. However, if it hadn’t been for the longer period I’d spent guiding tours in Taipei beforehand, I probably wouldn’t have had the chance to set off on that unexpected Nordic adventure right after completing my military service.

[embed]EP265 | 工作後回到學生？從導遊到工程師。程式嚮導上路了！ft. 北國老虎 Ralph 職涯護城河實戰營 👉程人頻道專屬連結：https://www.buildmoat.org/?promo_code=promo_1Rpqv8E0p4ndwh3C1Kjcyebp - Ralph 的經歷真的很酷…podcasts.apple.com

隨著新冠肺炎疫情成為歷史名詞，沉寂許久的旅遊相關產業正經歷爆炸性復甦，包含我先前加入的英語徒步導覽團隊。從升大三暑假到出發去芬蘭為止，近三年半的時間在該團隊中經歷的一切，都是孕育我習慣與各國人士對話、建立國際視野的養分，更可貴的是，我還因此更認識生長的這塊土地：臺灣。

As COVID-19 fades into history, the long-silent travel industry is now experiencing an explosive recovery — including the English walking tour team I once joined. From the summer before my junior year until the day I left for Finland, those three and a half years with the team gave me the foundation to converse comfortably with people from around the world and to broaden my international outlook. Even more valuable, it allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the land where I grew up: Taiwan.

那顆想走進世界的心 Longing to Step Into the World

高中時，我就讀的是非雙北都會區的社區高中，因為學校規模小，因此，即便身為社會組學生，依然有幸得以在不經過校內賽等其他篩選機制下，直接參加科教館舉辦的「臺灣國際科學展覽會（國際科展）」。這種比賽可說是明星高中的天下，放眼望去幾乎都是建國中學、北一女中、師大附中、竹科實中、新竹高中 & 女中、臺中一中＆女中、臺南一中＆女中、高雄中學＆女中等各地區明星高中的數資班或科學班學生，另外還有科教館邀請自世界各國的選手，參加這比賽讓我大受震撼，原來都會區學校能享有的資源與接收到的刺激長這樣！

In high school, I attended a community school outside the Taipei–New Taipei metropolitan area. The school was small, and that allowed me to directly participate in the “Taiwan International Science Fair (TISF)” held at the National Taiwan Science Education Center (NTSEC) without having to go through internal competitions or other selection processes, even as a humanities-track student. This kind of contest was essentially the domain of elite schools. Everywhere I looked, it was students from top schools all over Taiwan, and mostly from their gifted math and science programs. On top of that, the fair also invited participants from around the world.

Joining this competition was a huge shock for me. It opened my eyes to the kinds of resources and exposure students from metropolitan schools had access to.

大學時，終於如願進入資源豐沛的前段國立大學就讀，我開始尋找跟各國交流的機會，校園中最常見的「國際經濟學商學學生會（AIESEC）」、「模擬聯合國（MUN）」、「全球集思論壇（GIS）」與「禮賓學生（SA）」，我都有打聽、接觸、甚至加入過，校外如教育部青年發展署的各類國際學生交流活動也都積極參與，但這些活動或團隊有些參與的成本很高、有些只是一次性或有一搭沒一搭，始終難以讓我找到歸屬感。

In university, I finally fulfilled my wish of studying at a top national university with abundant resources, and I began seeking opportunities to connect with people from around the world. On campus, I explored or even joined groups like AIESEC, Model United Nations (MUN), the Global Initiatives Symposium (GIS), and the Student Ambassadors (SA) program. Off campus, I actively participated in various international exchange programs organized by the Youth Development Administration of the Ministry of Education.

Yet some of these activities came with high costs, while others were one-off events or sporadic in nature. None of them ever really gave me a sense of belonging.

大二尾聲，在參加校內的一次工作坊中，意外得知有一群臺大學長姐剛成立一支新團隊，在臺北街頭以英文從事街頭導覽活動，能夠高頻率與大量外國人互動，還有機會得到來自遊客的打賞，怎麼想都覺得超吸引人！

At the end of my sophomore year, I happened to learn during a campus workshop that a group of National Taiwan University (NTU) alumni founded a new team offering English walking tours on the streets of Taipei. The chance to interact frequently and extensively with foreign visitors — and even receive tips from travelers — sounded incredibly appealing!

應徵與培訓 Application and Training

記得面試是在臺大第二活動中心（二活）進行的，過程很像一般與朋友間的英語對談，基本上只要能夠順暢地用英文表達、並讓面試官覺得自己是有導覽員特質、言之有趣的人，都很有機會錄取。錄取後會有歡迎派對、培訓教材研讀、示範導覽與要點提示、實際跟團觀摩、驗收等程序，待最後拿到團隊發的名牌，就可以上場導覽。

I remember the interview took place at NTU’s Second Activity Center. The process felt more like a casual English conversation with friends. As long as you could express yourself fluently in English and convince the interviewers that you had the qualities of a tour guide and could keep things engaging, your chances of being accepted were high.

After being admitted, there was a welcome party, study sessions with training materials, demonstration tours with key pointers, shadowing actual tours, and evaluations. Once we finally received the name badge issued by the team, we were ready to guide on our own.

其實在面談前，我就曾經以旅客身分參與該團隊的街頭導覽，當時覺得這未免也太酷了吧！可以一邊練英文對話、一邊交朋友、還可以一邊在臺北街頭玩，這不就是我一直以來在追求的嗎？但街頭導覽可不是單純跟外國人聊天這麼簡單，我們還要用英文介紹在地的文化與歷史故事！

In fact, before the interview, I had already joined one of the team’s walking tours as a participant. At the time, I thought, “This is just too cool!” You could practice English conversation, make friends, and explore the streets of Taipei all at once — wasn’t this exactly what I’d been looking for? But being a walking tour guide wasn’t as simple as just chatting with foreigners; we also had to introduce local culture and historical stories in English!

我不是原生臺北人，大學低年級時也鮮少離開校園以外的區域，連二二八公園在臺北車站附近都不知道，導覽路線中介紹的景點不是不熟、就是沒去過；再者，我已經考完學測超過兩年半了，大學還是讀自然組科系，歷史課的內容根本不存在於記憶中，連國小就在背的「臺灣歷史年代表」都要重新複習，好在當時出現臺灣吧的【故事・臺北】與【動畫臺灣史】系列短片，我得以用非常輕鬆的方式重新溫習，並試著將影片內容融入導覽中。

I wasn’t a native of Taipei, and in my early university years I rarely ventured beyond the campus. I didn’t even know that the 228 Peace Memorial Park was near Taipei Main Station. Most of the landmarks on the tour routes were either unfamiliar to me or places I had never visited.

On top of that, it had been over two and a half years since I’d taken the university entrance exams, and as a science major, history was nowhere in my memory. Even the “Chronological Table of Taiwan History” we memorized back in elementary school had to be reviewed all over again. Fortunately, the *Taiwan Bar video series, [Stories of Taipei](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi0Dp9dYX1Y&list=PLwItru4bLdHxZGkeRCRen6dwyqbtzQUvo) and [Animated History of Taiwan](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i5XNwfyHG8&list=PLwItru4bLdHyp_2mur5NRKiXbuB4rF8oX)*, came out around that time, which let me refresh my knowledge in a lighthearted way and even weave some of that content into my tours.

初試啼聲與大挫敗 First Attempt and Major Setback

升大三的暑假，歷經數週的準備，我終於迎來第一場導覽實戰！

In the summer before my junior year, after weeks of preparation, I finally had my very first real walking tour!

雖說上臺演說技巧我從小學就在練習，但要在尚不熟悉的地方、面對不認識的遊客、介紹自己也不算很熟的內容，還是難以完全進入狀況，有時連自己都不知道自己在講什麼，甚至中途還迷失方向，完全是靠搭檔出手幫忙。記得在導覽結束後，看到搭檔臉上的表情，彷彿是在說「終於解脫了」而非「謝謝你的幫忙」。

Although I had been practicing public speaking since elementary school, guiding a tour in an unfamiliar place, facing strangers, and presenting content I wasn’t entirely confident about made it hard to really get into the flow. At times, even I had no idea what I was saying, and I even lost my way midway — completely relying on my partner to step in and save me. I still remember the look on my partner’s face after the tour ended; it seemed more like “Finally, it’s over” than “Thanks for your help.”

後面的幾團表現一直都很不穩定，有時講太長、有時講太短，手勢、眼神、音量也都沒有控制好，且因內容還不算熟，難免還是有胡言亂語的時候，最後團隊派了一個人跟團觀察，並在導覽結束之後做出要我「暫停帶團」的決策。

In the tours that followed, my performance remained inconsistent — sometimes I talked too much, other times too little. My gestures, eye contact, and volume were all poorly controlled, and since I still wasn’t fully familiar with the content, I inevitably rambled at times. Eventually, the team assigned someone to observe one of my tours, and afterward they decided I should be “suspended from guiding” for the time being.

被列入觀察期的感覺鐵定是不好受的，但我真的很喜歡英語導覽，說什麼也要把自己的狀態調整好！我拿出當初研讀的團隊教材、臺灣吧系列影片，甚至還回去高中借歷史講義，複習了一遍又一遍，且這次不再僅以「通過帶團前測驗」為目標，務必要讓這些內容深刻烙印在腦中，搭配一些聲音表情及語調的抑揚頓挫，讓整場導覽變成一場秀，而非只是單純講故事。

Being put on a probation period definitely didn’t feel good, but I really loved English guiding, and no matter what, I was determined to get myself back on track! I pulled out the team’s training materials, rewatched the Taiwan Bar video series, and even went back to my high school to borrow old history notes, reviewing them over and over.

This time, I wasn’t just aiming to “pass the pre-tour test.” I wanted the content to be etched deeply into my mind. I worked on adding vocal expressions, adjusting my tone and rhythm, and using facial cues, so the entire tour could feel like a performance rather than just a straightforward narration.

經過一次又一次的複習，我終於完全內化研讀內容，可以用自己的方式詮釋每個故事，並順利通過補考。經過調整後，我感覺跟過往帶團的經驗相比，遊客們的眼神更加專注、也更享受這整個過程。

After countless rounds of review, I finally fully internalized the material and could present each story in my own way, eventually passing the retest. Compared to my earlier tours, I could feel the difference — this time the visitors’ eyes were more focused, and they seemed to genuinely enjoy the whole experience.

放眼所及都是導覽景點 Everywhere I Looked, There was a Story to Tell

隨著進入大學高年級，剩下的學分越來越少，我的帶團頻率越來越高，高峰期的小費收入抽成後仍能達到五位數，但街頭導覽真正吸引我的並不是錢，而是我逐漸發現除了團隊官方訂好的導覽點外，沿途經過的其他地方也都是很好的導覽素材。

As I moved into the later years of university and had fewer credits left to take, I began leading tours more frequently. At my peak, even after the team’s cut, my tips could still reach five figures (in NTD). But what truly drew me to street guiding wasn’t the money — it was the realization that beyond the official tour stops set by the team, so many other spots along the way could also serve as great material for storytelling.

以資訊量最大的「臺北古城」路線來說，官方導覽點僅限於二二八公園、總統府、城中市場、中山堂、西門紅樓與西門町，但當我利用空閒時間仔細探索這個區域，卻發現臺大醫院、臺北賓館、外交部、北一女中、司法院、介壽公園、臺灣銀行，甚至是重慶衡陽路口、菊元百貨舊址、西門町錢櫃等地，都有滿滿的故事可以分享，從最開始帶團時會講到不知道還有什麼可以講，變成永遠有講不完的內容，也因為已經逐漸練到不管怎麼走，都有辦法介紹眼前所見的景物，即便遇到氣溫過高、午後雷陣雨、施工或活動封路等不可抗力因素，我都有辦法彈性調整路線，並確保在導覽項目跟著調整的情況下，依然能夠提供最充實的內容。

Take the “Old Taipei City” route, which had the densest amount of information. The official tour stops were limited to the 228 Peace Memorial Park, the Presidential Office Building, Chengzhong (Inner-City) Market, Zhongshan Hall, the Red House, and Ximending. But when I used my free time to explore the area closely, I discovered that places like NTU Hospital, the Taipei Guest House, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taipei First Girls’ High School, the Judicial Yuan, Jieshou Park, the Bank of Taiwan — and even the Chongqing–Hengyang intersection, the old site of Kikumoto Department Store, or the Partyworld KTV in Ximending — were all brimming with stories worth sharing.

Back when I first started guiding, I often ran out of things to say. But over time, it turned into having an endless supply of content. I gradually trained myself so that no matter which street we turned onto, I could always introduce what was right in front of us. Even when uncontrollable factors like extreme heat, sudden afternoon storms, construction, or road closures for events got in the way, I could flexibly adjust the route while still ensuring the tour content remained full and engaging.

額外景點：菊元百貨（臺灣第一家百貨公司）舊址 Additional spot: the old site of Kikumoto Department Store (the first department store in Taiwan)

舉例來說，如果遇到下雨，我便會縮短在二二八公園等露天場地的時間，不再繞路從臺博館走到凱達格蘭大道出公園，而是改成在有遮蔭的舞臺講解二二八公園與二二八事件後，即由懷寧街出口前往國發會門口的雨遮下方，在不影響國發會進出動線的情況下講解總統府，在中山堂等室內景點待的時間則會延長，額外帶往堡壘廳、光復廳、水牛群像等原路線不會去的室內景點，若有調整路線後看不到、但非講不可的官方景點，則提供圖片代替，並在講解時說明該景點在當下的相對位置，這樣既可以避免漏講、也可以大幅減少所有人的淋雨時間，更重要的是，我得以完全避免「雨中撐傘講解」這窘況。

For example, if it started raining, I would shorten the time spent at open-air spots like the 228 Peace Memorial Park. Instead of taking a detour past the National Taiwan Museum and exiting through Ketagalan Boulevard, I would explain the park and the 228 Incident under the shaded stage, then head straight out via Huaining Street to the sheltered entrance of the National Development Council (NDC). There, while making sure not to block the NDC’s entryway, I would present the Presidential Office.

At indoor stops like Zhongshan Hall, I’d extend the time and even include extra places not on the original route, such as the Fortress Hall, the Guangfu Hall, and the Water Buffalo statues. If a must-cover official stop became inaccessible after a route adjustment, I’d use photos instead, pointing out the landmark’s relative location from where we were. This way, I avoided skipping any content, minimized the time everyone spent in the rain, and most importantly, spared myself the awkward situation of “guiding under an umbrella in the downpour.”

下雨天改在中山堂水牛群像前拍合照 Took the group photo in front of the Water Buffalo statues at Zhongshan Hall on a rainy day

為了讓講解內容更加豐富，導覽中可能提到的景點如國立臺灣博物館、二二八紀念館、臺北賓館、總統府我都曾親自造訪，待日後再次提到該景點、旅客詢問「裡面有什麼？」時，我都能侃侃而談、分享自身經驗。提到總統府正門、臺北賓館這類一個月只開放一天的地方時，更是會在開放日前的幾團特別花些篇幅說明內部看點，參觀資訊也會講得更詳細，並特別強調他們有機會在幾天後就遇到開放日是多麼難得的事情，提升遊客們參加此次行程與在臺灣旅行的價值感。

To make my explanations richer, I personally visited places that might come up during the tours, such as the National Taiwan Museum, the 228 Memorial Museum, the Taipei Guest House, and the Presidential Office. That way, when those sites were mentioned again and travelers asked, “What’s inside?” I could speak at length and share my own experiences.

For landmarks like the front entrance of the Presidential Office or the Taipei Guest House — places that open only once a month — I would spend extra time in the tours leading up to their open days, highlighting the key sights inside and giving more detailed visiting information. I made sure to emphasize how rare it was that they might actually be in Taiwan just in time to catch an open day only a few days later, which added to the sense of value both for joining the tour and for their journey in Taiwan as a whole.

在所有額外增加的非官方景點中，反應最好的是「北一女中」，講解總統府時我常會一併納入，一來以「Little Green Green」這綽號輔以說明該校制服特色及緣由、二來以「（基測時期）入學時 PR 值要達到 99，也就是當年度前百分之一」來說明要成為該校一員有多麼不容易，有時正好會遇到北一女學生穿制服經過，遊客們瞬間能將講解內容與眼前所見建立連結，更曾經遇過旅客在導覽結束後回饋說：「什麼政治、歷史都不記得了，只記得看到北一女正妹」。

Among all the unofficial stops I added, the one that always got the best response was Taipei First Girls’ High School. I often included it when introducing the Presidential Office. First, I’d explain the nickname “Little Green Green,” using it to describe the school’s iconic uniform and its origins. Second, I’d point out that back in the Basic Competence Test (for junior high school students) era (from 2001 to 2013), you needed a PR score of 99 — meaning the top 1% nationwide — to get in, to show just how difficult it was to become a student there.

Sometimes, we’d even happen to see students in uniform passing by, and visitors could instantly connect what I’d said with what they saw in front of them. Once, after a tour, a traveler even told me, “I don’t remember anything about politics or history — what stuck with me was seeing those Taipei First Girls students.”

對於其他硬知識，我也嘗試以更生活化的方式呈現，讓遊客們可以用更輕鬆的方式理解。舉例來說，當我要介紹「臺灣面積約 3 萬 6,000 平方公里、人口約有 2,300 萬人」時，便會以「臺灣人口跟澳洲差不多，但面積只有澳洲塔斯馬尼亞（Tasmania）的一半」類比，讓遊客們更深刻感受到臺灣的人口密度有多麼高；更常引起共鳴的，則是當我以「中華航空（China Airlines）」與「中國國際航空（Air China）」介紹「中華民國」與「中華人民共和國」兩個中國政府，因為幾乎所有遊客都是搭乘飛機往返臺灣，用航空公司的角度帶入、引導遊客思考為何臺灣的載旗航空沒有「Taiwan」一詞非常能帶領大家進入情境，在正式介紹兩岸關係前，先以「兩家航空公司不一樣，請大家不要訂錯機票」當作暖身，氣氛輕鬆又切題，效果極好，還真的看過有遊客在聽完我的這番話後，立刻打開行程單確認是否有訂錯機票。

For the more fact-heavy content, I also tried to present it in a more relatable way, so visitors could grasp it more easily. For example, when explaining that “Taiwan has an area of about 36,000 square kilometers and a population of around 23 million,” I would compare it by saying, “Taiwan’s population is about the same as Australia’s, but its land area is only half the size of Tasmania.” That helped visitors feel just how dense Taiwan’s population really is.

An example that resonated even more was when I introduced the two governments — the Republic of China (ROC) and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) — by comparing China Airlines (CAL) and Air China. Since nearly every traveler had flown into Taiwan, framing it through airlines gave them an immediate sense of the issue. Before formally diving into cross-strait relations, I’d warm things up by saying, “These two airlines are different, so make sure you don’t book the wrong ticket.” The atmosphere stayed light yet on point, and the effect was excellent — I even saw visitors pull out their itineraries on the spot to double-check whether they had booked the right airline.

投入到走火入魔 Obsessed to the Point of Madness

因為實在太愛英語導覽，在每次的行程之後，我總不斷在想下次能如何變得更有趣、怎樣做更能吸引遊客們的眼球，就連在當兵時，我也不曾停止思考。

Because I loved English guiding so much, after every tour I kept thinking about how I could make the next one more engaging and how to better capture the visitors’ attention. Even during my military service, I never stopped reflecting on it.

要讓導覽朝「超過一百分」的目標邁進，我首先做的是讓所有導覽內容「可視化」，只要不是導覽當下放眼可及，就提供圖片、地圖、實體物品等輔助素材，從最開始的臺灣歷史年表、臺灣地圖，一路到臺北古城與今日街道對照圖、彩虹旗、景福門舊照、邦交國列表、總統府遭空襲照、總統府內部照片、中華民國普通護照 & 臺胞證、歷任總統照片、新臺幣鈔票、中山堂文宣、承恩門舊照、中華商場照片、寶成門舊照、西門紅樓文宣等，這麼做的好處是在講解如「臺北古城範圍」、「歷任總統著名事蹟」等相對抽象的內容時，可以用圖片讓遊客一目了然，看一眼輔助素材的效果遠勝過我講得口沫橫飛，但壞處是我必須攜帶非常多圖片、又因為不是用平板電腦或電子書呈現，難免有些重量，偶爾找不到圖片時會有些手忙腳亂。

To push my tours toward the goal of being “more than perfect,” the first thing I did was make every part of the content visual. If something wasn’t directly visible during the tour, I’d provide supporting materials — pictures, maps, or physical items. Starting with a timeline of Taiwan’s history and a map of the island, I later added comparison maps of old Taipei City and today’s streets, a rainbow flag, old photos of Jingfu (East) Gate, a list of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, photos of the Presidential Office during air raids, pictures of its interior, a standard ROC passport and Mainland Travel Permit, portraits of past presidents, New Taiwan Dollar bills, Zhongshan Hall brochures, old photos of Cheng’en (North) Gate, images of the demolished Chunghua Shopping Mall and Baocheng (West) Gate, Red House pamphlets, and more.

The benefit was clear — when explaining abstract topics like “the boundaries of old Taipei City” or “the notable deeds of past presidents,” showing an image gave visitors instant clarity. A single glance at a visual aid was far more effective than me talking endlessly. The downside, however, was that I had to carry a huge stack of materials. Since I wasn’t using a tablet or e-reader, the weight could be cumbersome, and sometimes I fumbled a bit when I couldn’t find the right image quickly.

運用身後的解說牌與自製地圖輔助說明 Using the information boards behind me along with self-made maps as guiding aids

在導覽的最後，我讓遊客們抽取紅包袋，袋內放有鈔票便條紙，背後貼上團隊貓途鷹（TripAdvisor）、官方網站等連結的 QR 碼供遊客掃描，便條紙鈔票的面額從最小的壹佰、貳佰、伍佰、壹仟到最大的貳仟都有，可以讓遊客們有「抽抽樂」的感覺。

At the end of the tours, I handed out red envelopes for visitors to draw from. Inside were sticky notes printed like banknotes, with QR codes on the back linking to the team’s TripAdvisor page and official website. The “banknotes” ranged from NT$100, NT$200, NT$500, and NT$1,000 up to NT$2,000, giving visitors the fun feeling of a lucky draw.

走鐘的街頭導覽 The Street Guidings that Went Off Track

過了一陣子之後，我覺得這樣還不夠有趣，開始讓整場導覽變成一場競賽，在導覽過程中不斷出題，答對者可領取一張壹佰圓鈔票便條紙，行程結束時領取最多張便條紙者可兌換小禮物。原本以為這麼做可以提升導覽的趣味性，卻很快就收到負面評價，仔細端詳遊客給予的回饋，我發現許多問題對於遊客們來說，都顯得有些「莫名其妙」，例如我曾經考大家「請問哪位總統是哈佛畢業的？」，臺灣人都不一定知道是馬英九，何況對臺灣了解甚少、很有可能根本就一無所知的遊客們？於是，這樣「把導覽變競賽」的操作方式，在嘗試了沒幾次後，便因遊客反應不佳而不再進行。

After a while, I felt things still weren’t entertaining enough, so I turned the entire tour into a kind of competition. During the tour, I would constantly ask questions, and anyone who answered correctly could receive a NT$100 sticky-note banknote. At the end, the person with the most notes could exchange them for a small gift.

At first, I thought this would make the tour more fun, but negative feedback came quickly. Reading through the visitors’ comments carefully, I realized many of the questions felt “nonsensical” to them. For example, I once asked, “Which president graduated from Harvard?” Even many Taiwanese wouldn’t know the answer was Ma Ying-jeou, let alone travelers who knew very little — or nothing at all — about Taiwan.

So, after just a few attempts, I abandoned the idea of “turning the tour into a competition,” as the visitor response was simply too poor.

顧及內容、忘了時間 Focusing on Content, Forgetting the Time

帶團太投入的另一個狀況是會忽略時間管理，當我對週遭景點的認識越來越多，就會想補充這個、想補充那個，總覺得哪邊沒講到就是這團客人的損失，最後的代價就是嚴重超時。雖然我很有勁地一直講，旅客到後面卻是顯現疲態，一副「你到底還要講多久？」的感覺，如果遊客們接下來還有行程，更是會耽誤到他們的出發時間。先前曾經有知名的影音創作者正好參加到我超時最嚴重的一團（印象中晚了約四十五分鐘結束），雖然他們並未在影片中特別說在團中有不愉快經驗，我仍以此為警惕，日後必不可再超時。

Another issue that came from getting too carried away was losing track of time. As I became more familiar with the surrounding sights, I kept wanting to add this detail or that story, always feeling that leaving something out would shortchange the group. The result, though, was serious overtime.

While I was still full of energy talking, the visitors eventually showed signs of fatigue, with expressions that seemed to say, “How much longer are you going to go on?” And if they had other plans afterward, my overlong tour would delay their schedule.

Once, a well-known content creator happened to join the tour where I went overtime the worst — I remember we ended about forty-five minutes late. Although they didn’t mention any unpleasant experience in their video, I still took it as a wake-up call: from then on, I knew I must never run over time again.

經過不斷地撞牆、修正之後，最後我終於找到最穩定的狀態，一樣可以看到什麼講什麼、可以彈性因應當下情況調整路線、還在講解白色恐怖時帶入相對低沉的聲音表情，帶領大家走入對應情境，一同反思這段歷史帶給我們的教訓，但講解的同時，腦中永遠帶著計時器，每個景點應該幾點抵達、幾點離開都記得清清楚楚，不管路線怎麼調整，一定都能在 2.5 小時內準時結束。

After repeatedly hitting walls and making adjustments, I finally found the most stable rhythm. I could still talk about whatever we came across, flexibly adjust the route based on the situation, and even shift into a more somber tone when discussing the White Terror, guiding everyone into the right atmosphere to reflect on the lessons of that history.

At the same time, though, I always kept a mental timer running. I knew exactly what time we should arrive at and leave each stop. No matter how the route changed, I made sure the tour always ended right on schedule within two and a half hours.

在臺灣建立國際視野 Building an International Outlook in Taiwan

導覽的過程是雙向的，不只是我們會跟外國旅客介紹本地歷史文化，旅客們也會帶給我們自身的觀點，尤其多數參加免費徒步導覽的都是背包客，自助旅行經驗豐富，除提供自己國家的資訊外，還常向我們分享自己在其他國家的所見所聞，如柬埔寨、韓國、香港、泰國、阿富汗等地，而在這些外國旅客的分享中，最令我印象深刻的有：

The tour experience was a two-way exchange. It wasn’t just us introducing local history and culture to foreign visitors — travelers also brought their own perspectives to us. Most people who joined the free walking tours were backpackers with rich experience in independent travel. In addition to sharing information about their own countries, they often told us about what they had seen in places like Cambodia, South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, Afghanistan, and more.

Among all the stories visitors shared, the ones that left the deepest impression on me were:

1. 跟菲律賓遊客討論到「南（中國）海」問題時，曾被糾正為「西菲律賓海」，對方雖然沒有特別帶著情緒講，但被糾正時，我才意識到不是所有人都稱那片海為「南中國海」。 When discussing the “South China Sea” issue with travelers from the Philippines, I was once corrected — they called it the “West Philippine Sea.” The person wasn’t emotional about it, but that correction made me realize that not everyone refers to that body of water as the “South China Sea.”
2. 不是知名景點就值得推薦給外國遊客，像我們之前曾經向菲律賓、泰國遊客推薦墾丁，也曾經向澳洲遊客推薦淡水漁人碼頭看日落，對方卻完全不感興趣，主要原因是他們認為要去海灘玩水、看夕陽，在自己國家就有比我們所推薦更棒的景點，實在不值得飛一趟臺灣後，還專程跑去那些地方。 Not every well-known spot is worth recommending to foreign visitors. For instance, we once suggested Kenting to travelers from the Philippines and Thailand, and recommended Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf for the sunset to visitors from Australia. But they showed no interest at all. The reason was simple: if they wanted beaches or sunsets, their own countries already had far better options. It didn’t make sense to fly all the way to Taiwan only to visit places they could easily experience back home.

還有一項是在帶美食團時，我們會鼓勵遊客把食物吃完，但當我試著用臺灣長輩常見的「浪費食物會被送去非洲當難民」說法時，卻被團隊考核官嚴厲糾正，她要我思考：如果團隊內有非洲遊客怎麼辦？果不其然，沒多久後就有非洲遊客出現在團中，我真不知道如果沒及時踩煞車，在導覽中說出那些話，會帶給對方什麼樣的感受。

Another moment came during the food tours, when we encouraged visitors to finish their meals. I once tried to use a common phrase often said by Taiwanese elders: “If you waste food, you’ll be sent to Africa as a refugee.” But the team’s evaluator immediately and sternly corrected me, asking me to think: What if there were African visitors in the group?

Sure enough, not long after, an African traveler did join one of my tours. I honestly can’t imagine what impact it would have had if I hadn’t hit the brakes in time and had actually said those words.

我們的日常，外國人眼裡的獨特景觀 Our Everyday Life, A Unique Sight in the Eyes of Foreigners

同一時間，我們也會發現某些臺灣人視為日常生活的事情，在外國遊客眼中卻是十分特別的現象，印象最深刻的問題是「為什麼臺灣人常常戴著口罩？」。

At the same time, we also noticed that certain things Taiwanese people see as part of everyday life appeared quite unique to foreign visitors. The question that struck me the most was: “Why do Taiwanese people so often wear masks?”

當時尚未有新冠肺炎，許多西方國家只有醫療人員與病患才會戴上口罩，在臺灣、乃至於亞洲街頭卻可以看到有人戴著口罩逛街，讓西方遊客們非常好奇。在第一次被問時，我還因為從沒想過這可以成為問題而不知道怎麼回答，但被問第二次、第三次後，便不得不去查詢箇中原因了。

Back then, before COVID-19, many Western countries associated masks only with healthcare workers or patients. But in Taiwan — and across much of Asia — you could see people wearing masks while simply walking down the street, which fascinated Western visitors.

The first time I was asked about it, I was caught off guard, never having thought this could even be a question, and I didn’t know how to respond. But after being asked a second and third time, I had no choice but to look up the reasons behind it.

另一個讓我印象深刻的問題，是在西門町臺北天后宮略提臺灣宗教文化時，有到訪過中國的西方旅客詢問：「為什麼你們的寺廟不收費？」，剛聽到這問題時，我感到非常疑惑，後來遊客才補充說自己以前在中國旅行時，參觀寺廟幾乎都是要收費的。我沒有親自付錢參觀中國的寺廟過，但聽到遊客如此說明，才讓我發現臺灣許多免費、但在其他地方卻不一定是這麼回事的資源是如此地獨特而珍貴，這當中也包含了廁所，在許多國家要上廁所可是要付費、或者非常麻煩的。

Another question that left a deep impression on me came up when I briefly introduced Taiwan’s religious culture at Taipei Tianhou Temple in Ximending. A Western traveler who had visited China asked, “Why don’t your temples charge an entrance fee?” I was puzzled at first, but then the visitor explained that in their travels across China, most temples required paid admission.

I’d never personally paid to visit a temple in China, but hearing their explanation made me realize how unique and precious Taiwan’s free resources really are — things we often take for granted. This includes not just temples but also public restrooms, which in many countries require payment or are otherwise difficult to access.

認識臺灣、也更認識世界 Getting to Know Taiwan, and Getting to Know the World Better

如果要說從事英語導覽三年多來，最迷人的部分是什麼？我覺得是可以同時認識臺灣、也更認識世界。

If I had to say what the most fascinating part of doing English tours for over three years was, I’d say it was the chance to get to know Taiwan better while also gaining a deeper understanding of the world.

為了要向外國旅客介紹在地故事與歷史，我們得先花時間熟悉講解內容，正是在準備的過程中，我才發現那些常常路過、卻視而不見的地方，如果仔細挖掘，都能找到好多有趣的故事。記得之前曾經在新生南路上的「天主教聖家堂」與「台北清真寺」門口介紹臺灣的天主教與伊斯蘭教文化，介紹到一半發現裡面有人探出頭來，原本以為是打擾到他們，匆匆收尾後正打算往下一個點前進，殊不知對方卻帶著微笑說：「為什麼不帶他們進來參觀呢？」

To introduce local stories and history to foreign visitors, we first had to spend time getting fully familiar with the material. It was during that preparation that I realized the places I often walked past without really seeing were full of fascinating stories if you dug a little deeper. I remember once, while standing at the entrances of Holy Family Catholic Church and the Taipei Grand Mosque on Xinsheng South Road, introducing Catholicism and Islam in Taiwan. Halfway through, someone peeked out from inside. I thought we were bothering them, so I hurried to wrap up and get ready to move on to the next stop — only to be met with a smile and, “Why not bring them in to have a look?”

收到這樣的邀請讓我十分驚喜，尤其清真寺還是由時任董事長－馮同瑜親自邀約，正因為有這樣的機緣，我才得以踏入台北清真寺內，近距離觀察圓頂禮拜大殿、洗淨水房、入口門廊與當中標示五功時間的鐘等。為了介紹這些構造，我還多花了些時間研究伊斯蘭文化，以及伊斯蘭在臺灣的現況，介紹本地文化還能多認識在臺灣相對小眾的宗教，總覺得視野又被打開不少。

That invitation came as a huge surprise — especially since it was the then-chairman, Feng Tongyu, who personally welcomed us into the mosque. Thanks to that opportunity, I was able to step inside the Taipei Grand Mosque and observe up close the domed prayer hall, the ablution facilities, the entrance portico, and even the clock marking the times for the Five Pillars.

To properly explain these features, I spent extra time studying Islamic culture and the current state of Islam in Taiwan. Introducing local culture while also learning about a relatively small religious community here made me feel as though my perspective had broadened once again.

台北清真寺 Taipei Grand Mosque

親自走訪清真寺等景點有助於讓我們在導覽時，有更多乾貨可以提供，有些不在導覽路線上的景點，我也會一併補充，例如臺東國立臺灣史前文化博物館、白色恐怖綠島紀念園區、白色恐怖景美紀念園區等，若旅客有相對彈性的行程，都可以考慮把這些景點列入，尤其位在新北、從臺北出發相對易達、大範圍保留不義遺址又可以免費參觀的景美園區，幾乎是我每次介紹白色恐怖時必提，同時再另外推薦《被出賣的台灣》這本書及同名電影，正好呈現外國人角度看二二八事件與白色恐怖這段時期的觀察與詮釋，也確實有遊客在聽完相關故事後，對於「民主臺灣曾經經歷過威權時期」這段歷史很感興趣，於行程結束後特地前來問我景美園區的詳細資訊。

Personally visiting places like the mosque gave me more solid material to share during tours. I also made a habit of mentioning sites not on our official routes — such as the National Museum of Prehistory in Taitung, the Green Island White Terror Memorial Park, and the Jing-Mei White Terror Memorial Park. For travelers with flexible itineraries, I would suggest adding these to their plans.

In particular, the Jing-Mei park in New Taipei was a place I almost always recommended when introducing the White Terror. It’s relatively easy to reach from Taipei, preserves a large-scale site of injustice, and is free to visit. Alongside that, I often suggested the book and film Formosa Betrayed, which present the 228 Incident and the White Terror from a foreigner’s perspective. Some visitors, after hearing these stories, became genuinely curious about how “democratic Taiwan once went through an authoritarian period.” A few even came up to me at the end of the tour to ask for detailed directions to Jing-Mei.

白色恐怖景美紀念園區入口 Entrance of Jing-Mei White Terror Memorial Park

導覽是一個「讓歷史活起來」的過程，在我們的中小學時期，各區域的歷史是分開讀的，然而，同時面對這麼多國籍的旅客，我們必須把格局放大，從跨區域的角度看待與臺灣直接或間接相關的歷史事件，諸如荷蘭在印尼殖民史、西班牙在菲律賓殖民史、明治維新、二戰、韓戰、越戰、國共內戰、日本被投原子彈後投降等都要進一步了解，用外國旅客熟悉的歷史背景帶入臺灣這塊土地上發生的事，有助於讓遊客們更快進入當下介紹的情境中，對世界歷史發展的認識，多補上「臺灣」這塊拼圖。我們也得以同時發現，針對同樣的歷史事件，外國人跟我們的觀點有何異同，有時會得到意料之外的反饋。印象最深刻的一次，是當我介紹「一般相信，葡萄牙人曾經稱臺灣為『Ilha Formosa』」時，團中正好有葡萄牙遊客，這是我第一次尚未特別提到這單字的意思，就有人有反應，原來，福爾摩沙在葡萄牙文中，真的代表「美麗之島」。

Guiding is a process of “bringing history to life.” Back in school, we studied history by region, each area separated from the others. But when facing groups of travelers from all over the world, we had to zoom out and take a broader perspective, connecting Taiwan with regional and global events. That meant learning more about things like Dutch colonial history in Indonesia, Spanish rule in the Philippines, the Meiji Restoration, World War II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, the Chinese Civil War, and Japan’s surrender after the atomic bombings. Using historical backgrounds that foreign visitors were already familiar with helped them quickly grasp the context of what happened in Taiwan, placing a missing “Taiwan piece” into their world history puzzle.

It also revealed to us how foreigners’ views on the same historical events could differ from our own, and sometimes we got surprising feedback. One of the most memorable moments was when I explained that “it’s widely believed the Portuguese once called Taiwan ‘Ilha Formosa.’” In that group, there happened to be Portuguese travelers. For the first time, before I even explained what the word meant, someone reacted — and I realized that Formosa really does mean “Beautiful Island” in Portuguese.

英語徒步導覽的魅力 The Charm of English Walking Tours

我覺得英語導覽最迷人的點是，在其他國家各大城市，多半也都有類似的活動，我們卻誰也無法取代彼此。

What I find most fascinating about English walking tours is that while almost every major city around the world has something similar, none of us can ever replace one another.

對於這些來參與導覽的外國遊客來說，我們代表臺北、代表臺灣；對於沒有參加過其他地方徒步導覽的人來說，我們又代表著「英語免費徒步導覽」這項活動。當我在其他國家自助旅行，也常會主動搜尋當地有沒有類似的免費導覽行程，跟在地導覽員腳步認識當地文化的同時，還能觀摩其他國家的導覽進行方式。

For the foreign visitors who joined our tours, we represented Taipei, we represented Taiwan. And for those who had never joined a walking tour elsewhere, we also represented what “English free walking tours” were all about.

When I traveled independently in other countries, I often searched for similar free tours. Following local guides not only helped me learn about their culture but also gave me the chance to observe how walking tours were conducted in different parts of the world.

最神奇的一次經驗，是 2018 年 2 月在新加坡參與由 Indie Singapore 帶來的「Riverfront Thursday (今 “Our Singapore Story” Walk down the Singapore River)」導覽時，居然巧遇不久前才在臺北帶過的斯洛伐克遊客！到底要多巧，才可以在完全不一樣的國度，在同樣時間、同樣地點參加同一項導覽行程！不過上次我是導覽員、她是遊客，這回我們兩個都變成遊客，一同沿著新加坡河與濱海灣，跟隨在地導覽員 Wei 的腳步，認識新加坡的近代發展。

The most incredible experience happened in February 2018, when I joined Indie Singapore’s “Riverfront Thursday” tour (now called Our Singapore Story: Walk down the Singapore River). To my astonishment, I ran into a Slovak traveler I had just guided in Taipei not long before! How much of a coincidence did it take for us to end up on the very same tour, at the same time, in a completely different country?

Last time, I was the guide and she was the visitor; this time, we were both visitors, walking together along the Singapore River and Marina Bay, following our local guide Wei to learn about Singapore’s modern development.

居然在新加坡巧遇之前帶過的斯洛伐克遊客！Ran into a Slovak traveler I had guided before — right there in Singapore!

每次帶團結束，我們都會獲得旅客打賞，有些較用心的遊客會上旅遊評論網站給予五星好評，但對我來說，這些都不是最重要的，我更在意的是，是否在遊客們的心中播下一顆好奇的種子，就算剛抵達臺灣時，對這塊土地一無所知，在聽過導覽、對臺灣有最基本的認識後，是否有種彷彿發現新大陸、想要更深入探索、好好認識這塊土地的感覺？其中一些聊得比較來的遊客，我們更是互留聯絡方式，私下再約去其他地方，日後不論是我到對方國家、對方再訪臺灣、或是我們同時在第三國，都有機會再見面。

After every tour, we would receive tips from the visitors, and some thoughtful ones even left five-star reviews on travel sites. But to me, those weren’t the most important things. What I cared about more was whether I had planted a seed of curiosity in their hearts. Even if they knew nothing about Taiwan when they first arrived, did the tour give them a basic understanding, a sense of discovering a “new world,” and the desire to explore further and get to know this land better?

With some of the travelers I connected with more deeply, we even exchanged contacts and later met up elsewhere. Whether it was me visiting their country, them returning to Taiwan, or us crossing paths in a third country, there was always the chance to meet again.

我們能遇到的旅客形形色色，有交換生、留學生、英文老師、全職背包客等，也有不少人是上班族，先前曾經有任職紐約 Google 的員工，在導覽結束後帶團內其他遊客一起進入台北 101 的 Google 辦公室參觀（可惜我沒跟到），也遇過有人介紹自己的公司時，說：「I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of it. I work at an American company called “McKinsey”.」我聽到直接驚呆，怎麼可能沒聽過？是商管學生搶破頭的世界頂尖管理諮詢公司耶！

The travelers we met came from all walks of life — exchange students, international students, English teachers, full-time backpackers, and plenty of office workers too. Once, there was even an employee from Google New York who, after the tour, took the group to visit Google’s Taipei 101 office (unfortunately, I missed out on that).

Another time, someone introduced their job by saying, “I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of it. I work at an American company called McKinsey.” I was stunned — how could I not have heard of it? It’s one of the world’s top management consulting firms, the kind that business students fight tooth and nail to get into!

在這麼多樣的遊客當中，我們不免會遇到來自中國大陸、香港、澳門、甚至是臺灣本地的人，而在以歷史為主軸的路線，不免又會提到二二八、白色恐怖、兩岸關係等其他相對敏感的政治議題，這些又偏偏是對臺灣不了解的外國人最好奇的地方，我非常慶幸自己在談論這些議題時，完全沒遇過有人當面對我的講法提出質疑，更沒遇過任何人直接打斷我說話。我的原則很簡單：忠於「事實」，例如「臺灣」這個詞究竟是否代表一個國家，我只能說，在《中華民國憲法》上不是，但官方不這麼認定、民間總不會現在依然照著憲法，宣稱臺北政府才是所謂「正統中國」。

Among such a diverse range of visitors, we inevitably met people from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and even locals from Taiwan. And on history-focused routes, topics like the 228 Incident, the White Terror, and cross-strait relations would surely come up — precisely the kinds of sensitive political issues that foreign visitors who knew little about Taiwan were most curious about.

I was very fortunate that whenever I touched on these topics, no one ever openly challenged my explanations, nor did anyone interrupt me. My guiding principle was simple: stay true to the facts. For example, when it came to whether the term “Taiwan” actually refers to a country, all I could say was that under the Constitution of the Republic of China, it technically does not — but the government doesn’t define it that way in practice, and ordinary people certainly don’t go around still claiming that the Taipei government is the so-called “legitimate China.”

小結 Summary

三年多的英語導覽生活，帶給我好多好多回憶與收穫，能在服完兵役後即獲得赴芬蘭帶團的機會， 估計也跟這些導覽經驗拖不了關係。

My 3+ years of English guiding gave me countless memories and lessons. The chance to lead tours in Finland right after finishing my military service was, no doubt, closely tied to all the experience I had gained from guiding in Taiwan.

非常感謝團隊夥伴們與我一同帶領這麼多位外籍旅客，尤其特別感謝曾經在其他平臺代表團隊分享經驗的最佳搭檔：Andy（陳信安），記得大四上學期的帶團高峰期時，我們倆幾乎包辦了將近一半的團數，配合起來的默契自然是不在話下，不過日後他仍持續往專業導遊邁進，同樣領有導遊執業證的我，卻幾乎不再帶團。

I’m deeply grateful to my teammates for guiding so many foreign travelers alongside me, and especially to my best partner, Andy Chen, who once represented our team on other platforms to share our experiences. I remember during the peak season of my senior year, the two of us handled nearly half of all the tours, and our teamwork was seamless. But while he went on to pursue a career as a professional tour guide, even though I also obtained a tour guide license, I’ve hardly led any tours since.

為什麼？因為我沒聲音了！經過高頻率帶團（可能還用錯發聲方式），我發現自己已經無法用宏亮的聲音帶完一整趟導覽，除非有可以掛子母機的博物館等室內行程，或者不用特別解說的體驗類行程，否則我基本上是不會再上街頭帶團。

Why? Because I lost my voice! After leading tours at such a high frequency (and probably using the wrong vocal technique), I found I could no longer project loudly enough to make it through an entire tour. Unless it was an indoor setting like a museum where I could use a microphone, or an experience-based activity that didn’t require much explanation, I essentially stopped guiding on the streets.

另一個原因，是我已經從事這樣的活動三年多，英語導覽對我來說確實比剛加入團隊時容易許多，面對陌生景點也能很快想出具有個人特色的呈現方式，但這行畢竟有「產業極限」，入行門檻不高外、也沒什麼往上發展的機會，我又不是一個喜歡「安逸」的人，兼職娛樂或許還行，但若持續全職從事，只會把自己的路越走越窄，大學畢業多年後可能還永遠都在做與學生時期類似的事，難以有所突破。

Another reason was that after more than three years, English guiding had indeed become much easier for me than when I first joined the team. Even with unfamiliar sites, I could quickly come up with ways to present them in my own style. But this line of work has its “industry ceiling.” The entry barrier is low, and there’s little room for upward growth. I’m not someone who enjoys staying in a comfort zone — doing it part-time for fun might be fine, but continuing full-time would only narrow my path. Years after graduation, I might still be doing things no different from what I did as a student, with little chance for real breakthroughs.

當然，如果你是想多認識一些外國朋友、想練英文、想在玩樂中賺取外快、或想更認識我們居住的這塊土地，都非常推薦加入這臺灣第一個英文免費徒步導覽團隊。參與這裡的導覽員徵選，不須要先繳數千元報名培訓課程、無競業條款也不用繳會費，還能參與團隊定期與不定期舉辦的各種活動，成年後也能過得很像青春大學生！

Of course, if what you’re looking for is to make more foreign friends, practice English, earn some extra money while having fun, or gain a deeper understanding of the land we live on, I highly recommend joining this team, Taiwan’s very first English free walking tour provider.

Here, you don’t need to pay thousands of (New Taiwan) dollars for training courses to apply, there are no non-compete clauses or membership fees, and you also get to take part in various regular and special team events. Even as an adult, you can still live a life that feels just like being a university student!

謝謝這三年多的英語導覽經驗，帶領我走入剛進入大學時，從沒想過的奇幻之旅！

Thanks to these 3+ years of English guiding, I was led into a fantastic journey I never could have imagined when I first entered university!

很喜歡這張帶團照，地上那鼓鼓的束口袋滿滿都是自製導覽輔助素材 I really love this photo of me guiding — the bulging drawstring bag on the ground is packed full of the aids I made for the tours.