Sister Ellen Mary Elizabeth Mylod from the U.K. was officially granted Republic of China (Taiwan) citizenship Sept. 18 in recognition of her decadeslong contributions to local English language education.
At a presentation ceremony in southern Taiwan’s Kaohsiung City, Mayor Chen Chu presented an ROC citizenship card to the 84-year-old nun. She said Mylod’s efforts have benefitted countless students in a wide range of fields spanning diplomacy, international trade and religion.
The nun said the day she received the citizenship card was the most special of her life, adding that she is grateful to those who have helped her throughout her 45 years in the country. “Even though my Mandarin is still not fluent, people in Taiwan never treat me like an outsider,” she said.
Mylod first arrived in Taiwan in 1973 to teach at Kaohsiung’s Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages, the first tertiary institution in Taiwan to focus on foreign language education. She went on to help establish the school’s Department of Foreign Language Instruction.
According to the Kaohsiung City Government, Mylod is the first foreigner in Kaohsiung to be naturalized under recent changes to the Nationality Act. Amendments to the act promulgated Dec. 21 last year enable foreigners applying for naturalization to keep their original nationality if they meet certain conditions such as possessing high-level professional skills in the fields of art, culture, economics, education, sports, technology or other domains, or have made exceptional contributions to the development of the nation.
The revisions are part of government efforts to encourage more foreigners to live and work in Taiwan on an extended basis as well as guarantee their rights. (CPY-E)
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