Sarah Brooks
Current Position:
Instructor: Department of Applied Foreign Languages
National Taiwan Univ. of Science and Technology, 1999~present
Courses taught:
* English Drama/Acting
* Oral Interpretation & Readers Theater
* Discovering Poetry through Performance; Poetry and Verbal Arts
* News English (Critical Reading of the News)
* Freshmen English (Oral Comm., Public Speaking, Guided Reading)
Initiated and Developed: the department's English Theater Course Sequence
Areas of Expertise in Education
Oral Communication: Voice & Speech; Voice to Text; Verbal & Vocal Arts; Discussion and Debate; Workshop Organization & Facilitation
Performance-enhanced Learning: English Drama & Acting; Oral Interpretation & Readers Theater; Poetry Performance; Teaching Literature Using Performance-based Approaches
Theater Directing/Production
Journalism/Critical Reading: Critical Analysis of the News; Journalistic English; Interviewing for News and Research Projects
Critical-Creative research and presentation; Project-based Teaching
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:
M.A., Journalism, University of Missouri-Columbia
B.A., English and Art History, University of Missouri-Kansas City
University of Southern Maine: Advanced Readers Theater Classroom Methodologies (18 hrs. graduate-level credit)
Readers Theatre Institute, San Diego, CA: Basic/Advanced Training Certificates in Oral Interpretation and Readers Theater (110 hours), at the 38th/39th Readers Theatre Workshops, Chicago/London—(attended on Taiwan National Science Council grant and Taiwan Tech Univ. grant)
THEATER & PERFORMANCE TRAINING
Shakespeare & Company, Lenox, Mass., USA
Month-long Shakespeare Acting Intensive, Jan. 2025 (200 hours)
Playing Shakespeare: Voice, Text, Clown, Aug. 2019 (50 hours)
Taipei Meisner Studio, graduated from 2-year Meisner Training Program, 2020-2023
Nordic Performance Masterclass-Advanced, Taipei, taught by Harald Emgard (Lund University, Sweden), April 2024 (120 hours)
Nordic Performance Masterclass: Body to Voice with Shakespeare, Taipei, taught by Harald Emgard (Lund University, Sweden), November 2023 (80 hours)
Central School of Speech and Drama (CSSD), London, July 2018: Acting with Text (32 hours), Voice Fundamentals (65 hours) (attended on Taiwan Ministry of Education grant)
Linklater Center for Voice and Language, New York, Natural Voice, Levels 1 & 2, 2017, 2020
Williamson and Chekhov Movement Technique, Taipei, taught by Janice Orlandi (HB Studio, NYC), continuing online classes, 2021~2025 (have also audited in-person classes with Janice at HB Studio)
Grotowski movement, Meisner Drama Academy, Netherlands, June 2021 (online)
Voice training with Barbara Houseman, Drama School Mumbai, Sept-Oct 2020 (online)
The Acting Lab and Butterfly Effect Theatre, Taipei, Taiwan, 2014-2018: Acting classes (100+ hours); workshops in Meisner, directing, Shakespeare (80+ hours)
EMPLOYMENT in EDUCATION – TEACHING EXPERIENCE
National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Dept. of Applied Foreign Languages, Taipei, Taiwan, full-time lecturer, 1999~2023; part-time (retired), 2023~present (See top of resume for courses taught)
National Taiwan Normal University, Dept. of English, part-time, 2019/1995~2003: English Drama; Guided Reading; Discussion & Debate
National Taiwan University, Dept. of Foreign Languages & Literature, part-time, 2011~2012: Freshmen English; English Listening
National Taiwan University, Graduate Institute of Journalism, part-time, 1995-1996: English Newswriting, Feature writing
National Chengchi University, Dept. of Journalism, part-time, 1995: English Newswriting & Editing/Publication
Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Services Institute, part-time, 1996-2005, 2008: English Oral Communication
THEATER DIRECTING and PRODUCING EXPERIENCE in EDUCATION
Research-based performances
“Cupid's Rescue": series of awareness-raising performance activities on dating abuse,
Advisor/Director/Producer for talk-show role-play performances; adapted from student research/interview project ("An Exploration in Raising Awareness of Relationship Abuse Among Young People in Taiwan: A Two-Part Qualitative Study Combining Research and Performance”[提升台灣年輕人 「親密伴侶暴力」之意識:結合訪問與表演的質 性研究]), 2015, funding provided by Taiwan Ministry of Science & Tech Grant (MOST):
1. Taiwan Tech University (NTUST), in cooperation with NTUST Counseling Services Division
2. Taiwan Tech University, in cooperation with Taiwan NGO Modern Women's Foundation 現代婦女基金會
3. Shihlin Senior High School 士林高中, Taipei, in cooperation with the school's Counseling Center
Drama productions, Taiwan Tech University, Taipei
Director and Acting/Voice Coach: 2012~present
In a Grove: Four Japanese Ghost Stories, by Eric Coble
Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind: 30 plays in 60 minutes, by Greg Allen (Chicago Neo-Futurists)
Comedy, Drama, Crime: 12 scenes in 60 minutes, scripts by David Dalton & Chad Schnackel
Check, Please, by Jonathan Rand
Trifles, by Susan Glaspell
Suppressed Desires, by Susan Glaspell
All About Eve, by Joe Mankiewicz, selected scenes (Zoom performance)
Thelma and Louise, by Callie Khouri, selected scenes
The Brute (The Bear), by Anton Chekhov
Sure Thing, by David Ives
Beauty, by Jane Martin
Death Knocks, by Woody Allen
Enhanced Readers Theatre productions, Taiwan Tech University, Taipei
Director and Acting/Voice Coach: 2012~present
In the Eye of the Beholder, by Rod Serling (Twilight Zone)
The Monsters are Due on Maple Street, by Rod Serling (Twilight Zone)
Open the Portal Wide: The Stories of Kate Chopin
The Story of Echo and Narcissus, adapted by William Adams
The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde
The Tell-Tale Heart, by Edgar Allan Poe; The Monkey's Paw, by W.W. Jacobs
The Possibility of Evil, by Shirley Jackson
Alice in Wonderland, selected scenes and poems, by Lewis Carroll
SELECTED WORKSHOPS TAUGHT / CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Using vocal warm-ups and theater-based techniques in a multimodal ESL classroom – Workshop conducted at the International Conference on Applied Linguistics and Language Teaching (ALLT), Taiwan Tech University, Taipei, 2018
Research as outward exploration: Expanding the goals of undergrad projects through creative and socially oriented approaches (combining research + performance) ––paper presented at International Conference on Applied Linguistics and Language Teaching, Taiwan Tech University, Taipei, 2016
Studying English literature through performance: Using Readers Theater and Drama as a support for studying prose, drama, and poetry —5 workshops for high school students (held in conjunction with an advanced high school English literature class), Affiliated Senior High School of National Taiwan Normal University 國立師大附中, Taipei, 2014~2015
The Application of Readers Theater in the English Classroom: Developing group performance techniques for a unique EFL oral-aural experience—workshops for high school teachers: 1) Affiliated Senior High School of National Taiwan Normal University 國立師大附中, Taipei, 2015; 2) Oriental Institute of Technology, Applied Foreign Languages,亞東技術學院應用外語系, Taipei, 2011
A Theoretical Grounding for Readers Theater in EFL—paper presented at International Conference on Applied Linguistics and Language Teaching , Taiwan Tech Univ., 2012
Teaching EFL Students to Appreciate Poetry through a Process of Scripting, Rehearsal and Performance—paper presented at Hwa Kang Conference on English Language and Literature, Chinese Culture Univ., Taipei, 2011
Developing Readers Theater-based Activities to Promote Critical-Creative Response in Literary Analysis among EFL students—research paper awardedTaiwan Science Council Grant, presented at the 39th Readers Theater Conference and Workshop, London, 2011
Project-based Teaching & Learning: A critical and creative process—paper presented at International Conference on Applied Linguistics and Language Teaching (ALLT), Taiwan Tech University, 2010
ACADEMIC HONORS: GRANTS & AWARDS
ROC Ministry of Education (MOE) grant for developing skills in EMI applications: attended courses at Central School of Speech and Drama, London, England, 2018, sole grant recipient
ROC Ministry of Science & Technology (MOST) College Student Research Grant, faculty advisor for year-long research project: “Selling Beauty Online: A Quantitative-Qualitative Analysis of the Impact of YouTubers Using Various Business Models on College Students in Taiwan” 定量與質性 分析 YouTubers 的商業模式 及其對臺灣大學生之影響, 2017
ROC Ministry of Science & Technology (MOST) College Student Research Grant, faculty advisor for year-long research project: “An Exploration in Raising Awareness of Relationship Abuse Among Young People in Taiwan: A Two-Part Qualitative Study Combining Research and Performance”[提升台灣年輕人 「親密伴侶暴力」之意識:結合訪問與表演的質性研究], 2014
Taiwan Science Council Grant for research paper presented at the 39th Readers Theater Conference and Workshop (paper title: Developing Readers Theater-based Activities to Promote Critical- Creative Response in Literary Analysis among EFL students), London, 2011, sole grant recipient
NTUST grant for attending 38th International Readers Theatre Conference & Workshop, Chicago, 2010
Outstanding Teaching Award, NTUST (university-wide), 2008-2011 (three-year award)
Outstanding Advisor Award, NTUST, 2010
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE: EDITING, WRITING, JOURNALISM + Publications
International Journal of Design (SSCI, A&HCI), National Taiwan Univ. of Science & Technology, Department of Design, Taipei: Copy Editor, 2012~2022
Hanlin Publishing Co., Taipei, Textbook author and editor: Writing, editing for English high school textbooks: 2017~2019
Far East Publishing Co., Taipei, Textbook author and editor: Writing, editing for English high school textbooks, 1997~2018; Most recent publications:
1) 2nd Author: Far East English Reader for Vocational High Schools, 4th ed., 6 volumes
2) 2nd Author: Far East English Reader for Vocational High Schools, 3rd ed., 6 volumes
3) 4th Author: Far East English Readers for Senior High Schools, 3rd edition, 6 volumes
Taiwan Review (monthly magazine), ROC (Taiwan) Government Information Office, Taipei, Full-time: Editor and writer
Taiwan News (English daily newspaper), Taipei, Full-time: Editor, copyeditor, writer
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE in THEATER: STAGE, FILM, RADIO DRAMA
Stage Acting & Film
As You Like It, by W. Shakespeare,“Rosalind”
Shakespeare & Co., Lenox MA, USA, 2025
God of Carnage, by Yasmina Reza, "Michael”
Harald Emgard's Adanced Acting Class Showcase, Taipei, 2024
Damnation, by Barry Hall, "Judith Stein”
Guling St. Avant-garde Theatre Elsewhere Theatre Co, Taipei, 2023
night, Mother, by Marsha Norman, "Thelma Cates”
Taipei Meisner Studio Grad Showcase, 2023
Nuclear Family, by Barry Hall, "Martha," Stage version: Taipei Shorts, Fu-jen Univ Theater, Taipei, 2020, Film version: Crepuscular Films, 2021
(Best Independent Film, Ukrainian Indie Film Festival)
Open, by Barry Hall (short film), "Woman," Crepuscular Films, 2021 (various film festival awards)
Diary of Anne Frank, by Wendy Kesselman, "Mrs. Frank”
Butterfly Effect Theatre Co., Taipei
Touring production, Taiwan, 2017~18
Sylvia, by A.R. Gurney,“Kate”
Butterfly Effect Theatre Company, Taipei, 2015
Taipei Shorts, 2019-2020 (biannual series of original one-acts), Fu-jen University Theatre; Red Room International Village
“Boze,” 1) The Memory Stratagem, 2) Your Country Needs You, 3) Return of the Hero, by Shashwati Talukdar
“Arlene,” Swipe Right, by Deni Carson
“Woman,” Little Moons, by Emily Haver
Romeo and Juliet (bilingual adaptation),“Prince, Tybalt, Friar Lawrence, Capulet,”Let's Play Theater, touring production at schools around Taiwan: Taipei, New Taipei, Taichung, Hualien, 2016~2018
Radio Dramas: Staged and Broadcast versions
20+ shows with Red Room Radio Redux, staged/enhanced radio-style dramas + studio-recorded broadcasts:
Founding member, associate producer, stage and voice actor, foley effects performer
Staged versions: Red Room Radio Redux, with Red Room International Village, Taipei, 2012~2017
Radio versions: Red Room Radio Redux with ICRT-FM, Taipei, 2012~2017
Selected list of performances and acting roles
Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, condensed version, Taipei Fringe Festival:
“Lady Macbeth,” “Lady MacDuff,” “Witch”
Midsummer Night's Dream, The Mechanicals, Taipei Fringe Festival: “Quince”
Chimes at Midnight, Shakespeare/Orson Welles: “Doll Tearsheet,” “Justice Shallow”
Dracula, by Bram Stoker, adapted: “Mina Harker”
A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens: “Mrs. Cratchit,” “Ghost of Christmas Past,” “Narrator”
Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson, various roles
Three Stories by Edgar Allan Poe, enhanced Foley effects performer