The Tainan City Government launched its English-friendly environment initiative in 2017 to create an English-friendly environment and promote Tainan as an international city. So far, nearly 760 eateries have joined the initiative. Tainan is also the first city in the country to set up an online bilingual menu database that offers translated menus and dish names for the reference of city residents. Mayor Huang Wei-che says the bilingual menu database will be expanded this year to further benefit residents and foreign visitors through the "Where's the English – Hunt for Untranslated Menus" activity. City residents are invited to join the hunt for untranslated menus, with TWD$ 30,000 up for grabs!
The Office of English as the Second Official Language (OEASOL) says there is a low barrier entry for this activity. Everyone can take part, and participating is as simple as accessing the "English menu search" via Tainan City's English-language resources website while eating out to see if dishes listed on menus are already in the database. People can earn TWD$ 100 for finding an untranslated menu, and there is no limit on the number of times they can participate. We welcome all residents to join this initiative and contribute towards making Tainan an international city.
Mayor Huang also said that the number of foreign tourists visiting Tainan this year has declined due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the Tainan City Government is forging ahead and taking advantage of this lull to invite Tainan City residents to put on their detective hats and hunt for untranslated menus. People can earn some extra money and make Tainan more international simply by conducting a search while eating out. Their efforts will also help to further promote Tainan's amazing food, a source of great pride, to foreign visitors.
This activity is also meant to help city residents become more familiar with the English-language resources offered by the city government. We welcome everyone to join us in expanding and perfecting our bilingual menu database to benefit residents and proprietors alike. The "English menu search" service is useful for everyone, whether you are an eatery owner seeking to create a bilingual menu or an English learner wishing to introduce Tainan's famous delicacies to foreign friends.
The "Hunt for Untranslated Menus" activity begins now and will conclude on November 13. All you have to do is upload an eatery menu and leave a comment saying, "I've found an untranslated dish/menu: xxxx." Each entry will be checked, and TWD$ 100 will be given after verification. The total amount of money up for grabs is N TWD$ 30,000. For more details, please head to the event webpage: https://oeasol.tainan.gov.tw/index.php?inter=news&id=198.
