Before Law School, a Fulbright Grant Recipient Spends Months in Taiwan
Between playing volleyball and running road races, Rutgers graduate Pauline Kung taught English to elementary schoolchildren in Taipei
For Rutgers graduate Pauline Kung, the decision to pursue a career in the legal field wasn’t a linear path, but one that included working abroad in Taiwan for nearly a year.
A recipient of a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program grant, Kung, of North Haledon, N.J., taught English as a foreign language to school children in Taipei, the East Asian nation’s capital city, from August 2025 to June.
The 22-year-old, who earned a bachelor of arts degree (majoring in political science and criminal justice) from the School of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University-New Brunswick in May 2025, discusses designing lessons for 400-some students, her plans to attend law school and running road races during her time abroad.
Describe your Fulbright experience.
As a Fulbright English teaching assistant, I designed and co-taught English lessons for 420-plus students, fourth grade to sixth grade, at Taipei Municipal Dalong Elementary School as well as assisted with English speech contests, reader’s theater practices and weekly English activities. I worked with the local English teachers to gamify English class, thus making phonics and grammar lessons fun and engaging.
During my free periods, as long as I got all my work done for the day, I would often join my sixth-grade PE classes. Naturally, the volleyball unit was my absolute favorite.
Outside of my school responsibilities, I also served as a team leader for the Senéad and Laura English Camp in April as well as the Fulbright Remote English Camp on the Matsu Islands in June 2026. For both camps, Fulbright grantees organized short lessons, games and activities to best help students meaningfully connect with the language. During Fulbright conferences, I also had the pleasure of serving as a presenter at the 2025-2026 Fulbright English Teaching, Bilingual and International Education Forum – Empowering the Global Classroom as well as spokesperson for the 2026 Fulbright Global Education Forum – Excellence in Teaching and Learning.
What have you gained from your time abroad?
I have had the pleasure of working with my Taiwanese co-teachers as well as my students every day, which allowed me to fully immerse myself in the local Taiwanese culture and school community. By surrounding myself with the youth of Taiwan, I learned to better appreciate all the silly little moments in life that make life worth living, especially in regard to how my students move throughout the world.
My students, ages 10 to 12, always managed to see the silver lining in all scenarios of life and always made an effort to just keep on going. They were the reason why the work I did felt so fulfilling and they were my inspiration to always put my best foot forward.
Not only have I learned how to be resilient and independent in a foreign place, I’ve also gained a deeper understanding of just how important community is. I am truly lucky and grateful to have met the people I did in Taiwan. The moments we shared became stories I take everywhere I go now.
Most of all, I have gained more confidence in myself to be intentional with everything I do and to say yes to unexpected opportunities.
How do you plan to apply what you have learned moving forward?
In the fall of 2026, I will be working with One to World, the official organization that coordinates with Fulbright teachers coming to the greater New York City area. I will be able to utilize my experiences as a Fulbright teacher to better serve others who will likely experience a similar feeling of unfamiliarity in a foreign country. I intend to apply my capacity to grow, adapt and reciprocity of empathy to better serve the Fulbright community here in the New Jersey and New York region.
What brought you to Rutgers?
For me, Rutgers was the obvious choice. Rutgers offered so many opportunities to explore new fields, research, study abroad and meet people from different backgrounds. Financially, it was also the most cost-efficient school to attend.
What drew you to your field of study?
I always knew that I wanted to do something that allowed me to be surrounded by people as well as challenge myself every day.
Deciding to pursue a career in the legal field was not a linear path. I initially wanted to be a teacher, then a professor, then a lawyer. I attended a vocational high school and took courses with a focus on the field of criminal justice.
Since then, I have been interested in the intersectionality of sociology, politics and the legal system.
What are your plans now?
My goal is to enroll in law school in the coming years.
What are your interests or hobbies?
Some of my hobbies include volleyball, running, art, and traveling.
I played in a club volleyball league in Taiwan with a mix of Fulbright teachers and local community members. I also participated in road races – 10Ks, 11Ks, 12Ks – throughout different counties in Taiwan.
During winter break, I also traveled throughout a little bit of Asia, including Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore.
