Q: After learning about shuochang, how did you get into this field? How did you become a professional shuochang performer?

A: When I was in elementary school, I was quite a shy girl.I envied my classmates who were able to orally express themselves clearly. Therefore, learning to talk nicely and having the courage to go on stage became my personal challenges because I want to be someone who is able to do those things. After I got into junior high school, I started looking for opportunities to perform. When I got a bit older, I signed up for performing related activities. When I got more mature, I dedicated myself to the field of shuochang, and I’m still having a blast doing it.

Q: During the process of learning, did you come across any memorable challenges?

A: The art of shuochang will evolve into localized forms of shuochang based on locality or language. In Taiwan, ‘Jiang Gu’ and ‘Nian Ge Zi’ are localized forms of shuochang. Since my Taiwanese was not really fluent, so it was quite challenging for me to learn these types of shuochang. I learned cross talks first, and since it uses Mandarin mostly, so I was able to pick it up rather quickly.

Q: What are some of the more memorable moments when you learn the art of shuochang?

A: There are actually quite a few. For example, I felt my greatest achievement has to be helping children overcoming their stage fright. As an educator, I think the greatest accomplishment has to be when I’m able to conquer my own shortcomings. Therefore, I have been telling my students what really matters is how you face a problem. When you face a problem, you could treat it as an obstacle and then avoid it; or you could challenge it and then conquer it. These are two completely different ways to handling a challenge, and each way will lead to its own path of life.

Q: After learning shuochang, what is the area that you have benefitted most?

A: The art of shuochang is not merely a mean to prove that I can earn applause from the audience by performing on stage; I use it to overcome my inner fear and turn it into courage. Every show that I have performed is a living proof of how I can conquer new challenges with my stories, my words, and my thoughts.

Q: Besides performing, teaching, and hosting, you could also write and edit your own scripts. Can you share with us how you create your own scripts?

A: Before learning shuochang, I dreamed of becoming a writer or a playwright. I like reading ever since elementary school, and writing composition was my favorite. Believe it or not, I have joined school’s composition class before. My first job was as a writer for soap operas. With that experience, it was only natural for me to write my own scripts after I started performing cross talks. The more I do it, the better I get, and that’s why I’m pretty fast at writing a cross talks scripts.

Q: What are some things that you need to watch out for when writing a cross talks script?

A: If you want to be good at something, then you should not be afraid to do extra work. If you see others’ demands as ways to enrich your experience, then everything that you learn from it would be yours eternally. “The more challenging the circumstances are, the sweeter the rewards will be.”

Q: You are now one of the top elite shuochang performers in Taiwan. How do you keep yourself on top of your game in this field?

A: I do not believe there are different levels in this field because who decides which level one belongs to? As for myself, I always review my performance after each show so I can improve myself. I always think of myself as a new-comer, so there is not a job or a role that I would turn down, and I constantly think of ways to make my performance better.
For example, when I was working as an executive producer, I had to write scripts and conduct interviews as well. People may think that I’m doing three jobs for the price of one, but I see it as I’m learning three things while others could only learn one. So why not cease the opportunity to make myself better?

Q: What are the qualities or traits to a good shuochang performer?

A: I think there are three. First, you have to be able to talk. Second, you have to be brave. Finally, you have to be willing to work hard. A person who stammers is still able to talk. There is a quyi actor Chen Bo Zheng, also known as A Xi, who stammers when he talks. But once he gets on stage, he is able to deliver his lines perfectly without a hitch, and that just shows how much hard work he has put into his performance. As long as you are willing to try, there is not a problem too difficult to overcome.

Q: Middle grade students in our school get two shuochang classes per week. Do you think every student should learn shuochang?

A: I wouldn’t say every student should learn shuochang. However, I believe every student should have the chance to learn shuochang, and it would be beneficial to each one of them. For example, kids who learn shuochang are braver and more confident. They are less stage shy, and they are able to blend into group activities more easily.

Q: Can you share with us how you have been promoting shuochang?

A: I have been promoting shuochang through performing and teaching. We perform shuochang in different places. We go to various schools to teach shuochang. I also organize classes to teach shuochang, like shuochang camps during summer and winter breaks for students to experience and learn about shuochang. The greatest reward for me comes from seeing kids change after learning shuochang. I used to travel to school in central and southern Taiwan to teach shuochang. After finishing my lessons in one school, a teacher told me that after his students found out about the shuochang competition, they entered the competition by themselves, wrote the script by themselves, and practiced hard by themselves. In the end, they won both first and second place awards.

Q: Can you give those who want to learn shuochang some words of encouragement?

A: Don’t give up. If you have a heart for shuochang, then do it till the end.