To help students practice the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) skills of the “Care and Communication” course in real-life settings, Professor Cheng Hsiang-Lan from the Department of Long-Term Care at Asia University led second-year students on a field visit to the Lin Lan-Sheng Charity Foundation on the morning of November 3, 2025. The event was personally hosted by Director Hsiao, who introduced the foundation’s mission and services. Through this introduction, students gained a deeper understanding of how the day care center and learning program integrate community resources to promote older adults’ physical and mental well-being as well as lifelong learning.

Centered on the theme “From Empathy to Compassion,” the visit enabled students to observe, reflect, and apply five core SEL competencies in an authentic care environment.

First, in self-awareness, students observed seniors’ activities and caregiving interactions, recognizing their own emotional reactions when facing illness and aging. They learned to acknowledge unease and sympathy with openness and acceptance.

Second, in self-management, students applied stress-regulation techniques learned in class—such as deep breathing and emotion-labeling—to stabilize their feelings and maintain professional communication.

Third, in social awareness, students saw how cultural backgrounds, life experiences, and personal values shape the design and implementation of long-term care services through interactions between seniors and care workers.

Fourth, through conversations with staff, students practiced relationship skills, learning respectful and constructive interaction by “learning through doing.”

A student, Chen Jing-Yuan, shared that the visit helped them deeply realize: “In long-term care work, caring is not just about providing services; it is a process of emotional understanding and relationship building.” The instructor also noted that integrating SEL into professional courses helps students move from “knowing” to “feeling with others” and “acting with care,” nurturing long-term care professionals with emotional intelligence and strong communication skills.

Asia University faculty and students with Director Hsiao of the Lin Lan-Sheng Charity Foundation and the food bank supervisor.	Director Hsiao introducing the foundation’s mission and services to Asia University faculty and students.
Asia University faculty and students visiting the foundation’s food bank and learning about its operating model.	Asia University faculty and students interacting warmly with seniors at the foundation’s learning program.