Listen Up: Taiwan’s nostalgia for elephant playground slides popular in the 60s and 70s

2. What nickname has been given to the elephant slides?
A. “Grandpa Elephant”
B. “Jumbo Surprise”
C. “Colourful Giant”
D. “Fun Structure”

3. What two materials are the slides usually made of?
A. concrete or metal
B. plastic or wood
C. wood or metal
D. concrete or terrazzo

4. Where were the slides most commonly found during the 60s and 70s?
A. in public parks
B. in schools
C. in shopping malls
D. in libraries

5. Why are there fewer elephant slides in Taiwan now?
A. because of safety concerns
B. because they are expensive to maintain
C. because children no longer play on them
D. all of the above

6. If a place is “off-limits” …
A. it is popular with tourists.
B. the people there are not very friendly.
C. it is very far away.
D. people are not allowed to go there.

7. Which of the following best describes how Yu felt when she saw an elephant slide in the primary school where she studied?
A. indifferent
B. nostalgic
C. disappointed
D. excited

8. What do members of “Find our Elephant Friends” share?
A. recipes for elephant-shaped snacks
B. stories of their childhood slides
C. information about upcoming playground events
D. tips on how to build your own elephant slide

9. What do all the elephant slides mentioned on the podcast have in common?
A. They have lots of colourful tiles on them.
B. They look like real elephants.
C. They have beautiful artwork painted on them.
D. They have a trunk that children can slide down.

10. What does “Lin Wang” refer to?
A. the man who built the first elephant slide
B. the name of an Asian elephant
C. the name of the first elephant slide
D. none of the above

11. How many elephant slides can be found in Taiwan today according to Hsiu?
A. less than 100
B. exactly 300
C. less than 500
D. more than 600

12. What is Hsiu doing with the elephant slides?
A. decorating them
B. taking photos of them
C. repairing them
D. writing a book about them

13. Refer again to the section about the origins of the elephant slide. Then, write down what the following years refer to. (3 marks)
(i) 1917
(ii) 1947
(iii) 2003

1. C
2. A
3. D
4. B
5. A
6. D
7. B
8. B
9. D
10. B
11. C
12. B
13. (i) the year Lin Wang, the Asian elephant was born; (ii) the year Lin Wang was transported to Taiwan; (iii) the year Lin Wang died

Adapted from Agence France-Presse

Voice 1: In certain playgrounds in Taiwan, children can find colourful elephant slides. These evoke nostalgia for older Taiwanese who say the structures used to be ubiquitous across the island. Affectionately known as “Grandpa Elephant”, the slides are primarily made of terrazzo or concrete and were once a regular schoolyard feature during the 60s and 70s. However, their sightings have dwindled since the island tightened playground safety regulations. Some slides have been removed while others are off-limits to children.

Voice 2: Yu Chiu-ling has documented the remaining structures since 2010. The 58-year-old writer said the idea for the project was ignited by a visit to her old primary school in western Lukang township. There, the sight of the elephant slide sparked intense nostalgia in her. Yu shared that despite how many things had changed, the elephant remained the same. She was very emotional to see it again and felt like the slide had been waiting for her.

Voice 1: Yu thought others her age would have similar feelings, so she began visiting schools across Taiwan to record the remaining elephant slides, sharing photos, stories and their locations on a Facebook page. Her Facebook group is called “Find our Elephant Friends”, and it has become a gathering place for those with fond memories of their childhood slides. Members share locations and stories of the ones they rediscovered. Some of the slides have colourful tiles. Others have fantastical scenes painted on them, and a few rare ones resemble a real elephant. All of them feature a wide trunk that doubles as a slide for children.

Voice 2: The origin of the elephant slide remains unclear. Most believe it was chosen as a playground staple because an elephant trunk was ideal for children to glide down. Some have suggested it was inspired by Taiwan’s beloved pachyderm Lin Wang, an Asian elephant born in 1917. During World War II, Chinese troops captured Lin Wang from Japanese forces in Burma, which is now Myanmar. He was transported to Taiwan in 1947 and died in 2003 at Taipei Zoo at 86.

Voice 1: Between 400 and 450 slides remain, according to Hsiu Pi-cheng, a Taiwanese designer who has traversed the island to photograph the slides and pinned their locations on an online map. However, many schools have chosen to seal off the slides, transforming them into art installations instead. Yu hopes they can be preserved and that they will continue to create happy memories for children.