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Volver
Joined: 27 Sep 2013
Posts: 181
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 Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 2:43 pm Post subject: |
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teenoso,
I like your take on this. I guess I am just so disgusted on a daily basis that I assumed the worst of my students. One of them does hack and spit (into a bag) so there is some justification.
What I could use some help on is how to give them any insight into youth culture in the US. I am 56 while my students are 20-22. I like your idea but I have no clue as to how to go about this.
I started on this today in class and rule #1 was "Don't assume - observe and ask.". Then I broke the behaviors into general culture and academic. This should be an interesting year.
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chryanvii
Joined: 19 Jul 2009
Posts: 125
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| Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 6:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Wiganesi wrote: |
So basically its date with the opposite sex rule even if there is no romantic intention? Saying that, I know if the girl does the asking in the UK it would be a bit odd for her to pay too!
I'm quite happy about the food sharing rule, that's what I always do if I'm at an Asian restaurant with a group!
There must be other things that westerners do which is considered strange or offensive though? |
Here's a couple for you for Westerners coming to China [which I've experienced personally: not sure about others]:
If you're going on a trip with a girl alone, even if she already has a boyfriend, you are expected to still pay for EVERYTHING. Including her own hotel room.
When you are sitting in a restaurant alone, expect people to sit down with you uninvited. |
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teenoso
Joined: 18 Sep 2013
Posts: 365
Location: south china
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| Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 12:20 am Post subject: |
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I am the same age as you, Volver, so have no idea about what is cool among the 'yoof' back home. Do you have any younger colleagues there?
One reason why chinese students stick together when they are abroad may be for emotional security. They are convinced America and England are not safe (and compared to China , they are right); but also it's the unpredictability of how people react . I feel an underlying 'threat' in many situations in England (talk to me or look at me in the wrong way , and you will be in trouble), which I never feel here.
As other posters have said , some FTs here get very angry with the students , and I am sure the students never know exactly why ; there are many taboo topics of conversation (money, age , family) among westerners , which Chinese people are very relaxed about, so Chinese people abroad think they have to tread carefully. And of course, some teachers here tell their students about their sex life , and how many girlfriends they had here, which probably shocks and disgusts the students (or just confirms certain prejudices they have about sex-crazed westerners). |
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JoeThePlumber
Joined: 11 Apr 2010
Posts: 90
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| Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 8:04 am Post subject: |
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| muffintop wrote: |
EDIT: To add to something Choudofu said...
Lose the habit of saying 那个(nage) all the time. Depending on how you pronounce it....it may sound similar to something you should not be saying. |
I never thought about that before . .
"Nage . . please!!" |
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canrun30
Joined: 03 Oct 2012
Posts: 116
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| Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 10:37 am Post subject: |
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Re: Neige
Watch Russell Peters Outsourced.
One more: don't pick/floss your teeth at the table. My wife found this out the hard way, when I wan't paying attention and my uncle recoiled in horror when she whipped out the Oral B after dinner in California. |
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wangdaning
Joined: 22 Jan 2008
Posts: 3154
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| Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 10:52 pm Post subject: |
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| JoeThePlumber wrote: |
| muffintop wrote: |
EDIT: To add to something Choudofu said...
Lose the habit of saying 那个(nage) all the time. Depending on how you pronounce it....it may sound similar to something you should not be saying. |
I never thought about that before . .
"Nage . . please!!" |
Yes, I have pointed this out to students many times. The, mostly southern, pronounciation, which contracts 那一个 na yi ge, to form neige, is to close to the word *beep* for comfort in an English speaking environment. I have found if you tell them this very bluntly they make a big effort to avoid it.
Many of these other things are not very common behaviors among Chinese. I also think that they will get a lot of leeway while abroad. If they mess up, people will often forgive easily as they just didn't know it was wrong. I would suggest explaining how they should react when they break the unspoken rules. Well, in general, how to apologize, and that apologizing does not mean you are bad. |
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roadwalker
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
Posts: 1750
Location: Ch
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| Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 1:14 am Post subject: |
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| wangdaning wrote: |
| JoeThePlumber wrote: |
| muffintop wrote: |
EDIT: To add to something Choudofu said...
Lose the habit of saying 那个(nage) all the time. Depending on how you pronounce it....it may sound similar to something you should not be saying. |
I never thought about that before . .
"Nage . . please!!" |
Yes, I have pointed this out to students many times. The, mostly southern, pronounciation, which contracts 那一个 na yi ge, to form neige, is to close to the word *beep* for comfort in an English speaking environment. I have found if you tell them this very bluntly they make a big effort to avoid it.
Many of these other things are not very common behaviors among Chinese. I also think that they will get a lot of leeway while abroad. If they mess up, people will often forgive easily as they just didn't know it was wrong. I would suggest explaining how they should react when they break the unspoken rules. Well, in general, how to apologize, and that apologizing does not mean you are bad. |
That reminds me of one type of behavior here that would look bad in the States or elsewhere in the west. On my local bus route when someone rings the stop bell too early and is clearly standing by the exit and the bell, they just freeze when the door opens. No apology to the driver, no "I meant the next one," no eye contact, just silence and a thousand mile stare. The driver then stops at the next stop without uttering a word. We say sorry more in the west for these minor sins, especially in traffic.
We also say thank you for minor things that Chinese find strange, especially when family or good friends are involved. |
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Miajiayou
Joined: 30 Apr 2011
Posts: 283
Location: Nanjing
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| Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 10:05 am Post subject: |
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| roadwalker wrote: |
I agree with the advice to warn students to observe and respect personal space issues, and body language/eye contact in the classroom.
One other issue in the US probably depends on location, but in general, they should be warned against crossing busy streets haphazardly. This is both for the prospect of getting stopped/fined by the police and because drivers in most areas won't expect it to the same extent as in China and it could cause an accident. |
This is really important. Emphasize that it is not about having enough time to cross, it is about crossing at the appropriate places and times. Also, let them know that cars don't honk every 5 seconds, they have to actually look.
As far as school etiquette, they need to know that if a teacher asks them a question and they don't knowthe answer, it is not okay to just stand there awkwardly until the teacher tells you to sit down. First of all, don't stand, and second of all, say "I'm sorry, I don't know." And, more importantly, let them know that saying "i don't know" might not get them off the hook. They might be asked to review the text or homework right there, on the spot, and give a proper answer. |
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Miajiayou
Joined: 30 Apr 2011
Posts: 283
Location: Nanjing
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| Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 10:08 am Post subject: |
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| Going off something a PP said, I did an activity once where I asked my students about unacceptable behaviors in China. Their list looked a whole lot like mine would for the US, including "not chewing with your mouth open" and "keeping your voice at an acceptable volume." So... yeah. They know, for the most part. |
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