Job Discussion Forums

[BruceLeeWannaBe]

If you talk about anything political. For instance, say you talk about CCTV reporter yang rui.

http://www.chinasmack.com/2012/stories/cctv-yang-ruis-anti-foreigner-rant-chinese-netizen-reactions.html

And lets say you challenge your students with questions challenging the legitimacy of the report. This as well is another thing you cannot talk about in your class. You make a big debate out of that or any of the things the OP mentioned, and you'll be on the next flight home.

[Bud Powell]

Whoa. This is serious stuff. How many of you subversive running dogs are drawing detailed maps and engaging in espionage?

"...Identify the foreign spies, who find a Chinese woman to cohabitate with, while their job is to collect intelligence, drawing maps and perfecting GPS [coordinates] for Japan, Korea, Europe, and America under the guise of being tourists. Drive out the foreign shrew, shut down Al-Jazeera’s Beijing Office, let those who demonize China shut their mouths and *Beep* off!..."

Every time we turn on our cell phones, our GPS coordinates can be monitored. Sort of like the black pot calling the kettle a spoon.

Another good reason to avoid politics in the class room altogether. It scares some people.

[FreakingTea]

There was a letter from the school in my apartment when I moved in, and it said not to spread dissident views in the classroom. I've taken it to heart. My lefty views clash with the party line from the other direction, but I'm not about to antagonize the greatest threat to US global hegemony, no siree. It's part of why I even came here! 毛主席万岁！

[twilothunder]

[FreakingTea]

Like America was doing such a fine job! Honestly, I'm hoping for more anti-imperialist movements before that point, both in the imperial centers and in the peripheries.

[D-M]

The problem I have with these type of activities isnt so much the controversial aspect, but rather how appropriate or useful they are for most students in most settings.

The average Chinese university or college student struggles to accurately describe past experiences, to accurately compare objects or experiences with comparative structures, or to give advice coherently. Heck, some of them even struggle to play games that involve counting. On that basis ... this activity isnt suitable for most / many student groups.

When your student groups have enough language skills to accurately, competently and confidently perform a number of functional tasks you can experiment with new ideas ... until then, this kind of activity might not be the best use of your classtime. IMHO.

[choudoufu]

as we all know, there are certain topics that are, how you say, sensitive
in china.......or we at least understand them to be sensitive topics.

the three t's, official corruption, politics, your boss, and so on.......better not
to design a lesson around these topics. why look for trouble?

what are you trying to accomplish that cannot be done using other topics?

you want debate and discussion of two (or more) viewpoints? ending with
some sort of vote to select the most popular?

you can pick from thousands of possible debate topics that won't potentially
lead to....misunderstandings.

*what's the appropriate age for marriage?
*what would be suitable uses for the beijing olympic venues?
*how best to combat air pollution?
*is jackie chan really over-the-hill?
*would you accept a stay-at-home dad as a husband?
*what's the bestest foreign language to learn?

[Non Sequitur]

[BruceLeeWannaBe]

[Non Sequitur]

Cocktail party games are a way to engage students over a wide range of issues.
Once underway these pretty much run themselves and the questions can range over relationship matters (for older students) to pet preferences, to learning to drive.
Much closer to students everyday interests than politics.

[fat_chris]

[fat_chris]

[BruceLeeWannaBe]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3cBjcJ_U_Y
Deep thinking is actually discouraged in china. Yes that means you can be deported for wncouraging them to actually "think"