Job Discussion Forums

[irishclaire]

i'm teaching a university class. i'm just wondering what topics i can mention if i want to do a first lesson on differences between the UK and China. is the one-child policy still in force, and am I ok to ask if they have any brothers and sisters if i talk about my own? can i talk about religion, dating habits etc? i don't want to get arrested.....

bumper stickers i'd love to see in china - 'I brake for foreigners.'

[anthyp]

I don't know why you would choose this topic for the first day of class, but ...

Regarding your question, you just have to be discreet and use common sense. If you see that a topic is making your students uncomfortable, drop it.

Yeah, you can ask about their family members (this is something I used to wonder about, too). Many of them - especially those from the country - seem to have a sibling or two anyway.

Just don't mention the One Child policy or abortion or anything. I wouldn't mention religion in any kind of EFL class, let alone one in China. But if you are doing a very general "Intro To Western Civ" type lecture, that would be OK.

I had my students chatting about the WTO, but only because it was mentioned in the textbook. It's open season on any topic mentioned in your texts, though admittedly there aren't too many.

Dating, eh? Chinese males are an interesting species; they don't seem to get out much. This topic might provoke some nervous laughter in your students, but I don't know about honest conversation.

No Tibet, Taiwan, or Cultural Revolution, that's for sure. That makes sense - I don't know if you could get away with rambling about the Vietnam war or slavery if you taught a language class in the States.

Anyway, I haven't really been here too long, but these are just some opinions. I didn't have any problems last semester, though I mostly stuck to the book, because my students weren't all that capable with English.

Good luck, let us know how it goes.

[irishclaire]

well, i just meant if i was talking about differences between here and UK life. they've given me a book to use, but it's so rubbish. its 14 years out of date and full of annoyingly dated US slang that I don't even understand. (i don't want to teach words i wouldn't say myself; i'm irish) also it seems really difficult to me. but it covers things like AIDS and abortion. i don't want to use it if i can avoid though.

[shenyanggerry]

I will listen to criticisms of Canada from another Canadian that I'd find offensive from an American. Americans will listen to criticisms of the States from a fellow American that they'd find offensive from me. Canada and the US are very close, sharing both a language and many citizens have relatives on both sides of the border. We can offend each other. China is a very different country. As long as you remember that Chinese people love their country warts and all, just like we love ours, you won't have many problems.

I do talk about Christianity at times like Easter, St Patrick's Day and Valentine's Day. I explain that it's hard to understand any western culture without at least some knowledge of the Christian religion. I also tell them that what they believe is their own business but that they should find a book in Chinese to get an overview of Christian beliefs.

Do NOT under any circumstances discuss Fa Lun Gong (or however it's spelled). If approached by a student alone to talk of it, OK. Then forget who it was and what was said. This is equivalant to discussing the benefit of Al Quieda (sp) membership with a class in the US. It WILL land you in trouble.

[randyj]

I would definitely steer away from the topic of one-family, one-child. Not only controversial, it provokes such strong feelings among some students that a teacher might, dare I say it, lose control. I have been burned by this topic.

Others have posted here excellent ideas for contrasting eastern and western cultures in general.

[goeastyoung(ish)man!]

I think any topic is open for discussion. In my classes we talked about the one child policy, Taiwan, human rights, Falun Gong, Tibet, Christianity, and all kinds of sensitive topics. However, I never told the students what they should think about any of these topics. The point is to get them to talk about them. The majority will spout off the "We Chinese believe..." answer to these topics, but one or two will have an actual point of view. Of course, they will want to know your opinion. This is where you can get into trouble. Often I professed ignorance of the facts (usually true) or to not have an opinion (sometimes true). Usually, I would try to explain the western, or at least the US perspective.

Having said that, if your class seems too upset or complains too much about the topic, drop it. You won't be arrested, but if the students complain about you too much, it won't be good for your relationship with the school, and you certainly won't be invited back after your contract expires.

I did share my opinion about US politics and the current administration. I almost always disagree with Bush and let my students know that I hold him in low regard. I think this apparent disrespect is indirectly teaching them about democracy. Even better if their next FT has a contrasting point of view.

[randyj]

I applaud Goeast for his courage, but opening any subject for discussion without reservation would likely cause problems. Unless a dramatic shift in attitude has occurred in the last couple of years, which I doubt, such a free-wheeling range of discussion topics will inevitably hurt someone's feelings.

[JimmyJam]

it is provided in the contract i signed not to meddle with Political and Religious Issues here in China.. if you discuss these things, just be clear that you are just discussing/using it as a means to practice their spoken ability... always discuss things in the context of your lessons. three topics that you need to be careful about: POLITICS, SEX AND RELIGION..

[Susie]

An obvious difference between China and Britain is the size of the respective countries.

Language : -many Chinese learn English but few British learn Chinese, (including you).

Why don't you mention the Olympic Games 2004 - you could talk about the different number of gold/silver/bronze medal winners from China compared to those from Britain. You could talk about the different sports that are most popularly played between the two countries.

You could talk about the different cultures: China/collectivist - Britain/individualist.

Do you differences have to be controversial or offensive? I am sure they don't.

[amberrollins]

I've had my classes discuss the one child policy, adoption, illiteracy, abortion, marriage, dating, war, pacifism, Taiwan, etc., and had absolutely no problems. The key, I think, is letting THEM talk and not you. Before discussion, I always make it clear that an opinion is just what someone thinks and does not make her/him more right than another, and that what is important in giving opinions is "why?" - supporting your position.

Then I put them in small groups, so they don't feel any pressure from me to say one thing or another, and let them talk. I sit quietly with each group, and the only thing I ever interject is "Why?", or, after listening to one student, turn to another and say "What do you think about that?".

No matter what side they take or what their opinions are, if they have tried to explain their opinion in good English, I compliment and and say something positive. No one can say I took sides, or was trying to influence their thinking, or was meddling in their politics. I always keep in mind that I'm there to teach English and not to force anyone to think the way I do, which is a good thing to keep in mind wherever you're teaching.

I do tend to stay away from anything religious, though. WAY too many teachers who do have an agenda in that area, and way too many Chinese who think all Westerners are Christian, although I am most emphatically not.

[Roger]

I think the major problem is not the sensitivity of any topic, it's what OPINION one has about any thing. I am positive you can discuss the one-child policy so long as you don't shine a harsh light on the effects it produces (infanticide, female foetus abortions etc.).
The Chinese students usually have no pronounced opinion of their own; they follow the national mainstream as this is what they consider "virtuous".
You can easily talk about their families, but you must refrain from passing judgment on the authorities for punishing the parents of one of your students for having 2 boys.

Taiwan, TIbet, Falu Gong - off limits! I warn you: Chinese youngsters are far more fanatically chauvinistic than the more mature older generations are! 1989 has been a turning point!

[Sechelt]

Always be mindful of the follwing:

1) This is their country, not ours (even if some of us consider it home)- we will always be looked at as outsiders.
2) The PSB are known to place officers/informants in classes taught by foreign teachers (especially at universities), to check n the acceptabiltiy of material/discussions/teaching.
3) Chinese (as Roger pinted out) are fanatical about the motherland. Even China's performance in Athens is a strange beast: non-Chinese would consider China's third place (and being awarded the most gold medals ever! [for China] and only 3 behind the U.S.) to be a good thing. Many Chinese do not. They actually think of it as being a bad performance, simply because they weren't #1 in the medals haul; or, they didn't get all the gold for ping pong (for example).
Consider these examples of the latter point. 1) On Monday, my (Chinese) team teacher began the News sharing time (in our Grade 5/6 class) by actually complaining China did not win all the golds in ping pong (they took 3 of 4) and that the rules had to be changed because Chinese were always winning (while the latter point is true, to an extent, it implied this is the only reason for China not getting all gold). 2) Last night, while addressing the olympic team in the Great Hall of the People, Wu Jintao actually chastised them for not winning enough gold! Did I mention the team won the most ever!? 3) An interesting contrast was my wife's reaction (she's Chinese): she was pi**** off about what Wu Jintao had said. Too much pressure for the athletes! What about all the medals they did win!? Proof positive of her not being your regular Chinese (and one reason why I love her so much- she can actually think for herself and express those thoughts).
For the most part, you won't find much trouble with your topic choice. Just be prepared for potenially illogical stances (most Chinese haven't the fogiest idea of what logic is). If the One Child Policy comes up, don't offer your opinion; though, if pressed, tell them you heard the 10th National Peoples Congress decided the policy should be reviewed. For god's sake, stay away from Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang, Falun Gong and other touchy subjects. Simply by allowing for a debate can land you in hot water with university officials, or even the PSB.
I don't mean to scare you off non-textbook topics (most of which are much preferable to those in what should otherwise be used to kindle fires in the hearth on cold Winter nights). However, be aware of where you are and what you/your students are talking about (in class, or out). If there are other FT's in your dept. or housing area, talk with them. They're likely your best source and can help with both frustrations and celebrations in your life in China. I wish you the best in your endeavours.

[goeastyoung(ish)man!]