Job Discussion Forums

[Yu]

According to my students Janice on Friends says Oh My God. (All the time.)

Janice was an annoying person, and when other people on friends made fun of her... they imitated her annoying voice and usage of "oh my god".

Yes, saying Oh my god is taking the lords name in vain and is in violation of one of the 10 commandments. I am not a religious person. I really don't care. But some people do care, and some people are offended by it. You would not want to offend someone in a job interview by saying it would you?

Also, It is the over usage of it that truly annoys me. Saying "Oh my god" to me when I am crossing the street. Nothing happened. Why say it? I met someone for a language exchange and in the 2 hours we were together, I think he said Oh my God at least 15 times. I might say Oh my god 15 times in a year...

It is not the saying it that bothers me so much. It is the lack of understanding that it could potentially offend someone, and that it is not used appropriately.

Yes, it could be cute.... if it were said at an appropriate time... and with the realization that an appropriate time is not every 15 minuites.

[echo2004sierra]

I don't think that foreign teachers should teach swearing to their students nor to their own children.

I have noticed that when I walk past on the street or get on a bus or train or approach a classroom corridor, that Chinese young people either say "hello" or "****" - the last word has an "it" at the end of it. I think that bad language and swearing is unnecessary and often used by people who are emotional and this emotionalism affects their thinking processes so they can't think of appropriate words to use in response to the situation that caused them to feel emotional in the first place.

[Talkdoc]

Holy Jumping Leap-Frogs Batman!!!

With all the things we, as foreign teachers, have to worry about here in China, our students spouting out an occasional "Oh My God!" has not yet made it to my top 100 list. Among the people that I know and grew up with, I don't think this, what has now become a, colloquialism ("thanks," in part, to Jennifer Aniston's character Rachel ) would insult their sensibilities either or incur any sort of a rise out of them.

I have to confess (and, admittedly, I am not a very religous Christian) that they manner in which my students say it, actually cracks me up (and I often find myself repeating it immediately after them in bemusement). They say it very quickly (as quickly as one possibly can). They (oh-so-slightly) stress the first and last words and they pronounce the "my" closer to the Pinyin equivalent of "mai" and the word "god" closer to "ga-d" (but not exactly), with a slightly softer "g" sound than a Westerner would as in ohmaigodd which, according to my ears, sounds just as if the expression is being uttered by someone with a heavy Spanish accent. And, at least for me, hearing a young Chinese girl spout out "Oh my God" with a heavy Spanish accent is as funny as hell.

And now, as I reread this to myself, I'm beginning to think I've probably been in China too long.

Doc

[Madmaxola]

oh my god!

[kev7161]

By the way, Janice does not say, "Oh my god."

She says, "Oh. My. Gawd." Each word is its own sentence.

I love it when puritans will say "darn" instead of "_____" or "frikkin" instead of "_______" or "spit" instead of "______" and they think they are so much better - - what do you think their mind is thinking though, hmmm?

Also, by the way, I enjoyed much of M. Jacksons songs from the 80s. These days in his interviews he says (in so many words) that God looked down on him and didn't have a problem with him "entertaining" the children. Oh my goodness!

[Jolly]

[stavrogin2001]

First I want to say that "oh my God" is the last thing that we should be worrying about. I think that when we come here we really need to not worry so much about all the cultural attachments that we bring with us.

If you have a strong love of Jesus, Allah, Buddha, or whoever, one has to understand that not all cultures have these feelings and that they just might be using a phrase from their own language.

The Chinese are always saying "Wo de Tian a" Which means, "Oh my God" or "Oh heavens". Neither of which is all that bad I don't think.

I think the Chinese although a bit rough around the edges and a bit rude at times are really quite good to us in this way. A lot of foreigners are totting Bibles into classrooms, disrespecting local beliefs "like the CPC" and many other things that they just turn their heads to.

Lastly, I don't think it is a Yank problem. I hear a lot of things about Yank Imperialism in China and in this forum. It's a load or rubbish. Ali G and a host of other British performers use the same language as the Americans.

I guess what I am saying is if this is all you have to worry about, then your life must be pretty good. I have a list of about a million other things that are more important than my students using the "oh my God".

[tofuman]

Sorry folks, but "God" is not a name. It is a title. There are "gods many and lords many."

The true God is distinguished by His creative ability. The fact that he can bring life out of nothing is what makes him God.

The Chinese use of "Oh my god" is similar to their use of "What a pity."

That expression is used in the most trivial ways. It is really the equivalent of "too bad." It is annoying, but since it is really a problem of word range, it is just another teaching task for us.

I was surprised to hear that some FTs are bringing Bibles into the classroom; however, upon reflection, it could be appropriate. The English language was significantly affected by the English translation of the Bible.

The German Bible had a profound impact on the development of modern German as well.

I doubt if many Chinese students have mastered English to the extent that they would benefit by a comparison of the English of different Bible versions. A comparison of the ARV of 1901 with the NIV of more recent times would indicate stylistic changes, but few students are at a level to spend much time on study of this sort

I am often asked to describe the differences between Western and Chinese culture. The Judaeo-Christian ethos is certainly the most significant one. That is one reason that I expect Chinese administrators to lie and Western ones to tell the truth.

Some Chinese, as well as various rabble, blasphemers, and heretics would like to strip English of the culture that brought it forth. As a matter of fact, the Bible had a profound effect on the development of Western culture, which in turn shaped the language.

So interpret your contract as you like. Mine says I will not engage in religious activities incompatible with the status of an expert. Since nearly all religion in the West these days is a scam of some sort, I have no problem with that.

[Yu]

As I mentioned in my OP, I wanted to continue with the locked 4 letter work post. I would have posted about oh my god on that post but it was locked before I had a chance. Hence, what should be done about the usage of 4 letter words.

You all know what they are ****, ****, *******, and *****. Oh, I cant forget ************, and ************* *******. How should those be dealt with in the classroom. Students know the words, but the don't really get when they can use them.

I am not only concerned with "oh my god", it is just one that I notice being used frequently. I am bothered by how much it is said. If students go into a situation where they are negotiating with native speakers, and they are constantly saying oh my god, I don't think it is good. Just as any other **** word is not good.

And watch your posts with the usuage of these generally *beeped* words as this post will soon get blocked as well.

[stavrogin2001]

I have to admit that after 4 years in China I rarely hear the four letter words or much swearing in my classrooms. I hear it on the streets, but often that is just northern Chinese boys being northern Chinese boys. Considering what comes out of there mouths in Chinese it is no suprise.

I often do what I call a "cultural quickie" in each class where I set up situations where we talk about approriate language to use in different situations and spend no more than 10 or 15 minutes on it. I suppose this would be an ideal time to talk about professional English vs. common daily use English.

I hate to admit it, but I kind of like the " oh my God" stuff. So much of my students speech and oral English is unemotional that it is nice to hear a few sentences with a bit of feeling.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Yu, over-usage gets me to no end.

I have never said "Oh my God" out loud in my life (that I can recall). I am a bit religious but not holly-roller bible-thumping Sunday-preaching white-is-right religious.

What gets me more is the over-usage of "OK!". ok ok ok ok ok ...

Everytime someone wants to say yes, they instead say "ok". Like, "Hey Chung Lee, do you like hamburgers?"

"OK!" exclaims Chung Lee.

What's with that?

Anyway, I wouldn't worry about all the censors on this board. You can pretty much be the cock of the walk like Dick Cheney or an asshole like Dennis Leary and still get away with it if you're clever enough.



Shit that was cool!

[Yu]

So at least I am not the only one who dislikes the overusage of Oh my God.

I think I heard 4 letter words in my classroom once last semester. I was just discussing the usage of oh my god because someone had just used it in a sort of inappropriate way. And other 4 letter words came up. I just tried to explain when and to whom it was ok to use them with.

[Volodiya]

There is no prohibition against common profanity contained in the Bible.

Your mother taught you not to use every expression you hear because some of them make you sound low class, and uncultured (just as getting upset and shouting do, regardless of what expressions you choose to use).

Too frequent use of any expression in your speech- "Oh, my God"; "You know what I mean?"- will make it less interesting.

If you find the expression, "Oh, my God", to be personally offensive, I'll try not to use it in your presence, but I hope you appreciate that there may be a point at which I will no longer be willing to bend to accomodate your religious beliefs, and ask you to recognize my right to speak as I please (I promise not to overdo it).

[shuize]

MOD EDIT

I know people are touchy about religion. I guess my point was to just lighten up a bit. How many of the world's problems could be solved if people didn't take their religion so damn seriously? Honestly, if people can't take a joke about religion, they really are wound up too tight and aren't using the sense God gave them.

Just my opinion, of course. But if you don't agree you can burn in hell. Ha, ha. Just kidding.

[ChinaMovieMagic]

Today I just saw a 1960s Chinese movie on CCTV. Love story involving pre-Liberation 1940s Communist-parented guy and bourgeoisie (sp) GuoMingDang Nationalist-parented gal...and the guys parents have a "no--maybe--yes" to the love affair...and the gal's always saying "Shangdi" (i.e.the God-as-Emperor)
==============================================

As a means of preparing my students for "reality"--as surreal as it may be--I DO inform my students that Christians--especially US-style--can be offended by "the others' use of the All-That-Is mamed "G--O--D", which they seem to claim as (non-)Untellectual Property Right.

On the other (left) hand, I typically outline on the blackboard my own (non-unique) perspective of the Trinity of the God-head (heart):

G___enerate
O___perate
D___estroy

I emphasize that many increasingly sense the "D Phase" but that the "G Phase" is incipient/around-the-corner...some say 2012 that the 5th World be sprouting...that the tsunami is in harmony w/Hopi Indians ancient God-spirit prophesies of the "Days of Purification."

There are the ancient Chinese proverbs:

bu po
bu li

Without destruction
there's no creation
===================
po jiu
li xin

Destroy the olde
Create the new
===================

Of course, as a non-partisan pedagogue,
I do not present my own opinion in class.