Job Discussion Forums

[Tessio]

I will be beginning my teaching career at a summer program for incoming university freshman. During the program, I will be required to give 3 lectures pertaining to "Western Culture". I have a few ideas, but am hoping to hear from you. I will appreciate any topic suggestions.

Beyond that, I will be teaching at a different university in the Fall and am interested in advice as to what to expect, what type of syllabus to prepare and generally, any advice pertaining to teaching at the university level.

Thank You.

[ChinaMovieMagic]

What size is the audience? In an auditorium? Will you have access to DVD projection? Brief DVD segments with commentary by yourself can catalyze the audience. It's a wonderful feeling when they respond with laughter as a mass-audience. Cultural coherence has its positive sides, indeed.

For example...you could use a well-known popular movie such as BuJianBuSan...or other such movies...dealing with Chinese living in USA...and show segments and give your commentary/critique.

University students here are curious about:
*"Westerners" views of China...considering the possible US/China tension increasing, they'll be particularly interested in US public perceptionms of China/Chinese people/culture

*why US is in Iraq

*talking about China-domestic issues, including Mainland-Taiwan, would not be discrete in such a public forum

*describing your national edu-system...w/movie clips if possible

For Q&A...in addition to waiting for folks to raise their hands, you can also have (shy) folks write Qs on a piece of paper (in Chinese w/translator-help, or English...and you still may need help)

Check out discussion books published in China:
*For and Against, Alexander
*Dare to Open Your Mouth

Check out "Promoting Change..." thread on this Forum

Good Luck!!!

[Tessio]

Those are great ideas. I will look into them further, in particular the US in Iraq issue and Western opinions of China. Both seem popular/controversial on this forum.

My 1st lecture is going to be very simple. I am going to buy a few copies of the USA Today before leaving and then just talk about the headlines by section. I hope that that will get the students asking questions and I'll go from there. This is somewhat similar to the US/Iraq dispute. I assume that it will be in the paper on July 11th. I'll use the papers as rewards when the lecture is over.

I am told that the class will have approximately 30 students. I am not sure about what equipment will be available. I'll look into it. Thanks for making me think.

As for the Chinese in America idea, I love it. I recently bought a book titled "The Chinese in America". I planned on reading it later but may do so sooner. In relation to that, I will research "BuJianBuSan". Thanks for your ideas.

[Roger]

I think you are letting yourself in for some nasty surprises, man if you want to talk about politics and read from your USA TODAY!
IT is a fallacy to believe you can treat Chinese university students as mature adults!
YOu may also be seriously deluding as to their English competency! They will no doubt NOT understand you nor your newspaper clippings!
I suggest you talk about something closer to people's minds, something less politicised and nationalised.
I even doubt your students can take a regular "lecture" - they don't have the habit of sitting down and taking notes! They want to hear "as the book says it". They will probably only come to your "lectures" to practise their oral English!

I suggest you dwell on eas-to-grasp concepts such as the FAMILY, the western family, for example. Or environmental pollution and how to rope in every citizen for that purpose! Or the role of religions in Western society! Or the role of immigrants when they return to their home countries!

Anything goes - but not politics!

[Tessio]

I appreciate your input Roger. I agree that Politics may not be the best subject, but the paper also has Sports and Entertainment sections. I figure that the majority will decide which section will be focused on.

I am under the impression that Religion is not a good topic, but I may be wrong. I do like the Chinese impact on the US idea, as well as the typical Western family. I'll have to look into these ideas. Thanks.

Also, what do you think about the manner in which "Sea Turtles" are treated after they return to China from abroad? Here in the US there are many Chinese people who study here and then return home for work. Are they welcomed home with open arms or do some people scorn them as quasi-traitors. What's happening there?

I have an article from the Wall Street Journal, which I cut out and included in my "China in the US News" folder (possible discussion topics which may not fly); this article quotes a Chinese engineer from Silicon Valley who says that he will return to China for a few reasons, one of which is that the employers here in the US "discriminate" against him in that he receives less pay than a US born employee. What do you think?

Thanks.

[ChinaMovieMagic]

Glass Ceiling: tHAT's an Issue many folks have asked me about.
There are many Chinese-American NGOs on -line..for INFO.

There's a great movie...one of the 1st US-China movie coop productions...
"The Great Wall" ...a Chinese computer/techie manager-wanna-be in Silicon Valley hits the glass ceiling in his co....and decides to visit China w/his ABC family...

One way to tell if people are understanding...is...if they laugh in the right places

MovieScenes help-a-lot

[Tessio]

China Movie Magic,

Thanks for your ideas. What does NGO stand for?

[Tessio]

China Movie Magic,
I now know what a NGO is. Generally speaking, do you or anyone else think that it is a good idea to talk about freedoms that exist in the West which do not exist in China. For instance, here people can vote and form unions. I assume that is not the case in China.

Perhaps I can sneak it in. I do like the Glass Ceiling idea. Perhaps the students would like to hear about the dark side of the US? I know several immigrants who came here expecting everything to be like a "Hollywood" movie and they were disappointed. Life here is better than in their home country, but not exactly what they expected.

It is good to know that people around the world enjoy entertainment and will respond to it in the classroom. I discovered a website which you may be aware of - English Behind the Scenes. I'll be sure to find some Chinese in America DVD's such as "The Joy Luck Club" Thanks.

[ChinaMovieMagic]

RE: Topics...BELOW are from my Syllabus for U. of International Relations.

RE: China-topics...as was mentioned, it's best to focus on non-domestic issues...many folks on this Forum have mentioned/complained that often their Chinese students can be quite sensitive to "criticism of China" coming from a Foreign Teacher. My strategy has been to focus upon my own country---USA---and emphasize that it's a MORE HUMANE/ENLIGHTENED/PROGRESSIVE part of the US tradition/principle, that a truly patriotic citizen is ACTIVE, not a passive recipient of opinions and misinformation.

Some folks be sincerely curious/others may test you...by trying to get a sense of you "passing a judgement" on China vis a vis USA. Suggestion: Your words---however well-intentioned can backfire...and you can end up being misquoted. Give the standard response that the students give/have been taught:
*"different cultures"

Also important is the concept that different cultures/societies have different processes of evolution...a concept which I fully agree with.

RE: Topics...BELOW are from my 1999 proposed Syllabus for U. of International Relations...sent to my boss prior to coming to UIR
=============================================

BELOW are some ideas. PLEASE NOTE...the focus might be called
"Negative" in the sense that I focus upon the shadow aspect, the
less-discussed issues. I think it is more suitable for myself, as a US
citizen, to focus upon the "other side" of the US system. Such a
critical analysis, coming from a Chinese Professor, may be dismissed by
the students as propoganda.
AGAIN...I am totally open to whatever interests the students.
From a foundation level, I feel strongly that the students should
have understanding of the make-up of the USA (modern/European etc.)
paradigm(s). When I was visiting the U. of Hawaii East-West Center, in
their catalog they had materials focusing upon the different cultural
perspectives of Asians compared to Americans and Europeans. I wrote a
full-page article about the Center for the China News, and I will
contact the East West Center for materials for our students.
A few key thinkers-thought patterns which are essential for
understanding and negotiating with USAers (and Europeans:
* Adam Smith--and how a quasi-religion has been constructed around
some of his ideas, while avoiding his warnings about an
unregulated-irresponsible Market"
* Social Darwinism--and how a biological Theory (with many holes in
it) has been extended (and misinterpreted)to justify predatory
economic-diplomatic
actions--"Survival of the Fittest."
* Private Property and the concept of "the Commons"
History of the Commons in England; the impoverishment and homelessness
resulting when the English wool market required greater supply, and the
Commons--used by the people for subsistence agriculture--was usurped by the wealthy; the subsequent Elizabethean poor laws, making it a crime to be poor; relation to contemporary Anglo-American influenced domestic and international dynamics
* Individual Rights from an Anglo-American perspective compared to
the Germanic concept of "the people" "the community"--relation to
contemporary dynamics
* the Biblical concept of "the Chosen People," and its relation to
US policy of a God-inspired Manifest Destiny, and acquiring 50% of
Mexico(even though it was/is also a Christian country) Mexico's
territory.
* relevance of such dynamics in the present--White Supremancy as a
conscious and unconscious element in USA life--what does it mean when
USA Presidents, leaders of the "Free World" piously-ritualistically say
at the end of their speeches "God bless America" while neglecting the
rest of the planet ("Free" or otherwise)?
* the history of Chinese in USA--as railroad workers; the
media-inspired demonization of Chinese in California, when the railroad
was complete; dynamics now operating for Chinese living in USA,
especially southern California; another demonization process? Chinese
as spies?
* Demonization as an essential element in US history--from the
Salem Witch Hunts to genocide against
the "soul-less" American Indigenous and the African slaves...down to
the actions against immigrants...and the anti-Communist witch hunts of
McCarthyism...and the
anti-Arab media campaigns
* The nature of the Corporation--history of the legal concept,
traced back to US Colonial times under the British Empire; the gradual
transformation of the Corporation from an organization with specific
legal limits and responsibilities as an institution subject to the
government...to the current trend in globalization, in which
multinational corporations become sovereign, and national governments
subject
* the World Trade Organization--a look at US critics and supporters
of the WTO
* mass movements in US history--labor union movement in the
1920s-1930s, Civil Rights movement, anti-Viet Nam War movement
* the New Economy movement--employee-owned corporations (United
Airlines, Avis(or Hertz) Rent-a-Car etc.), socially responsible
investment funds
(e.g. Calvert Social Investment Fund, with $1.3 billion)
* the Sustainable Development movement--traced from the Rio Summit
of 1992 to the present
* the Green Party movements--in Europe, US, Mexico
=============================================
The Controversy over Oliver Stone's movie--JFK

This could be perhaps in 2 sessions.
First--the students will see segments of the movie in class as I
discuss various elements of the film and the history. The students will
form groups for a panel discussion, taking various stands for and
against the Oliver Stone or the Warren Commission version of the
assassination. They will read background articles and listen to audio
tapes about the controversy over the film and the assassination.
Second--the students will see the movie in the University viewing
room on their own time.
Third--the groups will discuss the controversy, supporting their
positions with quotes from the articles they read.
The history of this issue offers an extraordinary possibility to get
beyond the perception of USA culture-government-capitalism as a
Monolith. Involved in this on-going controversy are conflicts between
powerful Interest Groups:
* A lone man--New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison--took on the
U.S. Federal government and the
Intelligence agencies
* Congress challenged the validity of the Warren Commission, by voting
that a conspiracy was involved in the assassination, in contradiction
to the verdict of the Warren Commission.
* Polls of U.S. public opinion have repeatedly have repeatedly shown
that they do not believe the Warren Commission report.
* A major capitalistic movie studio--Warner Bros.--funded such a
controversial movie, which claims that the Kennedy assassination was a
coup d'etat by elements in the security agencies.
As you can imagine, there is an extraordinary range of materials on
this film. Even a C-SPAN taping of Oliver Stone's speech and Q&A
session at the American Historical Association, in which he stood his
ground quite admirably.
Already I have a good collection of JFK movie reviews which I
gathered at the USC Film Library.
If you think the post-grads will be interested in such a project, I
can get more materials while I'm in L.A. I suspect Oliver Stone's
production company would be interested in our using the movie, and they
could supply us with additional materials such as the movie script.
In terms of Pedagogy, this holistic approach is especially effective
because it:
* is suitable for learners with various learning style
preferences--Visual, Auditory, Kinaesthetic
* involves various media--print, audio, film
* is extremely controversial--with a wide range of perspectives
available.
* is very "WORDY"--with its rich collection of
dialogues-discussions-debates.

[Tessio]

Thanks for all of the information. It is very deep indeed, a bit over my head, but I think I can work with some of the general ideas.

You obviously are an intellectual, interested in helping your students truly improve themselves.

God Bless China Movie Magic.

[ChinaMovieMagic]

Also check out Discussion Guides from groups such as:

http://www.studycircles.org/pages/issues/americaresponds.html

The Study Circles Resource Center is dedicated to finding ways for all kinds of people to engage in dialogue and problem solving on critical social and political issues. SCRC helps communities by giving them the tools to organize productive dialogue, recruit diverse participants, find solutions, and work for action and change.


Teaching Tolerance, a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center,

Educators for Social Responsibility offers customized lessons to help educators and students
===========================================


National Issues Forum...is all over the US communities...usually at Public Libraries...all their Issues have 3 Viewpoints...rather than 2...
Suggestion...Don't tell them you plan to use their materials in China

WEB RESULTS
National Issues Forums (NIF)
nationwide network of educational and community of organizations that deliberate about nation-wide issues.
Category: Government > Civic Participation
www.nifi.org - 24k - Cached - More from this site
National Issues Forum - NcddWiki
Wiki discussion site about processes for dialogue and deliberation ... basic questions that the moderators ask during a National Issues Forum: What is valuable to us in this ... Another great resource NIF provides is the National Issues Forum Starter Kit ...www.wiki-thataway.org/index.php?page=NationalIssuesForum

BELOW are some of the many-many Topics...Discussion Guides etc. can be downloaded.



By the People: Americans' Role in the World
Globalization: Fear or Promise? Download the Issue Discussion Guide- Globalization, Fear or Promise.pdf (884 K)
Mission Uncertain: Reassessing America's Global Role




==============================================

Thanks for the Blessings

Some curses/BlackOps have also come my way, such as:

[Mydnight]

No way, dude. DO NOT talk about politics.


Keep it light and funny. For instance, talk about the differences between Chinese High School students and Western (in my case American) HS students. Depending on the coherency of the audience, you can take much time just answering questions about how the students manage to study and have jobs, bfs, etc. I think it's a great topic, and there are plenty of room for jokes therein.

[brsmith15]

Stay away from CMM's suggestions: too ponderous and obscure........hmmmmm..... maybe like the author thereof.

Yeah, like the wiser others have hinted, stick with fun things and things they can relate to. How about starting off with Yao Ming who's done more for Sino-American relations than any other person alive? He's doing a promo ad for the city of Shanghai in which he appears as a taxi driver, baggage handler, lawn mower, traffic cop. He's great!!! They laughed when he came to the US. Houston isn't laughing now at 20 point s game.

Talk about your own personal history and keep it simple. Where were you born? What were you parents like? What problems did you face? Can you remember any silly things you did. (When I was about 9 some friends and I taught my 3 year-old brother the F word. Our mother called him in for supper and in his little squeaky voice, he said "F % & k You!" I couldnt sit for a week. What's the thing you're most proud of? What's the most embarassing thing you ever did? Make fun of yourself if and when you can. Act with gesture and with smiles.

Be light, be personal, be insightful, be funny, be simple...... and for pity sake, stay away from all that acada-drivel about Smith and Keynes and Freud and Kirkegaard. They don't give a rat's arse about it and will forget what you've said on their way out of class.

[MoggIntellect]

If you want to know what they are most interested in it's "How can Chinese study abroad?" They all want to know how to be able to study abroad. That is like a passion...
Any Student: I love China and hope China has a bright future.
Me: What is your #1 goal in life?
AS: Go abroad.

Only they usually don't want to return.

You also asked earlier about freshman and what to expect. You should expect 60 or so students when you begin and then it should drop off first semester to about 20 or so. Then if you teach them the next semester, perhaps 2-10, because after they have passed the exams, there is no need to come.

The students ability is varied. I'd say most of them have never practiced spoken English, and their listening is also quite poor.

One final thing... DO NOT assume a Chinese student, or a group of them, can make a decision. It is very hard to get a response from students in class, let alone decision making. They are so tuned into and used to just being talked at that eliciting is a painful thing indeed.

[burnsie]

You are really not there to teach but spew information for their spongy minds.

You are their to entertain so bring your top hat, cain and tails.