Job Discussion Forums

[Nauczyciel]

"Century Business English" vol 1 contains an irritating mistake - the chapter "Introductions and greetings" explains the basic rules for introducing people to each other. Here it goes:

[Chris_Crossley]

There is a difference between saying that something is a "mistake" and that something else is a misconception, which is what you mean here. If this textbook that you are referring to was produced in China, it would explain a great many things.

However, do not despair! The website called Manners Matter does offer some advice about business etiquette, including how to treat males and females:

[Gregor]

Mr. Crossley is right. This isn't a mistake, per se.
Still, how do you handle it?
With a great deal of confidence, point out to them that this is why foreign, native-speaking teachers have jobs in China. It's just not right. if you are not sure of something but you THINK it might be wrong, there is no shame in admitting this. Tell them that it's contrary to your experience, but you'll ask your colleagues for a consensus. This happens to me a LOT, even now, between British and American English, and I have been teaching for ten years.
On the other hand, if you are 100% sure that something is wrong, tell them that, as well. But be careful even then.

Two recent mistakes of mine:
A student tried to translate a Chinese food into English with one of those cursed electronic translators (they are FAMOUSLY crap), and got "lavers." I told the student that there was no such word. I was just that sure of myself. It sounded like a simple enough word that, if real, I'd have heard of it.
Nope. He was right. "lavers" is a word. I looked it up and it turned out to be something that Chinese people actually eat (but I certainly never would).

Another: A student was delivering a speech regarding Australian history, and made mention of the "Batman Treaty.' I laughed out loud. BATMAN! I was completely sure that there was no Batman Treaty in ANY country's history.
And yet, when I mentioned it to an Australian colleague, he got a little pissy with me, and told me that it wasn't meant to be pronounced like the comic book hero.
"What, there's really a Batman treaty??"
"Well, it's not SAID like that, but, yeah! Say "BAT-men." It's a guy's NAME."

And there you go. I had to deliver two apologies in as many weeks because of my own ignorance. But THAT'S OK, too.

And Australia has a Batman Treaty in its history. And perhaps a Robin Amendment??

[tarzaninchina]

If there's a mistake in the textbook I'm using, I usually pick one of the following things to do.

One, if it's big and serious, then I make the topic seem prepared on my own and do it that way. They get the inferrence pretty quickly, although for them to accept it, that requires a pre-built trust in you not to teach them stuff they find out is complete BS shortly afterwards. Plus, my students usually ask and I confirm it along with some reasons they can both grasp and accept. Trust of you as better than a textbook is something you gotta do on your own.

Two, I take a light-hearted approach and mock the textbook. By this I can mimic cocking, aiming, and shooting a shotgun at the textbook. Something really short and sweet they can get a chuckle out of. The length and complexity of the action depends solely on how much they're pressing me on the difference between what I say and what the book says.

I prefer the latter in my first-year orals and the former in my third-year writing classes. However, this year the dean has decided that I don't need to use textbooks in my classes.

[dajiang]

Actually I thought the mistakes were very interesting to handle in class.
I used 'Speak up' for a while in Beijing, the second (green) level.

There are plenty of small mistakes in the texts, and they were very instructive I thought.
It kept the students on their toes, and made them realise they shouldn't believe everything they read.

Sometimes if the mistake was obvious I'd have them search for it in a particular text, and see if they'd pick it up.

Dajiang

[Babala]

I would point out that the book says this and while it may apply in China, it does not apply in the west.

They are like this in China and man does it piss me off! I have been ignored while the male FT's are all introduced and greeted.

[tofuman]

Babala

An interesting book I read on Chinese lovemaking techniques said that the true Chinaman is interested primarily in his partner's orgasm because ejaculation weakens the qi force in the male.

While this philosophy may not be adopted by the average man on the street in my locale, if I were a woman, I would certainly prefer a good toss in the sack to being properly introduced in public.

Simply a matter of prioirities, girl.