Job Discussion Forums

[englishgibson]

We�ve been discussing all kinds of copyrights issues and DVDs have quite topped those discussions.

In China, I have come across a number of English books with English names of writers on and with some rather misleading introductions that have been printed in Beijing, although those books often come with some substandard or shall I say �Chenglish� in. Then, Chemployers love buying those kinds of books for their lower prices.

Recently, I have got some IELTS books with loads of grammar errors and questions for speaking exams written in definitely Chinese English. At times, when even the lower levels of students notice those errors it makes me furious how those Chinese editors can get away with it. Well, I am actually curious to know who really writes those books in Beijing or are they really from Beijing

Another issue that I�d like to bring in is that Chinese laws are seemingly interesting with regards to the copyrights. Schools/centers use some common practices to buy one book and make copies for students out of it. Regarding private business centers, owners are apparently allowed to let�s say copy a New Interchange course books, and then put their own cover page on it. Lawyers say that as long as the school/center uses this kind of material only within its own premises and for the purpose of its own courses, no problem. Scores of students have been buying those kinds of books (well with the courses) under their impressions those books belong to those schools/centers.

Are your schools/centers using practices to copy western course books with their own cover pages on, or have you been teaching from those "Chenglish" books?

Peace to the art of copyrights in China
And
Cheers and beers to the foreign writers of language books/course books being sold or copied in China

_____________________________________________________________
I love the way my Chinese spouse copies recipes, but I'd never allow her to cook a book

[jeffinflorida]

To help you understand this a bit more... I work for a company that produces automobiles.

When I asked where the design of the car came from they quickly responded that they brought a bunch of Toyota Corollas and copied them.

They now sell this car in many countries and it is an almost exact copy of the Toyota car.

And they boast about how they copied this car...!

[diana83709]

We have been given Chinglish text books supposedly published in Beijing and they are terrible!

I gave up having my students make corrections to the errors in the books because their Chinese English teachers tell them the books are correct. I do NOT use the books and create my own lessons.

One of my students was challenging answers on his exam that his Chinglish teacher marked as incorrect. I checked it out, and the student answered the questions correctly. I was also amused at all the grammar errors on this particular exam. His Chinglish teacher insisted the student's answers were wrong because the exam had been used at university level in the 1990's. Here is this eager, intelligent student who wants to go to a good university and his English knowledge by far, superceeds his Chinglish teacher!

As teachers, we can only do our very best to help these students learn English.

[englishgibson]

ya well we can only do our very best to help

now a few days back united states filed a formal complaint to WTO...this complaint's about the chinese incapabilites to protect the copyrights

beijing's publishers should be worried about their practices and then those that use the names of beijing's publishers around china should be worried too...furthermore those chemployers that overheat their copy machines to create their school's teaching materials should review their management techniques too
i do hope that WTO punishes china for its acts of incompetence and we'll get some real english material in near future

peace to the local authorities that monitor the copy rights around china
and
cheers and beers to the real english teaching materials

[kev7161]

Many, MANY years ago I used to work for the now defunct Montgomery Ward department store in the USA. I worked in the men's wear department. We sold Arrow shirts and we also had a similar Montgomery Ward brand dress shirt for, of course, a lower price (also common everywhere - - store brand vs. name brand). One day I was unloading a box of MW shirts, when a shipping invoice had fallen out. The manufacturer of the shirt was . . . Arrow corporation! The same company makes two (or more) similar products and, because their name isn't on the label, they sell it for a lower price. So is it fair if a consumer thinks he's getting a better quality item by buying the name brand to be paying the higher price? Talk amongst yourselves.

As for textbooks - - in the US, teachers can freely copy out of texts as long as it is being used in the educational setting. As to copying the entire book and then putting their own cover, I would say that is some sort of violation. My current school buys a boatload of books from Harcourt Brace, but can't possibly afford enough copies for each kid. I've been running back and forth to the copy room every other day for almost two years now! Next year we are finally having shared texts between two students as well as workbooks in some subjects for each child. Still going to be making copies, just not quite as many!

[in_asia_bill]

I have a copy of Frankenstein published in CHina by Black Cat, they have a whole series of titles. This famous book was written by Marry Shelly!

[englishgibson]

Frankenstein ..has he got that Chinese look on

Well, I�ve unsuccessfully tried to get on this site about the US formal complaint to WTO on copying of books, movies, software and other US products
www.voanews.com/english/2007-04-10-voa10.cfm
Maybe you guys�ll have more luck on that one if you are interested.
I further tried to research China�s censorship of foreign books and academic materials, which might�ve connections to the poor Chinese English language books copies that are used in many schools/language centers. Again, I came up with nothing since sites have been restricted. Here is a link to one of those restricted (to me) sites
www.cecc.gov/pages/virtualAcad/exp/expcensors.php
I just wish I could read on and find out why I have to deal with those crappy Chenglish books and often �unteach� my students some of the stuff that they learn from those books. I�d like to know why the foreign books aren�t on the shelves of the bookshops in at least major Chinese cities. In Toronto, say, if I want to study German, I can find loads of books as well as other academic material imported directly from Germany.
I understand that foreign books might be a bit more expensive for Chinese, but with a little will or some business thinking anything could be accomplished and prices would be more affordable.

Peace to 5,000 years of Chinese culture as well as to its preservation
and
cheers and martinis to our forums

[SueH]

In the UK you are only allowed to copy up to 10% of a particular text for educational purposes, and IIRC, you have to acknowledge the source.

[vikdk]

The kind of folk the Chinese authorities would use to inspect for rule violations wouldn't know how to work out what 10% was - besides that they are too busy playing patience on their computers!!!!

[englishgibson]

funny thing with percentages in china is that when they see 10%, it does mean to them they get that right of 90%
my second day in china was a shopping day and when i saw a discount sign with 90%, i hastily ran to buy those fake nike football shoes ....ended up payin 90 quai for a hunderd quai shoes

peace to chinese percentages
and
cheers and beers to peoples textbooks for english language education in their republic