Job Discussion Forums

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

indeed. three days after i arrived at my first job in china i was invited to a christmas celebration at a local middle school. only once the three of us accepted and arrived at the celebration were we informed we were to get up on stage and sing a song for the crowd. we sang "if youre happy and you know it....." and we were abysmal at it. i since dont accept invitations to those kind of celebrations.

one other time, just last year, i was asked to be a judge at a poetry contest. didnt see what could possibly go wrong with that, so i accepted. turns out at the end of the judging i was asked (unlike all chinese judges and despite my protests) to give my comments on all the readers onstage, with the microphone, and then to give a speech (on what they didnt specify, seems they just wanted me to speak).

now i simply decline all invitations to all gatherings, and usually dont even answer my phone when it rings if i dont see a name pop up with the number. and even if someone from the department catches me unawares at school to invite me somewhere, i have a ready made bag of excuses (some from my time in the army that work really well) Very Happy

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

Get hold of the largest TV your school has and use a Christmas Santa DVD cost 8 RMB and get the kids to repeat things after you and use the pause button to capture things so the kids half understand what you say.

Everyone will be happy and you will get more help from management when you need it. So is life.

kungfucowboy83 · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Posts: 479

all i can say is "charlie brown holiday specials" and tell them if you don't have a computer and projector you can't do it.

malu · Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 1344 Location: Sunny Java

vikuk · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1842

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

Aussie

lostinasia · Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 466

Because you don't know what you're doing?

Angel46 · Joined: 06 Jan 2005 Posts: 51 Location: Hangzhou

I want to thank everyone for their kind (unkind) replies and offers of advice.

I should point out that I have lived in China for 4 years now and am well versed in saying "No" to the many invitations I receive, on a daily basis. I said "yes" to this event simply because I didn't want to let the FAO Director down. I really like my university and would like to stay here another year.

Anyway, after several days of requests for more details, I discovered my role is totally different from that originally relayed to me. And now I feel it is too late to cancel without causing the Director to 'lose face' with her child's school.

As a matter of course, I have learned to always arrive prepared with teaching materials, as a last resort. But, this 'performance' is proving more difficult. It is the audience that worries me most: 6-16 year olds with varying levels of English.

I am going to take Aussie Guy's advice and 'borrow' his speech, albeit amending it somewhat, and perhaps I can teach them a song or two (I hope they can stand my voice - can't carry a tune at all!). And, since my 'performance' represents only a portion of the day's program, I cannot make certain demands, like moving 300 people to a large multi-media room for a 15-minute presentation, but thanks for your advice anyway.

And, oh yes, now they're talking about 'paying' me, so I feel I should deliver something worthwhile. Wish me luck, and thanks again to those who were kind enough to provide some advice/suggestions.

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

Lost

lostinasia · Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 466

Stop using the forum for your personal agenda of name calling, personal attacks, complaints, etc. That is what the PM system is for - per the rules.

Super Frank · Joined: 03 Feb 2006 Posts: 365

You know 20 mins will fly by once all the applause has died down.
In my second month I was driven 2 hours to do a demo and talk about my schools methodolgy. Arrived in a room of 200 or so high school students handed a microphone and left in the middle. Truely wanted the ground to swallow me up. I was asked the same question again and again (how do I improve my English?) I sang country roads and yellow submarine, sweated profusely then after an hour the mic was whipped out of my hand like the removal of a splinter.
I have also jumped out of a cupboard.

Take some pictures of snowmen, santa etc, elicit vocab from older students, teach younger ones, sing jingle bells and mention peace love and goodwill to all men. Take some sweets and give them out to deserved elfs.
I haven't mentioned Jesus coz thats up to you

malu · Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 1344 Location: Sunny Java

Years ago, in another country, I was asked if I would do a 'turn' in an awful talent show type event at school. Because I owed someone a favour it was difficult to say no, so instead I concocted a lewd drag act in the persona of 'Dame Ophelia Bitz' and told a few people of my plans.

Needless to say the powers that be couldn't get hold of me fast enough to ask if I might consider helping with the stage lighting instead.

fitzgud · Joined: 24 Jan 2006 Posts: 148 Location: Henan province

AussieGuyInChina · Joined: 23 Nov 2006 Posts: 403

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

The pinyin would be a lot more helpful that splashing a bunch of hanzi everywhere.

Great that you know hanzi, gratz. But not helpful to him.

Man, don't do the gig. The people organizing it are making money from it somehow down the line. You are helping them to make money, and you are not getting any piece of that pie, friend.

You are being used.

Don't let them do it.

Tell them politely "I am sorry, but this is not what I expected. I expected to be a part of the audience, not be the main attraction."