Job Discussion Forums

[thessy]

The Uni I work at informed me that the Shaanxi government started to require all FT's to take an intelligence and psychological exam online in order to get an FEC. I don't remember the URL, but I did save the questions from the intelligence test.

The 'exam' was supposed to be 20-30 questions with a 10 minute timer. I had nearly 40 questions on mine, which breaks down to 15 seconds per question. The questions are randomized and not the same for every user, so I won't post the entire thing, but here's a sample of the questions:


Which Asian country was the first station on WenJiantao�s Eurasia trip?
Portugal
Slovake
France
Malaysia

Which of these is the foundation of Chinese traditional drinking culture?
alcohol virtue
alcohol manners
alcohol quality
A and B

R.M.Gagne divided teaching results�the result of students studying or teaching efficacy into WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING in his book, The Conditions of Learning.
Language skill; study strategy
lntelligence, language skill
Study strategy, cognize strategy
Cognize strategy, action, skill, attitude


When the ancients left each other, what did they send as a souvenir?
A sallow
Branches of peach
Yulan
Plum blossom

The speech act theory was put forward by which of the following scholars?
I. A. Richards
John Austin
Noam Chomsky
M.A.K. Halliday

8 -1.2�1.5 +742 �(2.544�2.4)=?
706.2
123.19
122.5
125.44

Which skin color is common among most Chinese people?
White
Black
Yellow
Pink

When did the UN reach the agreement titled Declaration of the United Nations Conference on Human Environment?
1972
1973
1974
1994

The entire exam was absurd - possibly passable with the help of Google (or a calculator in the case of the 4 math qestions I had), but not at 15 seconds per question. I somehow managed to score slightly better than 50% and of the peers I've spoke with I have the highest score.

The psychological test was even better. Most of it looked like it was typed in Chinese and just ran through Google Translate. The questions were almost all very vague, some of the multiple choice questions had the same answer listed as two different options - it was silly. That test evaluates 8 parts of human thinking and behavior, and according to the results I'm deficient in 7 of 8 areas.

Anyone else encounter this?

[Sonnibarger]

haha who said chinese didnt get banter... its a province wide piss take on FT's

[YankeeDoodleDandy]

I live in Xian and I took this test two weeks ago. It consisted of a general knowledge test and several math questions, a psychological test and a written test. After I completed the written test, I was supposed to have an on-line interview with a camera connected to my school's computer,I had not made an appointment for this part of the test and my school did not have a camera or microphone, so I never took this part of the test. Off the top of my head, here are several questions, China joined the WTO ? ;date the 2008 Beijing Olympics started; Valentine's Day is similar to 7/7 Chinese Lover''s Day ( Qi =7 ) ;the most important Festival in China ( Spring Festival ) ;founding of PRC ? 1949. There were also a few political questions about the CPC/ Politics;; China's Banking System and a few questions about China's bank's. I hope this helps. YDD

[LarssonCrew]

I'm baffled. I'm coming to Shaanxi to work, and I'm not sure how knowing when the Olympics started or when China joined the WTO would help ensure I'm a good teacher? I could explain every aspect of world politics, economics and law, but because I wouldn't know specific China related dates I'd be worried about this test!

[Mr. P]

I don't live in Shaanxi and do not have to take this or a similar test, yet, here in Guangdong, but, I doubt they, the Shaanxi government, will deny anyone an FEC because they failed the test. In my opinion, it is being used to spur interest in China's history and culture amongst foreign teachers.

I assume most people who apply for jobs in China are interested in the Chinese culture and their illustrious history more than the renumeration. I'm not sure about the math questions though. Perhaps they truly do want to see how bright of an apple they've recruited?

I realize most foreigners here do not plan on becoming citizens of China, but, the questions seem similar to those asked of USA citizenship applicants.

[LarssonCrew]

That typical maths question is harder than the maths test I took on behalf of my friend for a graduate job at General Motors, ridiculous, and you only get 15 seconds. It's not even pure hardness, it's just so many calculations most people would struggle to do it purely on the time aspect.

[peruisay]

I took this test for the first time last year.

I had the test open in one browser window and Google open in another. I believe I need to take it again this year. I'm not incredibly worried.

I took a few screenshots for our teachers. I've posted them on Flickr, since I'm not terribly sure how to post images onto this board.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rzganoza/sets/72157622548347686/

Conclusions:

- It is in ridiculous Chinglish.

- The questions are nonsensical or just outright wrong.

[LanGuTou]

Another chance for Chinese teachers to take idiotic snipes at foreign teachers. They will probably cite the average mark obtained by FT's as evidence that we are low on knowledge and ability. Just another farce to put these so called "foreign experts" in their place and justify the increasingly devalued remuneration packages.

[LarssonCrew]

Lang, how well would Chinese teachers fare if we gave them a test on Western culture

'What day of the week was the battle of hastings' 'How many pilgrim fathers attended the first thanksgiving dinner'.

They'd be clueless.

[LanGuTou]

[peruisay]

[danielb]

[kei1261]

[englishgibson]

hilarious


i can't imagine those great foreign acadmics coming to china and learning about its culture as soon as they land on mainland...more than that learning about themselves that they are unable to teach english or any specialty subjects to chinese students.


the horse's mouth claims that our days are numbered in china are coming true. it sure looks like after the shanghai's expo in a few, we're out of here


yes, we've done our jobs. yes, chinese are prepared to teach english or any acadmic programs to their own kids for western schools. yes, on their own the chinese are ready to do business with the rest of the world.


cheers and beers to the large number of mainlanders and highlanders that can use english so very well

[Yiren]

See my post today. This seems to be the same evaluation. None of us are doing it.

Yiren