Job Discussion Forums

donb2222 · Joined: 06 Feb 2009 Posts: 134

Almost every day I am told "it must be true, I have seen it in foreign movies and television !"

I get tired of trying to explain to students that not everything they see is true.
How do you handle it ?
Also, why do they all seem to believe everything they see in movies and television ?

Is there no fiction in Chinese movies and television ?

The Ever-changing Cleric · Joined: 19 Feb 2009 Posts: 1523

the first time i'm faced with this situation i explain that movies are not reality, different media outlets have different ways of presenting the same story, and not all foreigners share the same culture. the clever ones catch on quick and understand, the others will just believe whatever they're spoon-fed no matter what.

LanGuTou · Joined: 23 Mar 2009 Posts: 621 Location: Shandong

This might not really be on topic but is an amusing story related to Chinese watching foreign movies. Several years ago, I was invited to a meal in Harbin by a few local business people. A man and his wife brought their little daughter along. They were excited because she could speak to a foreigner. They were also proud because, after watching foreign movies, she picked up a few phrases.

I dread to think what movies they were allowing her to watch!

Her mother asked her to say hello to me:

"Hello, you jerk-off son of a bitch" Said she.

I think that the translation used for the subtitles perhaps wasn't too accurate and was more in line with "You nice man".

I then tactfully set about explaining to her mother that perhaps this is not the most appropriate language for her daughter to be learning and that using it in front of foreigners might not lead to a harmonious relationship! Shocked

dakelei · Joined: 17 May 2009 Posts: 351 Location: USA

It's indeed a tad maddening that Chinese believe so many inaccuracies they see on TV and in movies. However, folks at home believe quite a bit of nonsense they see in movies about China as well. Sadly, ignorance knows no geographical boundaries.

RonHex · Joined: 10 Nov 2009 Posts: 243

haha nice langu.. did you reply "ni hao da fei ji biao zi yang de"?

sharpe88 · Joined: 21 Oct 2008 Posts: 226

Before you came to China, your impressions of it were probably based on what you saw in the media too.

donb2222 · Joined: 06 Feb 2009 Posts: 134

MisterButtkins · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Posts: 1221

Some of my students are huge TNA wrestling fans and I believe they think it is real. These are college kids. Actually the two biggest TNA fans I have in my classes both have very good English and are enthusiastic about learning. I have not told them that it is not real yet and I don't think I'm going to, because I feel like it would make me look mean. I'm not sure they would believe me anyways. I showed the two TNA kids a clip of a UFC fight and they just looked bored and said that those guys wouldn't make it in TNA, because TNA is "the real man's sport."