Job Discussion Forums

[Lamentations]

Spiral,

"....that invariable leads to "why don't you have kids?" I have a good excuse now we don't live toghert. Though if students get too pushy, I would say something like "We physically CAN?T have kids" I know it's not good to lie, but very personal qusetions lead to those types of answers...."


Spiral typed - "Good heavens. I'd never get so personal with students!"


I think a lot of it has to deal with the students you are dealing with. Perhaps in Europe the students don't delve too deep, but in China they do. Personally, I like to make them feel down just like their question was subconsciously asked to make me feel down.

I was asked earlier this evening - "Why do YOU people like to drink spirits?"

Keep in mind, this was a 21 year old person who asked such a bold question.

I pointed out that I was drinking beer and asked why YOU people are such lame folk. The "conversation" ended shortly thereafter.

I doubt they would ask their Chinese "teachers" such a question. Then again, they were probably home sleeping. Either way, I don't want to be their friend and am eager to go homee. Let another bunch of fools take over.

That's the gist of it here in China.

Thank GOD, I think, for my 3 other user nmes and proxy. Welcome to the China Board.

[spiral78]

[i]I think a lot of it has to deal with the students you are dealing with. Perhaps in Europe the students don't dlve too deep, but in China they do. i]

Yeah, I get that. It's why I teach cultural appropriateness..."when speaking to native English speakers in English, keep in mind that personal topics are generally not appreciated."

If I were learning Chinese and wished to join in appropriate conversation topics with Chinese people, then I should consider the typical topics that are acceptable in that context. More personal ones, obviously!

[Lamentations]

Spiral,

Welcome to the front line. If you've checked out the China forum recently you'll see a link to a website that claims to be a wealth of information about working in the Middle Kingdom. Complete hogwash espoused from a former "member" of Dave's - Talk Doc.

He once asked me to join his now defunct ESL forum. Obviously, he has succeeded in sharing with the world his vision. I think his site said something about people seeking to exert control via the internet. I'll bet he examined himself.

Psycho killlers await. Was that "The Talking Heads"? I wonder if they're dead?

Keep in mind, I really don't care what he does nor what his 'disciples' say. I'll always love Dave's.

Yunqi

"Another one bites the dust". Hopefully I'm wrong this time and Dave & Mr. K see things for how they really are on the China forum.

[Sashadroogie]

There is an awful lot said about differing mores in different cultures, but an important point to remember is that very often our students do not apply their own cultural values to us. They see us as people 'beyond' whatever norms exist in their country, and so for some reason believe that they can transgress whatever rules of appropriacy they use with each other. For example, I was regularly asked how much I earned when I lived in Turkey. This is a rude question in Turkish culture too, which I used to point out when random strangers posed it.

So, when asked questions that I view as crossing the line, I usually reverse the questioning and ask them if that is a suitable question to ask in X culture. Whether or not it is, or whether they lie about it, or catch my subtle 'back off' message really makes no difference - the question has been deflected. They might even have learnt something more valuable than my salary/religion/fertility/marital status/ etc. too...

[spiral78]

Psycho killlers await. Was that "The Talking Heads"? I wonder if they're dead?

I just checked wiki and they are all alive (well, so far as wiki is accurate).

Interesting - the Psycho Killer ditty has been running through my head in recent days... Hadn't remembered it in years.

[Lamentations]

Spiral,

Perhaps it has something to do with "The Celestine Prophecy"?

I'm trying to keep my energy to myself. But, so many folk seem to crave it.

I just long to wallow in the mountains and count the clouds.

Yunqi

[gaijinalways]

sashadroogie posted

[Sashadroogie]

Why would I give up my day job? I quite like it. Has no bearing on my postings here though.

Don't you get the humour? The satirical poking and pricking of overbearing egos? Perhaps it transgresses one of your cultural taboos? But seeing as we speak different languages, you'll just have to forgive me because I think differently too...















Hic!

[artemisia]

Spiral78 posted: