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mrwslee003
Joined: 14 Nov 2009
Posts: 190
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 Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 8:08 pm Post subject: |
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Just to add a bit of history:
I still remember when I was a little child in China seeing a picture book rediculing
a white master abusing his semi-black child for calling him "father". Since then
I 've learned that some masters sowed their wild oats resulting in many offsprings with female slaves.
Now, some old men, claiming to have "liberated" China only to jail those who
dare to express an opinion differ from their own. Isn't it ironic?
Or is it that monopolistic power blinds men from seeing their own stupidity?
Free men can choose to accept or reject authority, slaves must accept authority and abuse! No? |
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victorenglish
Joined: 10 Oct 2010
Posts: 8
Location: shengzhou china
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| Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 4:26 am Post subject: Re: Forbidden topics. |
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| mrwslee003 wrote: |
In 2007, just before accepting a position teaching in China, we were told to avoid these topics in the classroom:
1) Saying anything critical of the leadership.
2) Saying anything related to the Cultural Revolution.
3) Saying anything about the exiled leader of Tibet.
I wonder if anything has changed since then? 
Or, do you feel you can freely talk about anything, within limits? |
Use common sense on all the above questions .Best way is really don't say anything unless you using it to teach .Your in a world here where respect is the law show no respect for china laws and culture and yes you will be thrown out of the country. |
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igorG
Joined: 10 Aug 2010
Posts: 1473
Location: asia
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| Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 8:18 am Post subject: |
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| Your in a world here where respect is the law.. |
What respect and world are you talking about?
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| ... show no respect for china laws and culture and yes you will be thrown out of the country |
Do locals respect their laws? And, what culture do you mean? I am half Chinese. Would you throw me out? |
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The Great Wall of Whiner
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 4946
Location: Blabbing
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| Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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You will be thrown out if you seem to be promoting a certain slant or ideal. Even open discussion is difficult. Remember, this is China. This is not Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, or other places where you can have open range debate on subjects.
The high school 'gao kao' (all Chinese know of it) which is the university entrance exam, has a section about 'your opinion'.
If you state the wrong opinion, you fail the entire exam. Full stop. |
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mdovell
Joined: 02 Nov 2009
Posts: 131
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| Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 12:29 am Post subject: |
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| The Great Wall of Whiner wrote: |
| seamallowance wrote: |
| mdovell wrote: |
There's sensitive topics in nearly every country. |
There are sensitive topics in nearly every country.
(Thanks, I feel better now) |
Thanks, I feel better now.
haha |
my bad  |
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gelynch52ph
Joined: 15 Feb 2011
Posts: 132
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| Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 2:16 am Post subject: Saudi & Korea |
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| nickpellatt wrote: |
I dont think a language teacher CAN go into lots of places and choose subjects freely. Try using the science of Stephen Hawkins in a Creationist school in Middle America and I reckon the PTA, (and maybe the NRA) would be after you pretty sharpish! And thats in the land of 'free speech'. There are probably instances all over the world where teachers have to be mindful of sensitive issues, and have to leave their own faith, belief systems and politics at the classroom door.
I think people just single out China a little as the only place (or perhaps the worst place) for this lack of 'freedom'. Ill be honest, I dont visit the Saudi forums, or the Korean ones...but I really doubt people are moaning there about not being able to teach touchy subject matter, hence my suggestion that its just a China thing.
I have shared this story before....but an American colleague of mine used material from the Passages series of books that was something relating to 'the typical American'. One of the facts contained within the material was something relating to the % of citizens who are Christians.
Anyway ... one of the students asked how a country so clearly Christian and followers of Jesus could so easily engage in war and death? The American teacher went crazy and sent the students from the class, so it does cut both ways. |
I've taught in both KSA and Korea. Koreans simply don't believe you if you talk of things they don't agree with but most subjects are "on the table" as long as the English gets taught and is the first priority as it should be.
Saudi students {(?) that term is an oxymoron} are simply lazy, uneducated and know nothing of the world and are unable to converse intelligently. There are also very strict laws about discussing religion and politics there so just don't. |
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LateStarter
Joined: 25 Feb 2009
Posts: 24
Location: Somewhere in Middle Kingdom China
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| Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 7:31 am Post subject: Forbidden Topics |
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I raised Taiwan in a university class, and wished for the rest of my time there that I hadn't.
Teacher, China owns Taiwan..........no it doesn't I dared to reply. Then a class of 32 students revolted!!!
It seems the rest of the world is wrong - China owns Taiwan and heaven help anyone who says anything different. |
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The Great Wall of Whiner
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 4946
Location: Blabbing
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| Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 9:31 am Post subject: |
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Avoid the 3 T's and you should be halfway home.
I would never dare raise the Taiwan issue. Tell them that they have their own passports and currency and they freak out. |
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igorG
Joined: 10 Aug 2010
Posts: 1473
Location: asia
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| Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 10:56 am Post subject: |
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| It seems that there are a way more "forbidden topics" than we can imagine. Afte one of my uni interviews, and after suggesting i'd use the internet for communicative classes, i was told that i'd have to pay attention to controversial topics, which would apparently have to be approved first. Guess why the local educational system at any level imposes on just about anyone in the country. A decade back at a Guangzhou uni, nobody bothered me and the internet worked so much better in China then. What is going on with this country? |
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Salvatore
Joined: 22 May 2011
Posts: 119
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| Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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I once said something to the effect of -"Hu Jintao is not as good as Xi Jinping."
They claimed I said bad things about China.
I did ask why there isn't much AC pumping in public buildings.
The 1st thing that struck me upon my return home was how "cold" it was in the Chicago airport. Since then, I've noticed the same thing in every building I've entered - nice & cool.
I guess I'll be saving money on laundry detergent because I don't sweat my coolie off and go through shirts and rags as if they were going out of style. |
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mrwslee003
Joined: 14 Nov 2009
Posts: 190
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| Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 4:35 pm Post subject: |
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At the end of the Qing dynasty, corruption was rampant, starvation was order of the day, lawlessness was the only means for
survival, foreigners easily imposed their will on the government of the day. The environment was ripe for turmoil and revolution.
The communists took over and started a New China. Things improved,
but corruption is beginning to threaten the credibility of the system again.
So there is something needed in the system that can hold corruption in
check. The government thinks it can pay lip-service and correct itself.
But it can not! It needs a greater effort. It needs the help of the whole
populace.
There lies the problem, the government knows too well the power of the people and it does not trust them. It fears them! Thus you see all
the controls it imposes on its citizens. The internet is the latest
efforts. Its a sad situation, really. |
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The Great Wall of Whiner
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 4946
Location: Blabbing
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| Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 12:25 am Post subject: |
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I'm sorry, but I can in no way agree to the facts on this.
| mrwslee003 wrote: |
The communists took over and started a New China. Things improved... |
More people died from starvation during the Great Leap Forward (Mao Dynasty) than during the entire Qing Dynasty. Things improved?
Chinese hegemony was at it's peek during the "Mao Dynasty". The invasion of Korea and Tibet, assault on Vietnam, clashes with both Russia and India. Just to name a few-- and all instigated by China. Things improved?
The people were not allowed to grow food. Not allowed to grow the economy. Not allowed to travel or move to other places in their own homeland. Restricted in speech (still to this day) and brainwashed and lied to from cradle to grave. Things improved?
| Quote: |
| but corruption is beginning to threaten the credibility of the system again. So there is something needed in the system that can hold corruption in check. The government thinks it can pay lip-service and correct itself. But it can not! It needs a greater effort. It needs the help of the whole populace. |
This part was true.
When Deng opened the doors to economic reform, things got better for the people. But The failure was in the western-educated Jiang Zemin. He did not follow up Deng's success by opening up China politically. If Jiang had done so, China would have much more money and be much more successful than it is now.
By far.
But the corruption will continue until those who profit most from the corruption hold no power. Vicious circle. They won't let go of power but won't stop the corruption because it is the corruption that gives them the power. |
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mrwslee003
Joined: 14 Nov 2009
Posts: 190
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| Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 3:44 am Post subject: |
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Well, Mr. Whiner,
Thank you for your insightful perspective. I must say "Thank goodness
for Dave's Forum because if both of us were in China one or both of us
would surely end up in the slammer waiting for the end." As is we can
have multiple viewpoints and still be free as a bird.
Is this great or what! |
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igorG
Joined: 10 Aug 2010
Posts: 1473
Location: asia
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| Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 8:33 am Post subject: |
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Free as birds we are, ON FORUMS mostly or only. Some recent employment agreements state we aren't even allowed to participate on such discussions. Yes, not in the office, not on the streets and not here. Keep singing because you are probably just free for the large number of singers. Or, maybe, you are just too little bird.  |
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wesharris
Joined: 26 Oct 2008
Posts: 177
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| Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 8:43 am Post subject: |
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| igorG wrote: |
| Free as birds we are, ON FORUMS mostly or only. Some recent employment agreements state we aren't even allowed to participate on such discussions. Yes, not in the office, not on the streets and not here. Keep singing because you are probably just free for the large number of singers. Or, maybe, you are just too little bird. |
Cite examples please, company names or locations are a plus on that. |
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