Job Discussion Forums

[Arcainis]

I have to give a lecture next Thursday to a groupof upper level students at my college. The topic is about the differences between western students and Chinese students. (i.e. ways of learning, attitude, etc...) Any ideas or suggestions or suggestions would be helpful.
Please keep in mind that I have to talk to Chinese students so I can't criticize them to much. I don't want hostility, I want the students to come away with a better understanding of the differences and similarities. I know of some, but I also know that many foreign teachers have noticed things that I have not.
Thanks everyone...

[profile]

Perhaps we need to know what ideas you already have so we can add to them.

They may be unfamiliar with basic facts about how Universities operate elsewhere (less like schools, essentially). Describe the way you apply to University in your country and choose your degree/major. Describe the way you choose subjects, how classes are conducted, how they are assessed (in your area of study). Hours of attendance and holidays. Living arrangements and transport. Fees and scholarships.

Have them write questions on pieces of paper and pass them to you to answer. Tell them you want specific questons, not broad ones ( the usual problem) .Demonstrate what you mean by a specific question by narrowing down a broad one several times until it is manageable and something you can respond to accurately, not with an over-generalisation.

Learning styles and attitudes is quite a difficult topic. Will they understand you ?

[profile]

P.S. Forgot to say - tell them oral English will soon be examined in the College Entrance Exams (this may even be true ?)

P.P.S. See the other thread titled "Holy Sh*t..."

[Roger]

Maybe you leave any comparisons out? Just talk about typical features of western education, emphasising what is in your view really good (without saying it is better than in China).
You can add that "westerners may choose to come to China to study Chinese or TMC, but CHinese come to the West to study ..."( inset any subject you like, and the reasons why Chinese go there, i.e. lack of study places in China, quality issues, the need first identified by Deng Xiaoping to "learn from the West", etc.).

Or you talk about the huge number of specialisations in the West; focus a bit on vocational schools (very common in Europe) and more academically-orientated institutions. Why is that so? Wider variety of occupations!

[clomper]

Profile,

For students who plan to take English as their major in college, they need to have an Oral English exam for their College Entrance Exam in June.

The Oral Exam is composed of three parts:
1. Reading a passage.
2. Watch a video clip: Ask 3 questions and answer 3 questions. (Questions are in chinese).
3. Oral Composition: Watch a video clip for 1 min then tell a story about the clip they saw.

One on one exam in front of a computer!

Claudine

[profile]

Thanks, Clomper - I didn't know about that. When did that start ? Any signs of this coming for non-English major.

Agree with Roger- don't make explicit comparisons. Also tthink talking about the range of tertiary institutions is a good idea. Do it in a factual way. You can then describe the range of choices available in secondary schooling, which do not seem to exist here.

Do add some words of admiration for the (poor, long-suffering !) Chinese students.

[Arcainis]

One of the things I was thinking of doing was presenting how students interact with a school in the West. (ie. schedules, classrooms, homework, independent study, etc...) After I talk about a particular thing, I was going to get the students to tell me how this is done in China. I would like for it to be a cultural exchange. I think that the students will understand and warm to the idea.

Like Roger said, I don't want to do comparisons. I don't want to stand in front of the class and say "It is this way in the West and Chinese people do things this way." I want them to tell me how they do things. I would also like for them to tell me which way they think is more effective. I know that there are many things that are wrong with education in the West and in China. Although I doubt they will say there is anything wrong with it here.

I am just worried about a bunch of leaders showing up to the lecture and causing the students to feel nervous and afraid. They get very shy about making comments when leaders are present. I want this to be an open discussion. If leaders are there, I don't think I will hesitate to get them involved too. You want to attend my lecture, you aren't going to just sit there. I like everyone to get involved!

Profile, I love the question idea. I think I will tell them to think of questions during the lecture and give them to me to answer. I will show examples of broad and specific questions like you said. I have noticed the tendency of students to ask very broad questions.

"Tell me about your home country"
"Ummm... It's big... Could you be more specific?"

Drives me crazy!