Job Discussion Forums

[Angel46]

I can't believe I fell for this one ... Read on....
My FAO office asked me to 'join in the activities' at their director's daughter's primary school on Saturday. Stupidly, I said okay.

Now, the details are finally emerging. Turns out, I am expected to stand up in front of approx. 300 primary students for 10-20 minutes and present something about Xmas and/or the Olympics!!

The audience consists of children from 6 yrs old right through to 16 years! We're talking 'absolute beginner level' right through to 'intermediate English' here! I can't use handouts, there's no computer, and no whiteboard. And I don't want to use up all my ink printing up flashcards. I'm a TEACHER, not an entertainer (no slight to those of you who can sing and play instruments really well). I have to say that I am really stumped over how to effectively deliver such a performance.

Your HELP, and ADVICE would really be appreciated as soon as possible, because I have to do this on Saturday!

[kev7161]

What does that mean: You're "expected" to present? Is this a paid gig? If you don't want to do it - - DON'T! Why are people so concerned about guanxi and all that crap? Come up with an excuse, get sick, cancel at the last minute like the Chinese like to do . . . whatever. Don't do something that you don't want to do and are not comfortable with. I am forever getting asked at the last minute to do this or that and I simply say, "no, sorry." Lately I've not been asked so much. Hmmm, something's working.

[lostinasia]

Essentially I agree. Simple tell him that now that you know the details that you feel uncomfortable doing this "activity" and that you are a teacher, not a performer, singer, dancer, or entertainer.

The whole concept of the sniveling, ever-obedient, foreigner that does what they are told is simply, to me, near-pathetic.

Simply back-out with the precept that this is not what you expected it to be, are not prepared, or is simply inappropriate for your situation.

Guangxi shmanxi

[vikuk]

[lostinasia]

[AussieGuyInChina]

If I were you I would put my foot down and say that I won't do it unless provided with a multimedia room. The school must have some multimedia rooms?

If you can get a multimedia room, I can send you a Power Point presentation on Christmas, complete with background Christmas songs and a karaoke-style concluding sing-along. It lasts about 15 minutes and has never failed to have students oohing and ahhing.

For what it's worth, below is a speech I wrote for a student contesting an English speaking contest which will fill up 3 minutes of your time. A Q & A session for another 7 to 17 minutes?

Christmas

The word �Christmas� comes from two other words that have been joined together. The first word is �Christ� which means Jesus Christ, 耶稣基督, and the second word is �mass� which means a religious celebration, 宗教庆祝仪式.

So, the word �Christmas�, means a celebration for Jesus Christ and the celebration is for his birthday. Christians believe that Jesus Christ was born on December 25, two thousand and four years ago.

As you know, the English language began as the language of England but now it has become the international language, a language for all countries.

The same can be said about Christmas. Christmas began as a festival for Christians but now it has become an international festival, a festival for all countries.

One example is Singapore, 新加坡. 76% of Singapore people are Chinese. They speak mandarin, 普通话, and they are not Christians. But Christmas, December 25, is an official government holiday in Singapore.

Another example is Japan. 84% of Japanese people believe in the Shinto religion, 神道, they do not believe in Jesus Christ. But Japanese people celebrate Christmas.

The reason that Christmas has become so popular throughout the world is because the festival promotes peace on earth and good will to all people - 增进友谊.

So, for many people around the world Christmas is not a religious day but is a festival of happiness and a time for being kind, 惇, and giving, 给予物, to all the people in your life.

The way most people show their kindness to others is by giving presents.

You probably already know that westerners, 西方人, give presents to their families on Christmas day. Parents give presents to their children, children give presents to their parents and brothers and sisters give presents to each other.

But did you also know that westerners give presents at Christmas to people who have given them service, 服务 / 客服, during the past year? For example, westerners give presents to their teachers, their postman, 邮差, even to the driver of the bus that they catch to go to work every day.

And, of course, Christmas is a time to give presents to unfortunate people, 不幸人, such as orphans, 孤儿, poor people and old people who don�t have families to take care of them.

All of this is called the Christmas Spirit.

Everyone here knows about the Olympic Spirit, 奥运精神, a time when all Chinese people are thinking the same thing about being hopeful,乐观, for China having great success, 成功, and winning many gold medals.

Well, the Christmas Spirit is similar, 是相似. It is a time for all people to share the same thoughts about being kind and generous to other people. A time for all people to think about making peace and happiness in the world, if only for 1 day.

So, should Chinese people celebrate Christmas? What do you think?

[lostinasia]

Ironically, Jesus was not born on December 25th, let alone in December. And Christmas literally means Christ's or Lord's Supper.

A great thing to watch for all the anti-religious people, like myself, is the "movie" Zeitgeist which shows some wonderful things about the day of December 25th. Though, take it with a grain of salt.

[vikuk]

Beware angel - if you go through with the gig - then some posters may be inspired to write the following about your present career -

[lostinasia]

Indeed !! While I, or others may apply the "quote" in this case, the poster is in a situation where he/she has agreed to do something without having any clue what was being gotten into. From some ethical/moral standard, a commitment has been made and ideally should be stuck to. In the future, the user may actually become informed about such a thing before blindly stepping into an agreement. On the other hand, admitting a weakness or inability to do something after the fact is admirable as well.

And, in the future, please stop following me, seeking my comments and copying them from other threads just to make some obscure point.

Stalking - so hilarious. Don't like me opinions? Well, don't read them, leave me alone, etc. Just because you disagree with me, dislike my willingness to give my complete opinion or believe gives you no reason to attack me personally - and it gets old very quickly.

[AussieGuyInChina]

lostinasia, in the future, please stop following me, seeking my comments .....just to make some obscure point!

[lostinasia]

[Ricepaddy]

Never say 'yes'. Do you understand?

(If your answer is 'yes', please review the question).

Have you ever wondered why your Chinese colleagues have so many ways of saying 'no' without actually letting the word pass their lips?

[beck's]

Similar thing happened to me recently. I was invited, by a Chinese friend, to visit a primary school in a very poor area. I agreed and spent the morning doing some voluntary teaching. It was pretty interesting actually and the kids were very charming. As a one off deal it was okay with me. Quite pleasant actually.

Then, the same friend asked me to visit the school again. Told me that the kids were looking forward to seeing me and that they had done some Christmas preparations in my honour.

I felt really guilty about refusing although intellectually it was easy to see through the manipulation technique he was using. I felt like the grinch who stole Christmas sort of thing. I overcame my guilt and very politely refused so as not to offend. My friend disappeared. No contact since my refusal. Maybe he wasn't a real friend eh?

[vikuk]

[mandu]

you should get up there and call the roll
do somthing like a monty python skit