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Mike E · Joined: 06 Oct 2011 Posts: 132

Hello, I will be coming soon from the US to teach in Guangdong Province.
Packing my bags. Interested of course in saving space; but also seeking advice on items that are worth bringing. Because they're useful as realia in class or private lessons; hard to find in China; good to give as gifts; will just come in handy; etc. If you can share some insight, I'd appreciate it.

rogerwilco · Joined: 10 Jun 2010 Posts: 1549

Bring menus from both Chinese and American restaurants.
Great topics for conversation.

Most students seem to want to talk about food, and you can show them that
American food is more than just hamburgers.

The difference between Chinese restaurants in America and China is also a good topic.

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

Visit your local tourist bureau and gather up some tourist brochures, pamphlets etc from your local area. If you have any magazines that focus on US living (we have Outdoor Canada, Canadian Geographic, Canadian Living, Canadian Gardener) bring some of those as well. They can help you explain and illustrate your culture.

chinesearmy · Joined: 08 Apr 2010 Posts: 394 Location: canada

thebrandynabides · Joined: 12 Jun 2011 Posts: 31 Location: Shaoguan

You could set aside a few different bills that you don't exchange. My students were very interested in those, even coins. (Maybe because there's not the same dude on all of them). We brought a picture book of our region of the U.S. (Black Hills, South Dakota) and they love looking through that. I'd suggest pictures of the most recent school you went to, things like the library, computer lab, and the sports field may interest them.

As for other things, real coffee or espresso if you're a coffee drinker. And a book that you could stand to read more than once unless you have one of those nifty Kindles.

Good gifts could be things as simple as local treats/magnets-you know the stuff that every truck stop sells because you certainly won't find those here.

Best of luck.

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

Rolls of pennies. They make absolutely wonderful small gifts and are remembered.

Newspapers. I try to bring Chinese-edition newspapers from home. You know, western news and ads but in Chinese. Makes the Chinese really gasp at times and think outside the box.

Fliers. Grocery store fliers are a hit with Chinese moms. Especially when they see that some things are actually more expensive here (such as chicken wings, certain fruit or 100% pure orange juice) than back in the US.

TexasHighway · Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 779

rogerwilco wrote:

Zimmer · Joined: 26 Oct 2011 Posts: 229

Depends where you're going really, if you're going somewhere reasonably big and developed you'll able to find more western things than in a smaller city.

Deodorant, flu medicines you maybe use a lot, Tylenol or something similar if you use it a lot at home, if you take medication of any kind bring enough to keep you going for a while here until you find where to buy it locally. Shoes, it can be hard to find shoes to fit if you have bigger feet.

peewee1979 · Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 5:30 am Post subject:

Coins are a great idea. If you can find quarters from each state and package them so they are visible on both sides. ( coin display holders are cheap) Students like to see different currency.

Also try to bring samples of the different dollar coins. I think they are at least 3 or 4 in circulation now. Sakaugenia ( faux gold Indian girl coin), Susan B Anthony, and a few others (maybe) and some 50 cent pieces.

And new and old bills. The newer bills have some great color.

And show them a REAL C note. I passed around a $100 one day and the students said they only saw it in movies.

Also $2 bills are unique.

steve b · Joined: 31 May 2011 Posts: 293 Location: China

Yes, American food is both hamburgers AND pizza, English food is beef. The French have horse as their staple diet and Australians kangaroo. Results compiled from an independent survey carried out on my students!

As for medicines, I am in a small city and take several different kinds. I found this site helpful http://www.drdict.com/ when I needed some more. I cannot obtain all the stuff I was prescribed in the UK but I consulted my GP back home for alternatives before coming. Generally speaking, if a medicine ends in - say - "pril" then anything else ending in it will be a good substitute, at least so I was advised. And stick with the same pharmacy so they remember what you need and don't have to go through the rigmarole every time. Better still, remember which shelf they are on so you can point them out!

For realia, and good on space and weight, food labels? Photos of your home town are good for any age group.

Mike E · Joined: 06 Oct 2011 Posts: 132

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

Mmmm..
Unless the subject you have been employed to teach is American Culture, my advice to use the suggested items to be brought from home - sparingly.
Most of the class discussion promoted by these things will be in Chinese. This rather works against the class subject if it is Oral English.
By all means use these things in the first couple of 'getting to know you' classes and maybe as a reward from time to time during the semester. Say after a test.
The Chinese students love to sit back and be talked to. That's their normal learning mode. That is between sleeps, texting or doing homework for another class.
Don't get sucked in. Students can't learn to speak English by listening.

choudoufu · Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 3325 Location: Mao-berry, PRC

Mike E · Joined: 06 Oct 2011 Posts: 132

What's suspicious about pennies?

Mike E · Joined: 06 Oct 2011 Posts: 132