By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .
Sign up with Google
Sign up with Facebook
Q: Are you the 'face' of your workplace?
Some months ago, I was on the bus going to work, when we were stopped at an intersection with a lot of construction going on. On the security fences of construction site were ads for a local English language school, with photos of their teachers (who are apparently all great!)
There was not one single non-Chinese person advertised.
I've noticed the same with the photos of teachers on the walls of a couple of branches of the schools I've been to - not a single foreign face.
No offense directly meant to Chinese (and those of Chinese ethnicity*), but if I want to learn a language, I want to learn it from someone who really knows the languages in all situations - ie, they've lived in the country for a substantial amount of time where the language is spoken.
So, if I want to see an ad for a language school, I'd prefer to see a face and a nationality that represents my chosen language - at least one person!
Is there something totally weird about Chinese students only wanting to see Chinese faces and Chinese teachers for a non-Chinese language???
(this is made even more prominent with the guys I work with, as I have specialist knowledge that most schools would kill for to be able to advertise... and yet, these guys won't! I think I need to find a new school/partnership)
(* Yeah, I know there are many of Chinese decent who speak fluent English, because they were brought up in English speaking countries... but I'm doubting that's the majority of Chinese teachers! FTR, I've tried to study about 6 languages, and I've had a mix of NS and NNS teachers... both were great! But then, the NNS teachers at least spent time in the respective language countries!)
Nope, I am not the "face of my workplace".
If I was, we would have no customers.
The bosses prefer I stay in my darkened corner, out of sight. The novelty value of looking at me wore out long ago. Now it's looks of pity I get. With an occasional peanut thrown my way out of compassion.
Nope, I am not the "face of my workplace".
If I was, we would have no customers.
The bosses prefer I stay in my darkened corner, out of sight. The novelty value of looking at me wore out long ago. Now it's looks of pity I get. With an occasional peanut thrown my way out of compassion.
Short answer, given my conditojn. Zhounguo ren hen hao, weiguoren bu hao.
The end is nigh.
Janosik:
So far the only people who stole my taxi were 3 foreigners ... My Chinese friends wanted to fight for it but I stopped them that they are probably just disoriented, not understanding China culture ... What by the way looks to be the case of majority of this forum contributors - shocking when realizing many married Chinese natinals ... :-)
And I think you are totally wrong!
I do not think that the best way to learn English is to hire English language native speakers with questionable teaching abilities (in some cases) and with no understanding how to learn a foreign language as English is the only language they speak fluently.
I really believe that the best way would be if good to excellent English teachers (sorry, no room for average and bellow ones ...) would instruct Chinese English teachers.
Subsequently the Chinese native English teachers should teach the language further.
They would have following advantageous:
1/ Have above average ability to teach foreign language
2/ Know the difficulties Chinese have when learning English
3/ Could communicate with student efficiently (would not lose 30 minutes on explaining one word which.anyway nobody really gets properly)
And to all of these who talk about accent etc.
My accent is quite strong, started with English quite late. But still I face no trouble in virtually any part of the world (well, may be Texas is an exception - last time I went to Houston I really had a trouble to understand the waitress, but we found the common language, so to say, at the end of the day 
).
In my opinion China is making big mistake with importing of so many English native speaking "children" in the blind believe it will help them to increase English skills among the population.
It will not!
P.S.
BTW I met several Chinese girls whose English sounded to me much better than mine. But surprise ... They were not really able to speak English, they just could say many sentences with little to none accent ...
P.S.2.
As this forum looks to be mainly attended by English teachers so go ahead! Beat me!
I do not really care much
Shining_brow:
I suspect you are reading too much into this - or perhaps not enough.
Preferred choices for a language teacher:
1 - native multi-lingual with teaching qualification and experience (for here in China, fluent in local dialect)
2 - native multi-lingual with teaching qualification and experience (here in China, pretty good putonghua)
3 - Near-native multi-lingual with teaching qualification and experience (with good Chinese)
.
.
.
somewhere further down the list - Chinese teachers who did ok at English when there were at university, but never really had the opportunity to use the language in normal conversations to build up correct grammar and idiomatic and idiosyncratic language, who use outdated teaching techniques. (this is many of those teachers who are getting advertised on billboards) Remember - language competency is not the same as communicative competency!
.
.
.
Somewhere else on the list - native speakers who don't know the ins and outs of their own language, and have no idea how to teach - but have the right look.
Your post implies that English teachers (even native ones) haven't tried to learn a language. This would actually be incorrect for a large number of teachers here.
3 -
dom87:
i actually agree, you do not need a native to teach the language.
Natives do not understand the difficulties and complexity of the language.
This is given a point... does not apply for high level english (business etc.)
But give the fact that chinese all suck at english, they are of course better off hiring a native.
My native German teacher sucked, my non native english teacher was great.
And yes most native english teachers can only speak one language but certainly did not learn english the same way as they have to teach now
