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Q: Are you really a Foreign Expert?
NiceBrice (hey, refreshing that you actually decided to participate, for a change, in your own thread!) got me thinking about something regarding his comparison of foreign teachers to local ones.
Are you really a Foreign Expert (meaning, of course, that you are doing a job that cannot be done by a local Chinese person)?
My specific questions are:
1. Are you uniquely qualified for the job that you are doing?
2. Are you actually performing the task that you are contracted for or just a white face/dancing monkey?
3. Do you continue to upgrade your skills and abilities or are you just coasting along and enjoying the pay?
4. Do you feel frustrated (I had a previous thread regarding this issue) that you cannot perform at your optimal level because you are perceived as a necessary evil rather than a true Foreign Expert?
5. What's your career path in your current position? Will this benefit you more staying in China or if you return home?
8 years 27 weeks ago in Business & Jobs - China
Yes, Chinese (generally) lack understanding of the world because of what they are taught in school. They focus too much on the superficial and not on the practical (see article about Chinese handwriting, writing nonsensical sentences neatly is great). How many times have I had to tell managers that they should advertise the school to the people who are likely to use their services. They are stuck in the Chinese way of doing things, word of mouth through my circle of friends and acquaintances, so their business suffers because they refuse to spend a little kuai to let people know they exist.
Look at how they run their businesses?! Completely contrary to all business logic. They purposefully treat their workers like shit so the most talented leave. Then when revenue takes a hit they double down on failed logic and find new ways to cheat and degrade their employees. Management does not listen at all to their employees suggestions.
Everything is relative, standing next to Einstein I'm a door knob. In China, I'm Einstein jacked up on that limitless drug.
Hell yeah I'm an Expert doing a job that no Chinese (mainlander) can do.
silverbutton1:
I just found out the real reason why Chinese Parents are so dead-set to get their childen to college outside of China (preferably into a westernized one). They come back to China, and apply western learned business logic to their start-up and blow the competition away.
I most certainly am not... of course I am also on a spousal visa so the expectations of any expertness should be low.
Sinobear:
I'm married too...and hell if I know what is right any more 
Scandinavian:
well Sino, as long as we have someone to tell us what is right.
1. I would not say that I am "uniquely qualified" per se because there are many other people that are equally qualified. I would class myself as a foreign expert simply because China is severely lacking in my own skills base and I have made improvements where I have been assigned to do so.
2. I am contracted to perform my role by overseas companies. If I was not performing the task to an adequate standard, they would withdraw the contracts.
3. I regularly peruse the internet, trade literature, codes of practice, take part in webinars, attend symposia and training events etc., to keep up to date with global changes in my field. Many changes have recently taken place and I am expected to enact them.
4. I get frustrated with Chinese attitudes within my field of expertise. The Chinese, generally speaking, believe there is nothing that foreign nationals can add that would improve the situation in my field. Evidence would clearly suggest otherwise.
5. I am self employed so I have come as far as I can in China. The only thing that can change is the business gets bigger or turnover increases. I would probably be able to achieve my ambitions by returning home but it is difficult now because of my investment in China.
You said I got you thinking about the differences between foreign teachers and local ones. What were your thoughts?
One difference is that they are experts, and I'm definitely not. I have a FEC because it's just the loophole to legally work here. I didn't go to school for teaching and had no experience teaching before I started working as a teacher. This is true for almost all foreign teachers in China, and maybe you too?
If you checklist was a way to get me to understand that I'm not an expert, I already no delusions that I was lol
You're weird, Sinobear. Super weird...
Me?
1.I have a Master's Degree in Education.
2. I have spent many years doing what I learned how to do and thus am qualified to do but felt that it was a waste of time. Try to do what I am best at but mgmt basically relegates me to the dancing monkey routine.
3. Always upgrading. I'm a binge-reader. Others play endless computer games and watch TV shows, I read. I do MOOC courses, attend seminars and other training sessions as time permits. The eternal student.
4. Naturally, I'm frustrated that everything that I've tried to do boils down to, "This China and this is the way we've always done things..." so I'm working on getting my wife a visa so my family can GTFO of China.
5. Updating my skills and qualifications are a way of compensating for being in China for so long.
I did not start this thread to "target" anyone personally. But, yes, I am weird.
NiceBrice said: "...I didn't go to school for teaching and had no experience teaching before I started working as a teacher. This is true for almost all foreign teachers in China..."
Not me. I have a degree in Education. I'm a qualified and certified teacher. I have six years experience. My last job was as a principal of a small school. Like Sinobear I am always trying to make myself a better teacher and consider myself a reflective practitioner. I try and keep myself abreast of new things that are happening in education but most of this is pointless as it has little use in China.
I feel a strong obligation to my students to provide engaging and stimulating lessons. I believe in education.
NiceBrice:
Good for you?
You're an exception.
Guys, I brought this up in the other thread not so you guys could reaffirm yourselves, but to question why you automatically when after the Chinese teachers when most of the stupid, unprofessional stuff is done by the inexperienced, incompetent foreign teachers.
Englteachted:
NiceBrice, I taught for 4 years in America. I worked with others who were former teachers in their home country. You are referring to training centers.
I am an expert. But I am not foreign.
I share the same minuscule spec of blue as everyone else in this solar system.
Before we define who is foreign, we need to define what a border is.
Is it a fence? Is it cultural differences? Is it religion? Skin colour? Hopes? Aspirations?
Ha. My daughter does not see me as foreign. She calls me daddy.
How wonderful it would be if we could all regress to being 3 year olds and play together. And all grow up together keeping our innocence.
I hold hands with my Muslim family, we hold hands for freedom. We are united together. No matter what your religion. Even if we are agnostic or atheist. We respect each others rights. We stand united against the stupidity of war. There is no point to war. Stupidity beyond human comprehension.
1.I have a certificate in Early Childhood Care and Education.Refs in teaching.
2.Iam a Kindergarten English Teacher.So yes Im doing the job Iam meant to do.
3.I have looked into it but dont have the money to upgrade.
4.yes I feel under the right conditions I would be a better teacher than what Iam now,the kindergarten where I work has taken a big step backwards since new owners have taken over.they are not really into education they just want to make money.Manha is a company in Shenzhen.
5.I really dont know,I feel that Iam stuck in China due to my age and I have nothing back home in New Zealand.I always wanted to do a parents class,parents and children together.I have done parents classes here at the kindergarten and Im very good at that.
Iam also married and on a spousal visa,I m not an expert but Iam good at my job.I have been teaching kindergarten for 15 years in China.I can go into a class of 30 k1 or k2 children and know what to do.
Yes, Chinese (generally) lack understanding of the world because of what they are taught in school. They focus too much on the superficial and not on the practical (see article about Chinese handwriting, writing nonsensical sentences neatly is great). How many times have I had to tell managers that they should advertise the school to the people who are likely to use their services. They are stuck in the Chinese way of doing things, word of mouth through my circle of friends and acquaintances, so their business suffers because they refuse to spend a little kuai to let people know they exist.
Look at how they run their businesses?! Completely contrary to all business logic. They purposefully treat their workers like shit so the most talented leave. Then when revenue takes a hit they double down on failed logic and find new ways to cheat and degrade their employees. Management does not listen at all to their employees suggestions.
Everything is relative, standing next to Einstein I'm a door knob. In China, I'm Einstein jacked up on that limitless drug.
Hell yeah I'm an Expert doing a job that no Chinese (mainlander) can do.
silverbutton1:
I just found out the real reason why Chinese Parents are so dead-set to get their childen to college outside of China (preferably into a westernized one). They come back to China, and apply western learned business logic to their start-up and blow the competition away.
enjoying the pay really lol the pay dosnt even pay for my golf balls or gas in my car enjoying the pay lol
