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Q: How the hell do you get Chinese to answer a straight question?
Not complicated stuff, like 'what is the meaning of life', but simple stuff, like 'has this class been taught x, y or z, before?'
How do you get a straight answer? How? How???
When u find out, let me know. I'm watching this thread for any type of answer.
Last week:
I ask my class, "Who has not given their report". Only one student raises his hand. I then ask again "Anyone else?". Silence. "So, everyone has finished?". Silence. Ok, good, we will then finish with Mr Chen's report next week and then we will do the exercise that you wanted so I will get the AV room reserved."
Yesterday,we are in the AV room and Mr Chen gives his report. I say "very good, let us begin with your exercise". However, before I can plug in the data stick, SIX students start to protest that they haven't given their report yet. I sigh deeply and tell them to begin. However, none of them had prepared their report EVEN THOUGH this class finishes early and we have final exams next week!!!!
Knowing better but unable to control myself, I hear my mouth asking "Why didn't you say anything last week when I asked??!! And you knew this was the last day of class because next class is the final exam, why didn't you bring your report today??!!". As you can guess, DEAD SILENCE, students looking at their hands or at their feet.
These same students did a terrible job in their midterms and were offended that I failed them (one scored 15 %!!!). The oral report is 25 % of their final mark and get this, when I offered to meet them 12:30 Friday, Monday and Tuesday so they could complete their report on time before the final (Thursday) they told me that they could not meet at that time because they "need to have a rest".
Thank goodness my boss backs me up! He told me that if they dont have enough points to pass, then dont pass them.
crimochina:
it amazes me how they find ways not to do the assignment but are insulted when they dont get credit for it. i would love to sit in on their chinese class to see if this BS flies there.
Here's the usual process:
1. Ask the question.
2. Ask the question again because they didn't understand you.
3. Ask the question again because they didn't give you an answer.
4. Ask "Are you sure?"
5. Accept whatever answer that person gives.
6. Later you find out that they left out something or were just saying yes to get you to stop asking.
7. *facepalm*
8. Repeat ad naseum.
Don't try to think about it too much. There are as many excuses as stars in the sky, and none of them are based on logic. TIC.
MissA:
Number 9: go to expat bar with co-workers and bitch about numbers 1-8, then wonder why you have spent too much this week! (Okay, I know you're a non-drinker jnus, but that's my process...)
Jnusb416:
Like being a non-smoker, being a person who doesn't drink much alcohol has several benefits, one of which is spending less money. In one of my classes today, I mentioned that it's cheaper to buy beers and drink them with friends at home than to go to a bar. It felt weird saying that though, because they seem more like high schoolers to me.
There's no AC in my classrooms...I'm in the south-east.
A class from 4 to 6 is a nightmare..You walk in and they're lying on their desks
with this zombified look in their eyes...forget about getting any response, you
might as well play 'em 'Night Of The Living Dead'
There is no way. They don't want to lose face, so they make up lies and excuses because they think you're an idiot and believe them. It's so ridiculous, because the truth is we can see through the lies and they are still losing face !
MissA:
It's so frustrating. At my school, classes are taught by local teachers, then later (in this case, yesterday) switch to a mix with us foreign teachers. So in this case I asked my new class's Chinese teacher about the progress. Now, their Chinese teacher, I've SEEN her teach the class, she's on the timetable for them, and I've specifically been told she's their local teacher by our supervisor. So I ask '"do they know this, this, or this, yet? I need to know so I can plan for them" (she looks stricken) "what? I don't know! no", "huh, this is your class, right?", "no", "but you're on the timetable for them, they're your class!" "no". The thing is, from next week, she's going to be my teaching assistant FOR THAT CLASS!!!
jyao87:
That is damn frustrating ! How much more concise can one be for them to understand ? I feel the pain. They can never give clear answers that make sense. Maybe shove the timetable in her face?
You don't. It may be possible to find the answer after asking about 12 different people the same question over a span of two or three months, but by then the answer may have changed.
Straight answer as opposed to the what gay Answer? I mean it depends some peoples answers may seem a little awkward and strange and that could just be your opinion. If you want a straight answer all the time you might not get what your asking for. Sometimes you have to accept the other answer instead! 
kchur:
You actually had a halfway good one there, matty, but you dragged it out way too long... brevity is the soul of wit.
MissA:
Sigh. Matty, would it be easier if I replaced the colloquialism 'straight' with the more, um, straightforward, 'simple'.
