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Life in China Teaching Abroad

Life in China Teaching Abroad. Fuxin, China (Spring 2011). Topics of Presentation. Parallels to River Town & Peace Corps Dynamics of Life in China Educational System How can this experience help you in an American classroom? Thoughts on living abroad for 6 years.

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Life in China Teaching Abroad

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  1. Life in China Teaching Abroad Fuxin, China (Spring 2011)

  2. Topics of Presentation • Parallels to River Town & Peace Corps • Dynamics of Life in China • Educational System • How can this experience help you in an American classroom? • Thoughts on living abroad for 6 years

  3. You’re Going to Fuxin, Not Fuling(Parallels to Hessler’s Experience) • Hessler offers a sentimental reflection of both positive and negative experiences • Sometimes snarky, yet insightful and respectful anecdotes offer a very articulate, personal view • Observations about cultural contrasts are funny, fascinating, a bit disturbing. • Some similarities, but your experience will be unique

  4. You’re Going to Fuxin, Not Fuling(Parallels to Hessler’s Experience) Peace Corps is not a good comparison to your job (length of service, interaction, perceptions) BUT, Both programs are mutually beneficial to both you and school - How? • A mixed set of emotions about life and job. (honeymoon, depression, adjustment) • Chinese culture may frustrate and charm, annoy and impress

  5. Parallels Shakespeare with Chinese Characteristics (Ch 2) Hessler conveys contradictions that will be part of your own experience. For example: • Rural poor students with a startling ability to analyze and appreciate Shakespere • Interpretation of literary themes reflection of culture “But almost always Robin Hood was caught” (p37). • School community is subject to political etiquette • You, like Hessler, must “negotiate your way through this political landscape”

  6. ParallelsShakespeare with Chinese Characteristics (Ch 2) • Like Hessler, you must establish an understanding of Chinese views about you as waiguoren • Students, Teachers, Administrators, Community members present different relationship dynamics and etiquette • Chinese worldview may surprise and disturb at times • Eg Jingoism, Nationalism, Xenophobia • Confucianism and school norms dictate you understand the unwritten rules of teacher/student relationship

  7. Student Motivation • Intrinsic (more durable) • Desire to learn, intellectual curiosity • Aspirations, goals, spiritual growth • Shame or guilt • Extrinsic • Parental pressure (fear) • Praise/extra privileges • Allowance/ job/salary • Course credit (Huitt, 2001)

  8. Student Motivation It (English) plays a major role in determining what university middle school graduates can choose and in selecting college graduates for further education. It is also an influential factor in deciding what jobs and salaries people can get in the job market. As Chinese people become richer and have more contact with people from other countries, the probability for them to travel abroad becomes higher too. For these reasons, Chinese students are often highly motivated to study English (Hao, Liu & Hao, 2004).

  9. Student Motivation The real challenge…is that most of your students cannot see a clear association between working hard to learn English and a direct and immediate positive outcome…(Huitt, 2001) How do you create intrinsic motivation? • Build confidence, free of criticism, relaxed • Appraisal of skill level for each student • Group activities in every class (varied abilities) • Keep it fun – age appropriate discussions • Ask the students what they want to discuss • If you are a sincere, caring person then they will engage

  10. China’s Education SystemMiddleKingdomLife.com

  11. PedagogyTraditional Approach • Grammar/Translation method • Teacher centered • Presentation/lecture style • Lessons are text based • Note taking, recitation, and written exercises

  12. Pedagogy“Western” Approach • Communicative/Collaborative • Discussion • Activity based • Constructivism • Student centered • Chinese education becoming a mix of styles today, depends on your school demographics

  13. Generalizations on Education • Middle schools(junior and senior) • Public schools vary widely in quality • Rural vs Urban (issue of government support) • Calls for reform – equitable distribution of school funds

  14. Observations on Educationby Anna Greenspan, PhD • China has a long history of standardized tests, beginning with the ancient imperial exams initiated during the Sui Dynasty • Chinese students are taught that all questions have but one right answer and there is little room for debate.

  15. Observations on Chinese Education • Chinese students develop what appears to many Westerners to be a shocking capacity for memorization. • In China, there is an increasing desire to make education more American. The lack of creativity in education will soon prove a major stumbling block in her development. Anna Greenspan, PhD, Philosophy – NYU, Shanghai campus

  16. Four Stages of Culture Shock • Honeymoon Stage • Withdrawal or Negotiation • Adjustment • Enthusiasm or Assimilation (Farrar, 2009)

  17. Culture Shock Peace Corps Honeymoon Stage – an exhilarating sense of excitement and adventure. Impressed with the exotic differences in culture. Withdrawal or Negotiation Stage – Within a month or so, new and unpleasant feelings of frustration and anger may arise. In your encounters, you may lose patience with strange and offensive aspects of life (people and practices) This may include language barrier, public hygiene, traffic safety, food quality, overall creature comforts, customer service. You must try to adjust with the help of other Westerners and the realization that you will not acculturate fully in six months

  18. Culture Shock Peace Corps theory Adjustment Stage – You will settle in and become more confident. A routine and level of comfort will emerge often with the acquisition of basic language skills. (Farrar, 2009) Assimiliation Stage – You will not reach this stage before you go. Remember, it took Hessler over a year before he reached this stage

  19. Face – An Ubiquitous Set of Rulesmian (Chinese: 面) • Face governs relationships, both social and professional • “Face is the respectability and/or deference which a person can claim for himself from others, by virtue of the relative position he occupies in his social network.” • “[Face] is something that is emotionally invested, and that can be lost, maintained, or enhanced, and must be constantly attended to in interaction.” Brown & Levinson, 1978:66

  20. Setting Expectations for Yourself Why are you going to Fuxin? • Altruism? • Experience? • Adventure? • All of the Above? What do you want to accomplish? Be realistic about language and acculturation

  21. Survival LanguageRealistic Expectations

  22. Cultural Trends • “Confucianism and Communism have never been happy bedfellows.” • In the 1960s, at the height of the Cultural Revolution, Confucius was vilified. • GaigeKaifang (Reform and Opening) from Deng Xiaoping, 1978.

  23. Cultural Trends • Rapid Industrialization (Compare US Industrial Revolution) • Urbanization • Environmental degradation • Housing problems • Income gap growing • Consumerism

  24. Culture and EducationJingoism • Political or economic statements, cultural assumptions and sterotypes. General commentary that seem silly and incorrect but, are an aspect of everyday interactions. Some examples: • Taiwan is part of China • Only foreigners have AIDS • Americans are noisy and rude • You will be surprised at what you hear so, be prepared to respond politely. (Don’t challenge)

  25. Culture and EducationXenophobia • Some Chinese, like Americans, fear or dislike foreigners. • This attitude is fading but, I made children cry in South Korea • Don’t worry, you are a guest and a teacher in training • You will be accorded respect and warm welcome

  26. Long Term Benefits • New perspectives on teaching methods • Develop own style and persona • Cultural sensitivity • Resume Builder • Adventure & lifetime memories

  27. References • Cortazzi, M & Jin, L. (1996). English Teaching and Learning in China. Language Teaching. 29: 61-80. • Greenspan, A. (2008). China Vs. America? Learning Strategies in the 21st Century. TheGlobalist.com. • Hessler, P. (2001). River Town, Two Years on the Yangtze. Harper Collins New York. • Hessler, P. (Summer, 2010). A Journey Between China’s Past and Present. Social Education 74, (pp28-31) • Xie, Xiaoyan. (Aug 2009). Why are students quiet? Looking at the Chinese context and beyond. ELT Journal v 64/1 • China Daily News (online) • DavesESL.com • Xinhuan News (online)

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