Learning Chinese
Kathleen Whitfield
My son is studying Chinese and he is frequently lectured about how he cannot
miss class -- ever (this is in response to our taking him to visit his
grandmother in Albuquerque), if he expects to "be a good Chinese student."
My daughter used to be in the same class, but she got sick of the way she
was being treated and she knew it was her choice to attend or not. The
teacher kept on telling me about how I needed to get her a tutor because she
wasn't picking things up as quickly as she should. That was not my take on
how she was doing, although I knew she was not responding well to aspects of
the class that had nothing to do with learning the language (I've sat in on
the class). But when I told the teacher that my daughter wouldn't be going
to class anymore, the teacher told me, "Oh, she was doing so well!"
I talked to a friend who is native-born Chinese about my daughter's
experience, and she said it was familiar to her from her experiences in
Chinese schools. She said: Chinese teachers like children and want them to
do well, so they are genuinely sad when a student does not continue in a
class. Chinese teachers will say a child "isn't doing well" when they are
not happy with something else about the child. Chinese teachers expect the
children and the parents to make all the effort, to adapt to the teacher and
the system.
The Chinese class is very regimented: The children sit in order according to
their birthdays and there are many lectures about how a good Chinese student
acts. They do processions like my husband did in Catholic grade school in
the 1950s and early 1960s. We've had some interesting values-based
discussions about it in our family. I've asked my son if Chinese class is
something he wants to do (it frankly is sort of a pain to get him to the
class because of the time and location of it), and he's adamant that he
wants to continue. My daughter is still interested in learning Chinese, but
she's choosing to watch DVDs in the language.
I guess I'm writing because I suspect that schools *in China* would be a
huge shock for U.S.-born people.
Kathleen
kmckernan@...
miss class -- ever (this is in response to our taking him to visit his
grandmother in Albuquerque), if he expects to "be a good Chinese student."
My daughter used to be in the same class, but she got sick of the way she
was being treated and she knew it was her choice to attend or not. The
teacher kept on telling me about how I needed to get her a tutor because she
wasn't picking things up as quickly as she should. That was not my take on
how she was doing, although I knew she was not responding well to aspects of
the class that had nothing to do with learning the language (I've sat in on
the class). But when I told the teacher that my daughter wouldn't be going
to class anymore, the teacher told me, "Oh, she was doing so well!"
I talked to a friend who is native-born Chinese about my daughter's
experience, and she said it was familiar to her from her experiences in
Chinese schools. She said: Chinese teachers like children and want them to
do well, so they are genuinely sad when a student does not continue in a
class. Chinese teachers will say a child "isn't doing well" when they are
not happy with something else about the child. Chinese teachers expect the
children and the parents to make all the effort, to adapt to the teacher and
the system.
The Chinese class is very regimented: The children sit in order according to
their birthdays and there are many lectures about how a good Chinese student
acts. They do processions like my husband did in Catholic grade school in
the 1950s and early 1960s. We've had some interesting values-based
discussions about it in our family. I've asked my son if Chinese class is
something he wants to do (it frankly is sort of a pain to get him to the
class because of the time and location of it), and he's adamant that he
wants to continue. My daughter is still interested in learning Chinese, but
she's choosing to watch DVDs in the language.
I guess I'm writing because I suspect that schools *in China* would be a
huge shock for U.S.-born people.
Kathleen
kmckernan@...
[email protected]
You can get a DVD of El Cid in Chinese with subtitles (turn the subtitles to
Chinese with the language track to Chinese or English). They only cost
about $6 plus shipping, and I got a BUNCH of great Hong Kong stamps on the
package. For some reason it's not available yet straight out in English.
There are probably other movies in that situation too, not to mention movies
originally in Chinese. <g>
El Cid's my favorite movie of all time, so that's why I have that one.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Chinese with the language track to Chinese or English). They only cost
about $6 plus shipping, and I got a BUNCH of great Hong Kong stamps on the
package. For some reason it's not available yet straight out in English.
There are probably other movies in that situation too, not to mention movies
originally in Chinese. <g>
El Cid's my favorite movie of all time, so that's why I have that one.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
sheila
"There are probably other movies in that situation too, not to mention movies
originally in Chinese. <g>"
Here are lots of great Chinese products for kids, including some fun videos (like Sagwa).
http://www.chinasprout.com/shop
Sheila
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
originally in Chinese. <g>"
Here are lots of great Chinese products for kids, including some fun videos (like Sagwa).
http://www.chinasprout.com/shop
Sheila
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Robyn Coburn
<<<<<I guess I'm writing because I suspect that schools *in China* would be
a huge shock for U.S.-born people.>>>>
One of my h/s friends visited China with her family last year. They were all
astonished to find that there are almost no playgrounds with kid's equipment
either in schools or just around for the public. The few urban playgrounds
that exist apparently are part of some kind of special program instigated by
some Americans.
Robyn L. Coburn
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a huge shock for U.S.-born people.>>>>
One of my h/s friends visited China with her family last year. They were all
astonished to find that there are almost no playgrounds with kid's equipment
either in schools or just around for the public. The few urban playgrounds
that exist apparently are part of some kind of special program instigated by
some Americans.
Robyn L. Coburn
--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.7.5/18 - Release Date: 6/15/2005
K Krejci
While I'm certain there are many differences in the
systems, we were in Japan several years ago to visit
our close friend. He is a teacher in elementary/jr.
high level schools in Japan.
We were amazed at how the schools operate there. The
students have three uniforms - a lighter-weight
uniform and a heavy-weight uniform and a 'gym
clothes'-type uniform. They change them throughout
the day.
The classrooms in this particular town (and Dan told
us it is the norm) do not have heat or A/C. There are
no janitors. The kids are responsible for cleaning
the school every day. Lunch begins with a ceremony
that I didn't ever comprehend fully but involves two
students at the front of the room with signs on long
poles (so everyone can see) that look like a countdown
from 10 to 1 before anyone can eat.
The teachers are rather physical with the students,
poking them or thumping their heads, etc. The
students have their school day followed by clubs of
various kinds. Many of them are gone from 6AM to 6PM
every day, including Saturday.
It is a very different experience from any I have had
or seen here in the US. On the one hand, I could see
how their system brought the children into the active
care of the school. On the other hand,... well there
is a LOT of on the other hand!
Kathy
It's Good 2 B Dog Nutz!
http://www.good2bdognutz.com
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systems, we were in Japan several years ago to visit
our close friend. He is a teacher in elementary/jr.
high level schools in Japan.
We were amazed at how the schools operate there. The
students have three uniforms - a lighter-weight
uniform and a heavy-weight uniform and a 'gym
clothes'-type uniform. They change them throughout
the day.
The classrooms in this particular town (and Dan told
us it is the norm) do not have heat or A/C. There are
no janitors. The kids are responsible for cleaning
the school every day. Lunch begins with a ceremony
that I didn't ever comprehend fully but involves two
students at the front of the room with signs on long
poles (so everyone can see) that look like a countdown
from 10 to 1 before anyone can eat.
The teachers are rather physical with the students,
poking them or thumping their heads, etc. The
students have their school day followed by clubs of
various kinds. Many of them are gone from 6AM to 6PM
every day, including Saturday.
It is a very different experience from any I have had
or seen here in the US. On the one hand, I could see
how their system brought the children into the active
care of the school. On the other hand,... well there
is a LOT of on the other hand!
Kathy
It's Good 2 B Dog Nutz!
http://www.good2bdognutz.com
__________________________________
Yahoo! Mail
Stay connected, organized, and protected. Take the tour:
http://tour.mail.yahoo.com/mailtour.html