I used to work in China on a Z visa from 2009-2012. It is good that the Chinese government has become more strict when hiring foreign teachers. However, I am also wary of the new technology the Chinese government uses to monitor their citizens and foreigners. This new system can be abused. As for some foreigners ... Full Comment>>

So this is another way for China to steal technology from Western countries. Since many Western entrepreneurs see China as a big market, they will surely be tempted to put up businesses in China. The big tech Companies like Google were not able to resist this temptation. Then, in the future, China will become more ... Full Comment>>

The dowry system is expected in most Chinese families even here in my own country. The male's family should provide the house while the wife's family should provide the furniture, for example. In many instances, it is the male's family who will provide for almost everything. Indians also have their dowry system with ... Full Comment>>

Well, it can also be daft the other way around. It is just natural to ask questions that may seem foolish to the foreigner. Westerners have asked people from another country assuming questions. Westerners also asked foreigners if they like the former's food. Many Chinese are asked how good they are in math. An ... Full Comment>>

Hmm, I've worked in Shanghai and Beijing and visited Nanjing, Hangzhou, and other minor cities. I prefer Shanghai despite its high cost of living because they are more open to foreigners and are used to them on a daily basis. They are seen as snobs by their fellow Chinese from other cities and rightly so but my ... Full Comment>>

This is off topic but I wonder what course he is studying and when was the time he actually enrolled. If he first came to China in 2011, I am curious whether he started studying during that year or he started out as a tourist first. It seems to me that he is an overstaying student or he started high school in China ... Full Comment>>

Don't worry because Filipino teachers need to show their valid professional teaching license, teaching experience,authenticated diplomas, and NBI clearance that are also required by the Philippine government before these workers can leave the country. For maids, most probably they will be asked to show their ... Full Comment>>

Hmm, let us see how this will truly flesh out. Many HK and Singaporeans complain about Filipino maids and kept telling them to leave HK and Singapore. I am curious what will happen next. Full Comment>>

It is only natural that each country will have their own cultural traits and norms. Heck, even within one country you will find varying cultural traits and norms and subcultures. What is important is to understand that all of us have our own habits and viewpoints that are shaped by our own family and society we grew ... Full Comment>>

This is usually an Asian thing. Even Indians and Southeast Asians prefer to have "whiter" skins and the reason is because fair skin connotes being upper class. Full Comment>>

Because many native speakers of English are monolingual, they have no idea what learning a second language entails. Many native speakers of English look down on ESL learners and even make fun of the latter for making a lot of linguistic mistakes. This article said that someone learning Chinese can actually learn how ... Full Comment>>

In each culture, there are rules about what constitutes as rude and what constitutes as natural tactlessness LOL. Anyway, I am a bit non-PC. In the West, the PC culture has made it almost impossible to be honest about one's observations that the issue of obesity has become political. Yes, it might be rude to say ... Full Comment>>

However, a good teacher should at least know how to spell. If you are not teaching writing, maybe you can get away with it; but then again, even when teaching speech, you may need to write words on the board. Misspellings are frowned upon when it comes to English teaching or any language teaching. I know some people ... Full Comment>>

Not really. A good teacher can use an eclectic teaching method. I did that in my ESL classes and it worked. You just combine some rote learning style and then transition to fun and games using flash cards or other language games. Full Comment>>

It is erroneous to think that teaching ESL to preschool kids means babysitting or giving the required care for kids and that's it. I am a licensed teacher and preschool kids should also be exposed to correct spelling as well as correct pronunciation. Older preschool kids need to learn how to read sight words and not ... Full Comment>>

I used to work in China as an English trainer of foreign teachers. I am Filipino, too. Unfortunately, with the new laws in China regarding foreign teachers, Filipinos can no longer teach English in China. Only native speakers of English are allowed to work in China. It also changed for them since they are now ... Full Comment>>

A lot of schools in Asia tend to have more than 30 students and can even reach 70 per class. That is why many teachers in Asia tend to get burnt out compared to their Western counterparts who have unions to protect them. Full Comment>>

I do not understand why number of hours are questioned in China. In my country, a professional teacher has to teach a maximum of 6 hours a day. The remaining two hours are spread out as a vacant period, recess, or corridor duties. Then, teachers can go home but still do their jobs preparing their materials and check ... Full Comment>>

And Filipinos can speak English and many understand Western culture so Western expats prefer them over other nationalities. Full Comment>>

Wow, what a tiresome process. I used to work in China as an ESL trainer and the consulting company did the entire process with a little effort from me and they also paid for all the fees. During that time, I was a bit pissed that high school graduates from English-speaking countries could get hired as teachers even ... Full Comment>>

Native speakers should also learn to empathize by thinking this way: "If I am learning Chinese for the first time and have few vocabulary to carry me through ordinary conversation, what will I do?" Vocabulary is the key so vocabulary building is a must so that the students will be able to use the necessary ... Full Comment>>

The reality in life is the race is not to the swift. That is why many brilliant people are poor and are not CEOs. This Sarah may be seen as sneaky and she is but she has displayed business savvy that most of us do not have. Business techniques are kinda like that LOL. She knows how to negotiate but before ... Full Comment>>

I am a Filipino with Chinese blood. Filipino-Chinese serve some of the above dishes so I believe there has to be some Chinese influence in their cooking because it is not exactly Filipino cuisine. I believe the Chinese in the West also used Chinese influence in their dishes overseas. It might be a fusion of East and ... Full Comment>>

Western countries also do not have jobs to offer their citizens. It is a global thing. Why would Westerners go to China to work? The backpackers are a different breed. They just want to live their lives touring different places, whether there is global slump or not. However, Westerners have a problem looking for a ... Full Comment>>

It is because of the new rule about native speakers coming only from the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, and South Africa. However, there are some schools who hire white people from other countries. Full Comment>>