This is hilarious!

I love how Chinese students judge a teacher based on his/her appearance!

Classic!

I'd say one benefit of having a foreign teacher/native speaker is hearing how a 'normal/average' speaker speaks a language.....slang, pronunciation, etc.

I agree with everything Pylin said here 100%

I agree with eslguy 100%.

" HOW can we send our FAT UGLY teacher back to america" . You are right - americans are ' fat and ugly'.

And most of them - not only americans (canadians, british, australians and others)come to China for entertainment. They spend their time going here and there, travelling and dating young girls just like YOU( and if u were a decent girl - who were focused only on studies they would probably behave a little bit differently.)I remember my country.. I used to work in college , we had one american lady( older woman ,not very attractive) - I remember my students just loved her. In my country LOOK is not important about person- but knowledge. I do not know how good she was at teaching ( didn't observe her class) but students liked her - because she was bringing a real language -ENGLISH to the class. They needed and liked her teaching - because they wanted to learn something from her that they can not learn from us. Though they were very demanding too.
Unfortunately, in China the situation is different.

You americans praise more Chinese and Asians. mmmmm what is his name Dou .. can't recall his name. He writes " why american women don't like asian women or something" Actually, I was looking for some teaching materials for my class and came across with that article. I think that guy has problems - he is obsessed with asian girls - I agree with chinese teachers here - they say you are paid high but doing nothing,just having fun in china. Exactly - otherwise that Dou would write something useful (someteaching tips or problems in teaching) so he is involved in these sexual activities with asians even wrote several articles about asian dating and how many girls he dated and how they are loveable - which is ridiculous.It again proves he is not teaching in China or wherever in Asia, he is playing ... or whatever.

( Just wait china will stop learning English and you all will need to learn CHINESE. China will be the most powerful country in the world soon. Just wait - and people like Dou will not need to go online dates. He will see gorgeous girls with chinky eyes just around him.)

I do not care about it but he could post his article in a different place. This is a teacher's forum. So this proves that you are here for datings, pleasure and entertainment , fun. Noone says do not have fun. But you could combine work and pleasure....

China is not the country which was 10 - 15 years back.Now they do not worship YOU.They do not smile to your face if you do not do a really good job. Almost all speak English (whether bad or good - they do communicate in english and can express their thoughts which is necessary in communication).

So they need more and more....just like in Japan and Korea. It is not very easy to be an English teacher there. They need quality now. You can be beautiful - young, attractive teacher with blue eyes and blonde hair .. but u also need to make your classes interesting and effective.
That's what they want from you.

And you,young lady do not worry ,your people are getting fat too.

Look - 3.6% of Shanghai kids are obese. You try to learn something from your "FAT and UGLY" american teacher. Believe me - you will never regret about it in future.

It seems that in the orient, edutainment takes priority over education.

As always, schools there are looking for the quick and easy way to learn English. But, anyone with common sense (usually a Western sense) knows that there aren't any gimmicks that truly work.

It takes time, patience and PRACTICE.

Now, I am not saying that one should not posses a certain amount of motivation. Some of that should be instilled by the teacher. However, being entertianed while judging ones teaching ability based on looks is something all too common in the orient.

Patience, work, effot, practice...............those are the keys to learning any foreign language.

Until the orient decides to wake up to this......they will always be left behind.

eslguy

What a load of racist tripe.

The notion that most Chinese people are 'better' at English than westerners is quite, quite laughable.

I have only met a few Chinese people who can speak really top-notch English.

China NEEDS its foreign teachers. I've met Chinese English Teachers who were trained with no FTs and even though they can write passable English (still full of mistakes), they can't really hold a conversation.

And the OP seemed to be saying that, basically, she wanted a dancing monkey rather than a real teacher. That's the problem, not the solution.

I understand a students frustration at having to deal with a variety of teaching styles. Everyone is different and this is often because the schools don't have a real plan on what they want us to teach the students. Being a 'native speaker' alone shouldn't qualify us as an English teacher. Most successful ESL teachers know this and respect others who share their qualifications (Masters degrees, TEFL/TEOFL degrees, Education B.A.'s, etc). However, many schools seek American, English, Australian, Canadian, etc. teachers because language is connected to our culture. We use idioms, slang, poetic devices, cultural references and the like on a consistant basis when we communicate fluently. If you are only seeking written English or grammar then by all means, any nationality would be fine at teaching you this. But for pronunciation, phonics, IELTS, etc. a native speaker is best. The fact that you are confusing 'fat' and 'ugly' with qualifications and ability is disturbing. When you learn English from a foreigner it is important to also understand our expectations. I too do not let my students talk a lot in class, or use their phones. All non-English work is put away. And sometimes my students don't want to do what I have planned. If you are learning to be an English teacher then you should know these things by now and have some respect for someone in your future profession.

"It's not a matter of what is true that counts but a matter of what is perceived to be true." --Henry Kissinger

While I would agree with you that many Western speakers of English are guilty of slowly eroding its elegance - one need look no further than these forums to find the "truth" of that - I would argue that your perception is not far seeing and therefore limited. There will always be those, perhaps a minority ( I have no data to suggest otherwise), whose interest in and excellent use of the language will negate the truth of your all encompassing statement.

"Some minds are like concrete, thoroughly mixed up and permanently set." --Rev. Denny Brake

I'm not sure how one could come to such a "truth." Again, perception seems to enter into that awareness, but facts, if they could be found, would no doubt refute it. Let's not forget that it was once perceived that African Americans were dull and ignorant; George Washington Carver died young as the result of not being taken to the nearest hospital when needing immediate attention after a car accident. A victim of a perception that Blacks of that time were undeserving of the same attention as Whites.

"When in doubt, tell the truth." --Mark Twain

Exactly which Americans are you referring to that you differentiate from Europeans or other Westerners? Are you suggesting, for example, that Asian Americans are not actually Americans? "Especially Americans," you say. Do you mean Americans that come to China? I'm an American in China - 154 pounds, 5' 11" - is that fat? I may be homely in your eyes; beauty is definitely in the eyes of the beholder, but again we're talking about perception. The last data I came across regarding obesity in the West was that Europeans and Americans pretty much matched up at around 63 percent falling into the category of overweight, and I've seen quite a few fat Brits waddling around this campus. Mr. Twain had it right.

"When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken, or cease to be honest." --Unknown

"To be ignorant of ones ignorance is the malady of the ignorant." Bronson Alcott

"There is nothing more frightening than active ignorance."-- Goethe

Granted, some Westerners arrogantly believe in their superiority in all things. However, shouldn't we be talking about communicability? As a Phonetics teacher, a great deal of my work consists of correcting habitually incorrect English. Where were those habits formed? In English classes taught by Chinese teachers. But I often tell my students that, while these habits are not their fault - having picked them up from their past teachers - said habits are not the fault of their past Chinese teachers either; they simply were not taught correctly by their teachers and so on. In other words the "blame game" has no constructive purpose. None of this, though, would really matter if their speech was intelligible; but, unfortunately it generally is not until they have learned the intricacies of stress, intonation and the rhythm of the language coupled with correct pronunciation. In the future, when enough Chinese have learned these things it will reduce the need to hire Western teachers. I look forward to that time perhaps as much as you do.

"The thought that provokes thought is much more valuable than the thought that is only an echo of an accepted truth." - Thomas W. Hanford

Perhaps China is a paradise that attracts Western fools. I've seen plenty of them. I've also seen many who are not fools. So, although, your statement regarding Western fools is a rather sweeping generality, along with all your other so called "truths," I do applaud your need to provoke thought. I'm not sure why you would choose to do so under the guise of a Chinese student or teacher though - it seems a bit disingenuous.

Am I missing something here?

Take it easy, fellow FTs. Isn't it obvious that Wang Honglau is really a foreign teacher satirising a negative mindset that is exhibited by quite a lot of students of English in China? He's being ironic! I don't even think he's trolling. He's actually supporting FTs who often have to cope with that mindset when teaching English in China. To be honest, I think the original post was also tongue-in-cheek. There's nothing to argue about here.

Good post Wang Honglau!

You have just provided me with all the evidence I need to back up my previous post. You and the other turtle spawn on this site. I'd suggest you ask the teachers who instructed you in English for a refund, but given where they come from, and who they were instructed by, I doubt they would be able to deal in numbers beyond what they can count on their hands.

Nice try, and I'm sure you smell like a vulture's crotch.

Not worthy of a response; however, I would like to hear an ape bark. And I'd love to hear you speak - English or Chinese, in a manner that does not sound as if you're speaking gibberish with a mouthful of peanuts.

Be a little more objective bendan.

Wang hong lau:

I deduce that you are a teacher and I' sorry to say these. I have always wondered why Chinese students have distorted values, impolite, disrespectful and have bad learning attitudes. Now, it's clear to me that they've taken it all from the equally stupid, disrespectful and lunatic Chinese teachers of your kind.

I was not wrong then to say that student's misbehaviour in class (not only in their English classes) was due to the tolerance and encouragement from teachers like you.

Respectfulness is a virtue which should be cultivated in each person whatever origin he comes from, whatever status in life he has, dumb or intelligent, ugly or beautiful, fluent in English or not...this is what I kept on pointing out in all my posts. So sad to note, that you as a teacher condones misbehaviour to the extent of justifying it yourself. Shame on you!!! You should not be a teacher...you are comparable to a beast in the jungle...oh, it's where Chinese evolved from, right? You eveolved from your "Peking Man"...I don't even want to compare you to him for I'm not sure if he had the same character as you and your students have..i'm afraid he must have had better morals.

You'd better sit down with your students in a Character Education class. But again...who's gonna be your teacher? a Chinese? Forget it.

Oh, and you are enraged with the higher pay Foreign teachers get... well.. if you think you can do better.. why on earth do you invite others to come and teach you? And you find find them barking like apes??? Why don't you sit down and listen how Chinese people shout to each other like barbarians...you can't even recognize whether they are just speaking or rather fighting. You're such a stupid idiot. A typical Chinese who have just learned a little of English and presumes he's now better than his teacher...remember the fly on top of a cow(?)? You're just that FLY.

GROW UP and BEHAVE.

Yeah, you're right..."THE TRUTH HURTS" ...you and your Chinese students should be the FIRTS to remeber that.

In everything you've said there lies the HIDDEN TRUTHS that YOU must accept..find these out yourself.

Now if you don't know how...just change all the words "American" to the word "Chinese".. then you'll understand what I mean.

Good luck.

I don't see why so many people are getting mad about what is being said. The truth is the truth and should be accepted no matter how painful.

Truth 1 = Most Westerners (especially Americans) are stupid, ignorant and lazy. We learn English far quicker than you do, and we Chinese are far better at teaching it. Once we've mastered it, we make few if any mistakes. Compare that to the bungled, horrific English garbage westerners use.

Truth 2 = Chinese students are far more intelligent than western students or even teachers. The fact that western teachers are so inept and feeble-minded is why our students feel entitled to use MP3s and mobile phones in the classroom. Why should they humour an ignorant teacher when they are already more advanced then said westerner will ever be?

Truth 3 = Westerners (especially Americans) ARE FAT and homely. Why should Chinese students show respect to hideous foreigners?

Truth 4 = Westerners are arrogant. What makes you think that your version of English is superior? If we by choice opt to use "Chinglish" what right to you have to correct us? Compared to Chinese teachers, Americans are stupid fools whose speech is more similar to that of the barking of apes than people.

Truth 5 = Western teachers are paid more than they deserve, and act like fools. You are our guest and it is your privilege to "teach" here. We do not need to show you any respect. You can be replaced, and should be replaced by a Chinese teacher.

The truth hurts, get used to it.

I'm very sorry you feel that way Lily. In addition to your ridiculous statement that you don't need native English speaking teachers you also resort to insults of a racist nature.

Let me address your first complaint. If your writing is anything to go by you need help with your English. You say your an English major? Well, if I was marking your essays you would still be studying English 101. I do understand, however, that you probably graduated with the help of your Chinese lecturer, if you get my drift.

Secondly, regarding your racist comments and outrageous ignorance, teachers are not employed for your entertainment, rather, they are employed to help you with your goals of attaining English as a second language. If you are happy with your 'Chinglish' and don't feel the need for a native speaking English teacher, then I suggest to you to save your money and look for Chinese teacher.

It would appear, in regard to your accusation that foreign teachers are 'stupid', that you fit very well a flawed psychological trait of projected insecurity.

Good luck to you Lily, and may all your vowels turn to consonants and leave you dumb!

My postings were not to justify the incompetence of FTs, which you think they are.

I dwell more on the lack of "values" most Chinese students have.

If you would read the post of Lili again, it clearly reflects improper learning behaviour and rudeness of Chinese students, whether she belongs to the minority or majority.

Well of course, that is if she is really in fact a Chinese student, not an FT, as you have insinuated.

I rest my case.

I hate Americans, I think we can speak the English better than they can. Our grammar is better and we have better word knowledge. We are also better students. But they get paid more than Chinese teachers. We need to remove the foreigners and find more Chinesse to teach us. Why do we need to show respect for foreigners when we students are smarter then they are?

Thanks for the laugh 'Lili," and thanks for creating a thread that exposes the need for many of these posters to pounce upon any and all opportunities to justify their incompetence in the classroom as being the fault of the students and not themselves. In addition, thanks for the temporary reprise from the inanity of their anti Frank postings - postings which have become more and more based on opinion and vindictiveness and less and less on reality.

Wake up and smell the coffee dudes. If you think "Lili's" post was actually written by a Chinese student and not an FT whose ability to pull your collective legs is priceless, then you're even less observant and cognizant of reality than I had previously imagined. Yep, she/he GOTCHA!

But do sit up and take notice folks. There is a growing impatience that reflects the frustration of the student community at large in China at having to accept less than qualified Westerners as their instructors. But don't take it too personally; that frustration is not reserved only for the teachers. So, you can take some solace in the fact that they are also recognizing that the school leaders are complicit in this fiasco by blindly hiring any white face that happens by and placing their dumb asses in a classroom where hope and excitement quickly fade due to their having to accept so many dumb asses as their instructors.

Yes indeed, just like the fat ass American generals, you better start developing an exit strategy because sooner than you might think you will be expected to "get on outta Dodge." Gee, here's an idea: Go get some training and then try again elsewhere. Of course, though, some of us will miss you....Not!

Finally, if you do really think yourselves qualified to continue teaching in China, perhaps your time would be better spent if you complained less and researched more. There are many success stories in China in terms of second language acquisition. Try acquainting yourselves with some of them. Or, better yet, start by realizing that language is acquired not learned and see if that realization might guide you down a path where you suddenly realize that your failed attempts at "teaching" may have something to do with you and not the majority of your students. Yes, there will always be a minority in your classroom that shouldn't be there and/or don't want to be there in the first place, but that's not the real issue.

"YOU LITTLE STIRRER,YOU"

Your statement is the perfect embodiment of how "beautiful" people are. But Lili is not a little girl... a Chinese college student...she doesn't deserve kindness.

But you're right, she stirred this issue... so let's give her what she deserves.

These Chinese students should learn how to respect other people. Who do they think they are?

They are the most impolite and ugliest human race on earth!!! she should know that...of course, they know it...didn't they descend from that "Peking man"... a monkey!!!!!

i cant imagine this degree of rudeness, why will someone have the guts to insult his teacher and more to that americans.dont be angry or cry foul when others do criticize u as a chinese or say the same words to u, no body is forcing u to learn english, chinese is enough for u , so shut up and be polite. a question. where is the biggest market for make up and surgery?ofcourse china,every girl in china wants to be beautiful?why . u can answer this question...

You little stirrer, you!