Even so, it seems to me that in China there are parents who do not do the necessary checks to
ensure that their kids won't be placed in a situation abroad where they will be in
trouble academically because of their poor English skills. Too many Chinese students
sent abroad to further their education do not perform well. I think not enough attention
is paid to their English skills and also to their motivation to study hard before they
are sent abroad. Also, many Chinese students are immature for their age compared to
western students. So, they are incapable of making the correct choices by themselves.

Every year there are dozens of students leaving our high school and going abroad to study. Quite a large percentage of those students, (I would put a 'realistic guesstimate' of around 20%), cannot speak English or have abysmal English ability. These same students have spent years in the same classrooms as their classmates, many of whom have excellent English skills. So who's fault is it? Parents (obviously) want to blame the teachers, or school, for their child's lack of ability, because their 'little prince/princess' can surely 'do no wrong'.

Many of these kids don't even WANT to go abroad to study. Their parents are forcing them to go just so they can brag to their friends that their son/daughter is studying abroad. Those that don't 'make it' can just return to China and go to work in 'Daddy's factory', where they will undoubtedly be paid a handsome salary for playing on their mobile phone all day, just like they do now.

I personally believe that too many FT's in China try too hard to 'teach' these kids, and often get frustrated and annoyed when they fail to succeed. I adopted the approach long ago that I'm not here to 'teach' students, I'm here to 'help them learn'. If they don't want to be taught; if they don't want to learn; it's a waste of time. Like the old saying goes - 'You can lead a horse to water........'

I believe that my classroom time is better spent on helping kids who genuinely want to improve their English skills, rather than forcing/punishing those students who just want to sleep or play on their phone throughout the lesson. Come exam time they just get a big fat 'zero'. It's then up to them to explain to their parents why they are wasting their money on expensive tuition fees.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - Training centres may be 'scummy' and 'trashy', but they have a much higher % of students who actually have a desire to learn. It's sad that these same training centres often provide their 'hungry students' with a much lower calibre teacher. (No offence meant, but I think you get my meaning)