Eddie Mills <ieeachina@yahoo.com> -- 5 August 2004

My name is Eddie Mills and I'm the Director of the International Education Exchange Association, Inc. (IEEA). My family and I really enjoy our life in China and we wish to help Hainan through education and poverty relief efforts. (www.hainan.motime.com or www.ieea-china.org)

We have had the honor of dining with the Vice-premier of China, the various officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing and Hainan Province as well as other officials from various provinces of China. I've received the "Coconut Island Friendship Award" which is offered by the Foreign Affairs Bureau to those who have contributed to Hainan.

This blog probably won't win any awards for being humorous but is written to provide reliable information concerning teaching and studying in China. Hopefully, it will be easy to understand by all who wish to be informed from experience instead of hearing from the six month novice, who is like a flea jumping from one school to the next inflicting pain and anguish.

After eleven years, I have seen it all, heard it all, and mostly realize that the problems that expats face in China are largely due to the "rumor mill" that is running crazy in China. The "he said/she said" or "I heard this" has probably caused more confusion in China than anything else. Most problems stem from the wrong EXPECTATIONS prior to arrival.

Here are some expectations that the Chinese have concerning Western teachers and also what your realizations should be prior to arrival:

EXPECTATIONS/REALIZATIONS:

1. You are a teacher not a tourist - Realize you are coming to China to teach and not to be a full time tourist.

2. You are considered an expert, so behave like one. Realize if you are not qualified to teach ESL or English, by all means prepare before arrival. There is no excuse for not being prepared prior to arrival.

3. You are expected to follow China's laws and regulations. Realize if you have trouble with rules and regulations, don't come. It's expected for you to conform.

4. If you want to study Chinese, come as a student and not as a teacher. Realize schools hate a teacher who shirks his/her duties in order to study Chinese. Don't be a freeloader.

5. If you want to preach Christianity from the classroom, realize teachers in Western countries can't, so don't try here.

6. If you want to promote some form of politics in the classroom, realize you will find yourself in serious trouble with the school and possibly on your way home.

7. If you love to complain, realize the school officials and teachers won't listen. Teachers who grip about everything are avoided like the plague.

These are simple thoughts but if you are not careful, you will arrive in China, visit the local expat hang-outs, hear the various troubles at schools, and without realizing what's really happening, you will fall into a trap of paranoia that will affect your stay in China.

Make friends with your FAO -- Foreign Affairs Officer. He or she will be surprised that you are willing to ask questions, especially if the other foreigners are misbehaving. Seek out the Dean of the English Department. Find out what their expectations are and what you can do to correct any situations that might be left over from a previous expat.

Most of all, be willing to be an ambassador for your country. Behave yourself, act like you have an education, be civilized and willing to learn from an ancient civilization that is rebuilding it's country. If you act right, the Chinese officials will act in accordance to your efforts. If you behave childishly, wildly, drunkenly, angrily, or unprofessionally, don't expect your stay in China to last or to be happy.

Most of all realize that BLAMING others is a weakness of our Western culture. Westerners are so quick to blame others without regard to their stumbling efforts to teach in China. If you stumble, fall over their cultural ways, or step into your own pitfalls, than by all means accept the blame.

Make your stay pleasant, informed, and friendly.

I.E.E.A. Website: http://www.ieea-china.org/

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Li -- 6 August 2004

Very Good Article!!!!

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King lee <kingekinde@yahoo.co.uk> -- 7 August 2004

This is one of the most striking articles I have read in this forum.You are right. People most prepare their self and their mind before taking this venture of teaching English in China.I comfirm your article

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Elizabeth Kiderlen <ekiderlen@Yahoo.com> -- 7 August 2004

As a newly arrived teacher from the US, I am so happy to read your statements. I am relieved to see my personal beliefs mirrored in your comments. When I arrived at my wonderful university I encountered exactly what you described: disgruntled, burnt-out, uninspiring expats embroiled in spats, fueds and petty gossip. Needless to say I avoided aligning myself with any of them. With the departure of three of them, one being the biggest stink stirrer of all, I look forward to a peaceful and productive Fall Semester. Yes, there is much about China that doesn't make sense to this westerner. Thank god I'm not hired to do anything other than teach the best classes I can. For all of you good teachers out there don't be discouraged by the ramblings of those who, truth be told, came to China with hidden agendas.

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Eddie -- 7 August 2004

Elizabeth -- Hang in there, be prepared, ears and eyes open, and you will see what the others never saw -- Chinese customs and culture. Eddie

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DoS -- 9 August 2004

All good advice Eddie!

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Ellis E. Seamone <elliseseamone@yahoo.com> -- 9 August 2004

Dear Eddie,

Like so many others, I am most impressed with your accomplishments and contacts made in the PRC thus far, however, if you will forgive me, I find that I must counter much of what you have said about WHAT to expect once one lands on Chinese soil.

1. You are a teacher not a tourist - Realize you are coming to China to
teach and not to be a full time tourist.

>I agree that I originally came to the PRC with all the qualifications required to teach English, as should be the case for ALL persons who have set out on a teaching expedition. However, why do we continue to see
"tourist dream jobs" being advertised on the internet that neglect to give the applicant a clear job description and selection criterion that is specific, inclusive of detailed responsibilities.

2. You are considered an expert, so behave like one. Realize if you are not qualified to teach ESL or English, by all means prepare before arrival. There is no excuse for not being prepared prior to arrival.

>Yes, people who come to China and who further claim to meet the selection criterion should demonstrate, by their actions, that they are professional in their work. The surprise to foreigners is that they are asked to be professional "actors." What does a teacher do when he/she knows that they have to perform like an actor to a "paying audience" and be asked to portray themselves falsely? Examples: (a) a co-worker was expected to "act" the role of a foreign expert -- something far removed from the original job description and the individual's qualifications; (b) he was also advertised as having "a title" -- "Professor" so and so -- to clear the way for his employer to boast and entice fee-paying students to enroll.

3. You are expected to follow China's laws and regulations. Realize if you
have trouble with rules and regulations, don't come. It's expected for you
to conform.

>I believe that when in Rome do as the Romans do. But when you witness
young students being physically abused, encouraged to cheat, given no
sense of self, demoralized in public and forced to conform or be alienated ... with all due respect, NO, I cannot allow myself to condone or conform to such behavior. I have yet to see the laws that protect minors from inappropriate emotional and psychological maltreatment! Believe me, had I known the truth about this state of affairs in China’s educational system (primary schools, in particular), I would not have gone in the first bloody place.

4. If you want to study Chinese, come as a student and not as a teacher.
Realize schools hate a teacher who shirks his/her duties in order to study
Chinese. Don't be a freeloader.

>Serving under a respectful and just system is an honor and a privilege, but what do teachers do when their appeals for help and assistance are ignored? Can those persons be blamed or driven to "get even" or take what they can to meet their needs?

5. If you want to preach Christianity from the classroom, realize teachers
in Western countries can't, so don't try here.

>To merely conduct one's life in China as a NON-PREACHING Christian is certainly no skin off anybody's nose. Ergo, in this case, religion is, and should be, a lesson delivered STRICTLY THROUGH OBSERVATION and for anyone to emulate at will. There has certainly NEVER been preaching of any religion in my classrooms ANYWHERE in the world! But I'll be damned if I am going to stop demonstrating Christian values in my manners and outward behavior.

6. If you want to promote some form of politics in the classroom, realize
you will find yourself in serious trouble with the school and possibly on
your way home.

>I have learned that no matter where you are in the world, discussing politics will end you up in hot water IF you hold a marginal point of view.

7. If you love to complain, realize the school officials and teachers won't listen. Teachers who gripe about everything are avoided like the plague.

>Yes, you are right in saying the school officials will not listen. However, that applies ONLY if you make trivial complaints that are defaming and unfounded. Doubtless, a working harmony is important with the Chinese people. But where is there room for the LEGITIMATE complaints regarding poor working conditions and breach of contract? Search me!

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>The paranoia that affects foreign teachers begins when they realize that they are totally alone and without support from their employers.

>I would recommend that you have a cordial, "business" relationship with your FAO (Foreign Affairs Officer). He or she will be your friend ONLY IF you do everything you are told and, most of all, you do not rock the boat. Sadly, you are not aware, until it is too late, that friendships are bought and sold in China. Through your example, you earn the students' respect and cooperation; the rest will take care of itself. Stay focused on the students' welfare. Do not take to heart the ofttimes cold attitude of officials, as they do not want to become a friend of a foreigner, and this might be perceived as a threat to the "in-group," while you are seen as part of the "out-group."

>Finally, most ESL instructors are in China with an objective in mind: to render their expertise to the steady progress of English learning in a different and most fascinating culture. Their task should NEVER be held back by those who feel that nurturing their petty prejudices and huge egos is more important than attempting to view life as perceived by their foreign experts. Granted China's culture and history go back further than any other, one is never TOO young or TOO accomplished to learn something new. Ergo, whilst in the midst of our goal, we must exert extra strength to forgive our opponents and ever extend our hand in friendship, with the fervent hope that ONE DAY we may all work in a TOTALLY united manner.

Love to all,
Ellis