I feel the question of whether Chinese students prefer to study UK or US English is difficult to estimate from just asking YOUR students which they prefer.

My experience of Chinese students and other Chinese people is that they generally tell you what they think you want to hear. A Chinese chick could meet a British guy today and tell him that she loves British men because they are gentlemen, but dislikes US guys because they're loud and obnoxious. Yet tomorrow she could bump into an American guy she takes a shine to and tell him that she likes Americans because they're lively and outgoing, but dislikes Brits because they are too soft and have no life.

Students tend to be like that, especially when they first meet you. Not one class that I have taught, in my three and a half years in China has ever told me that they prefer US English over UK English. Well well, what a surprise considering that they already knew I was a BRIT, before I asked them!! I am certain that if an American guy was working at the same school teaching the same classes as me they would all tell him that they preferred US English.

At my next school I plan to tell all my students that I'm from the States and see how they answer when I pop the question. It'll be interesting to hear their response. I actually recommend any FT from any western country just starting at a new school to pretend that they're a Brit or an American, and to ask their students which English they prefer.

It has just occurred to me that the previous poster may be an Aussie or a Kiwi, so a class' reply to that question from HIM may be more valid. At the same time though, they may be worried that he is really an American or Brit trying to be clever.

Anyway, does it really matter what English students prefer? I'm sure there's plenty of work available to both Brits and Americans. Maybe the best way to find out what's more popular is to make the Chinese English teachers nationwide conduct an objective survey of all the schools in China (or at least a representative survey),regarding this question. But would it be worth it?