Language Rapists
by DDI stumbled across the world famous Wang Jian Shuo blog. Wang is a guy in Shanghai that gets like a million hits a month to his blog. He posts mostly a diary of his life, where he’s travelled, where he ate today and how much toothpaste he used on his toothbrush.
He has posted Language Exchange Partners Wanted that has received a bit of traction. In it he states:
I encourage every students to find some foreign friends in Shanghai - to learn more about the world, to improve oral English and to help foreigners in this city feel at home.
DD’s Retort:
The vast majority of foreign people in China do not want to be your friend to help you with your English. They feel like you are using them, only to improve your English. In fact, 99% of the time that is exactly what you are doing.
But these foreigners are in China. So most of them speak some level of Chinese. They didn’t go to China to teach you English. Why don’t you go find these foreign “friends” to practice Chinese with so they can improve their ability to communicate with you and your compatriots?
For years on the mainland I lived with this shit. We “foreign friends” ended up naming mainland Chinese people “Language Rapists“. They are only interested in being your friend and helping you if they get something out of it, like improved English. This doesn’t happen in Hong Kong or Taiwan, where people are happy if you can speak their language and try to speak with you as person.
I am not a language humping post.
May 21st, 2005 at 8:23 pm
I agree completely! Here! Here! I salute you!
I can’t tell you the number of times that I’ve gotten into an elevator with someone and their child and the parent says something like “Ta shi yingwen laoshi”. You don’t know me! You want to speak English? Why don’t you strike up a conversation with me? Hey, what do you know? I’m not an English teacher at all. Wow, I’m surprised that you’re not a Chinese teacher. You mean you’re able to do something other than speak English? How surpising?
Hey, Wangjianshuo! I’ve got a suggestion for you: Why don’t you encourage your countrymen to be more kind, considerate, and caring? It’s time for China (and Shanghai, in particular) to grow up and start acting like a modern city. You’ve got buses equipped with GPS and skyscrapers of the future, however, THAT WAS THE EASY PART. Now people need to learn to treat others with respect. Wouldn’t that be so much better than having a foreigner to practice English?
June 4th, 2005 at 7:52 am
I concur. I live in Fujian, and it’s the same here. People have absolutely no compunction about asking me to come to their house and teach their children English, for free. Guess what? I am a teacher, and I get paid $20 per hour to do my job. What the hell makes you think I’m going to work for you for free?
I even had a woman who runs an early education center try to get me to tutor her kid for free. This woman at least should understand that being an educator is a job that should pay money.
I think they do this for two reasons. Mainly, the Chinese all rely on their connections to get favors done. China is a vast old-boy network. Secondly, they think they are just asking you to talk, something you do every day for free anyway. They have no conception of the effort and skills involved in teaching someone a language.
To be fair, if they are asking me to teach themselves, rather than their children, most Chinese offer to teach me Chinese in exchange. But again, I am a professional educator with years of experience, so this is hardly a fair trade. This is like asking the chef at a nice resteraunt to come cook for and offering to cook for her in exchange. Do you think she would take this deal?
I recently saw a Chinese job ad specifically stating that the candidate had to have “common sense.” After living here for a year, I understand why this might be a tough requirement to fulfill.
June 4th, 2005 at 4:47 pm
What would happen if we were in our respective home countries and we found ourselves standing beside a Japanese exchage student and said “Why don’t you come to my place and teach me Japanese?” Yeah, I’m sure that would go over real well. Maybe next time someone asks me for English lessons I’ll ask them to come over and clean my house. Seems like a fair trade to me.
June 5th, 2005 at 2:10 am
Exactly.. come clean my house!!! I like that trade.
June 8th, 2005 at 5:14 am
Right now I’m living in Wenzhou and have just begun to experience this. When I lived in Beijing in ‘98 and ‘99 I found it to be much worse. Generally speaking I think that there are still relatively few foreigners (aside from the visiting businessmen) who come through here, so my on-the-street encounters with people usually only consist of the infamous “laowai stare” that I’ve come to love/loathe so much. Of course, if I were to spend an afternoon walking around the campus of Wenzhou University my experience would probably be much different.
In general though I usually respond to english teaching offers with a price per hour of instruction. Usually nips the problem right in the bud.
June 8th, 2005 at 3:37 pm
Yeah, I guess that’s a good and simple way to handle things. Just talk about money and see how long the conversation lasts. For 200RMB and hour I guess I can be bothered enough
June 18th, 2005 at 3:42 pm
Hi,Gents:
All of you said i don’t think it’s right all.Maybe you are oversensitive.Why do you alway think you are being take advantage of?Ok,presume you said is ok.If you need help but no one of them talk with,just stare at you ?how do you think about it?So i think they are hospitable.so talk anything with you thought they can’t speak english fluently.
All of above,i don’t want to argue sth with the foreign friend.I just want to say,if you need help ,pls contact me.i’ll do my best to help,because i am a hospitable boy.hehe….
my mail ad is wjy602@hotmail.com
June 21st, 2005 at 1:17 pm
My worst case of this happened the other day:
A young woman that works at a western-import grocery store near me asks me “Are you free on Sunday? Sunday is my day off.” Assuming that was leading to an invitation to do something together and she being a generally very sweet woman, I politely replied, “Yes, I think I have some time Sunday afternoon.” Her response:
“Great! There is this little boy that I know who wants to learn English from a foriegner. You can teach him this Sunday afternoon.”
Trickery! Deceit! Trapped, I offered to teach him for one hour, and to just have the two of them come to my house. Then the crap she pulls out next I could not believe. “Well… he lives REALLY far away, it would take a looong time for both he and I to come all the way out here. I can tell you where he lives and you can probably take a taxi to get there.”
I am floored. This is no longer language rape, no, this is a language snuff film. However, this did give me reason enough to weasel out of the whole thing altogether.
THE NERVE!
June 21st, 2005 at 1:38 pm
Samuel, we don’t think we’re being taken advantage of ALL OF THE TIME. Unfortunately, it happens enough that it’s just too hard to ignore. Look, I’ve spent a lot of time with people speaking English, some are my friends and some are not. It’s a great way to meet people but it can be very difficult to be gracious after a stranger tries to take advantage of you. Just because someone speaks English doesn’t mean that they want to speak with you. My advice is to become friends with a foreigner and then ask your “friend” for some language help. A foreigner is not an English machine. They are people just like anyone else. That’s the point.
June 26th, 2005 at 3:29 am
U guys crack me up. Esp 北瓜, u sound like u have some boundary issues. What about just say no. People are the same everywhere, if you let them, they will walk all over you. Be strong bro, and have fun in China.
June 28th, 2005 at 6:05 am
Yes, I know many Chinese are really friendly and just want to practice their English a little - I had not a few students from a different campus text me to be their friend - to practice their English. But the most bizarre and memorable experience of language abuse was when I had arrived at the Tianjin Railway station at 4am one morning after a night trip from Tai Shan in a hard seat with three Chinese companions who spoke loud incessant Chinese ALL the way ( 6 hours) and kept the entire carriage awake. Anyhow, I was deadly tired and reading something or another to while away the wait of an hour and a half for the bus when this distinguished-looking Chinese gentlemen made a bee-line to my table and asked, very politely, in very good English if he could sit with me and talk English. Equally politely I explained that I was exhausted and just wanted to rest. So he sat at the next table, naturally at the chair closest to mine and …. yes, before ten minutes was up, we were into a conversation that I couldn’t escape from. I didn’t want to be rude, he was quite a learned man but I was so tired, I would have cheerfully beaten him over the head with his newspaper had I the strength ! An hour and a half later I stumbled onto a bus, thankful that the cheerful Chinese driver only nodded and grinned and spoke not a syllable of English.
Foreigners are such an easy mark, (especially if you’ve got white hair!!) and it’s hard enough having to beat off the hawkers with the mantra of “Hello!” “Hello!”, the taxi and hotel touts everywhere you travel without being cajoled into conversations you simply don’t want to have just so someone can practice their English. Now I know how the French feel when English-speakers practice on them!
What a great site - how about some travel stories?
July 9th, 2005 at 1:29 pm
I sm so sorry to hear that.If i s possible,like become a friend of your,wellcome to china
July 9th, 2005 at 8:40 pm
This one time I had a begger come up to me with her kid in Suzhou, and I’d been awake nearly 24 hours and didn’t feel like talking at all but then she started saying in english “money” “please” “thank you, thank you” it was truly bizarre. And once when I was in Shanghai where all those guys who say DVD, watch, Nighk shoes (Nike - but not pronounced correctly as Nigh-key though) So, my response in both cases was simply “Ja ne ponimaju” - Russian for “I don’t understand”
July 10th, 2005 at 3:42 am
When I was learning Chinese in the US, I tried to get every Chinese person I met to speak Mandarin with me (even, as I would find out, the ones who spoke only Cantonese or Vietnamese). I suppose I’m as bad as these people, maybe that’s why I have more tolerance for them.
July 12th, 2005 at 1:24 pm
I agree with Andy. When I was at uni in Australia learning Chinese I only ever spoke Chinese with other Chinese people, despite their English (at that stage) being much better than my Chinese.
July 12th, 2005 at 8:08 pm
A fellow laowai gave me this tip: I tell people (in Chinese) that I can’t speak English because I am Croatian. Works like a charm.
I have also used the “Sure, I’ll teach you English, and in exchange you can clean my bathroom, okay?” approach, with equal success.
Good luck, laowai’s!
July 30th, 2005 at 4:35 pm
Culture difference I’d like to comment here.
Since foreigners have “different” faces in China, they are treated little differently - but mostly friendly.
In Chinese culture, “time” is not real money, or used to be not very worthy, esepcailly other people’s time. Most Chinese people think it not an un-usual or a “big” request to ask for a foreigner to contribute his time to share his language skills with English learners - who are very curious to foreigners. However in Western culture, privacy is no.1, everyone has his/her own life and time, time is very important to most inviduals. That’s the big difference.
But recently years it has changed much in China, most of you might have noticed. Because more and more foreigners are coming to China (they are no more “Aliens” from the moon), more and more trading and culture exchange, more people become to understand importance of respecting other people’s time and privacy.
When some day you are purely ignored by Chinese people in the street, don’t get lost!
July 30th, 2005 at 11:12 pm
Actually, I’ve found the Chinese who don’t try to speak English to me but try to understand my extremely poor Chinese and still manage to communicate, to be the friendliest, funniest and most helpful people I think I have ever met, anywhere. But back to the point:
I was in Xinjiang last week and met some other expat teachers who perpetually run into the same problem, as I did as well, a complete stranger in town. These teachers worked REALLY hard and escaped to the western bar, not to continue conversation lessons but to relax. Nevertheless, the ardent students would pursue them there, just to practice speaking, so it really is like rape - you keep politely trying to end what is exhausting and unwanted at the time, until you are forced to be rude or come up with what one of them suggested: “My job is teaching English; I am happy to give you five minutes for free but after that my usual fee is ……”
In Western culture, I would say that respect for other people, including respect for their wish for peace and privacy is the primary factor here, just as we westerners generally respect the Chinese wish for communication and satisfaction of their curiosity until it conflicts with our essential need to just rest for a while, maybe even talk a little Chinese!
July 31st, 2005 at 9:25 am
I agree with Kate. Chinese who can’t speak English usually are nicer because they don’t have an ulterior motive. Chinese who can speak English either want to verbally milk the laowai dry or genuinely want to be a friend.
Sometimes the English Vampires do get really annoying. When I was learning martial arts last year there was a mother who would always force her daughter (6-7 years old) close to me. Mind you I was usually jumping around with a chain whip or sword. But this didn’t bother the mother because she would just drive her daughter close to me to speak and I would be forced to move back to avoid hitting her. I still can’t believe the mother was so reckless about her daughter’s safety.
If Chinese come up to me and speak English I will just greet them with my crappy Japanese (Konichiwa, gomenasai, wakalimashita) and bow a few times. This will either agitate them or scare them off. If they speak Chinese with me I will speak Filipino to them. Either way I avoid getting interrogated.
If all fails I can simply tilt my head, rock my body, start to drool and quietly begin chanting the Book of Revelations.
July 31st, 2005 at 12:02 pm
Quincy,
I did actually try the Konichiwa approach in the bowels of a tourist stop there, at the end of a quite exhausting day fending off “Hellowe’s” “Just looking” etc of the vendors. It caused the group of them to burst out laughing (I have just such a non-Asian appearance I have often considered going out in complete mufti lately but it’s been just too hot), and then break into Chinese so we could all share the joke.
Fortunately I haven’t met any mothers like the one you describe - the closest to that and quite the opposite was in Behei park where a little boy rushed up to me, seized my glove had and pressed it against his cheek, muttering Laoshe and then disappeared. With the bad comes the good, always in China, at least I found.
August 2nd, 2005 at 1:46 pm
I am too am a foreign English teacher. Here in GZ, I mostly teach at kindergartens. I have never come across the “Chinese Language Rapists” that you guys are all going on about. Usually I’ll get people trying to teach ME Chinese instead of forcing me to teach them English. The vast majority of my friends are Chinese, and they all respect the fact that I spend 5 to 6 days a week teaching young kids my native toungue. None of them have ever tried that freebie lesson thing. Nor has anyone else for that matter.
And the beggers and hawkers? They are SO easy to deal with. Like Chinese people, hold your hand vertically and wave at them to show them you’re not interested. I have to agree with Samuel. You guys should always remember that this is a different country with another culture, and not everyone in China realises that we Westerners hold different values at home.
In fact, I’m trying as much as possible to pick up Chinese cultural ettitudes. It’s not hard if you have real friends who are Chinese. This way, I get a clearer insight into what is happening, rather than thinking: “Why can’t they do things MY way?” or “What is happening?”
August 2nd, 2005 at 4:05 pm
Kate, I agree with the idea that ‘with the bad comes the good’. One nice thing about having lots of people who speak English is that there is always someone eager to translate for you and help out. My Chinese is good but there are always times when I can’t get my point across to the seller. Someone will come up and help translate and then just move along. It’s a nice feeling.
August 31st, 2005 at 1:11 pm
I used to have the same problem when I was living in Thailand. I learnt to say, in a near perfect Thai accent, “Sorry, I’m Thai, I don’t speak English”. As I am very tall, very white and very blond, it would confuse the hell out of them. Barrels of laughs.
October 26th, 2005 at 11:52 am
This was a good read and is very similar to something I wrote in March 2004 titled Stonewalled when Speaking Korean.
November 1st, 2005 at 8:42 am
I’ve been in China for 2 1/2 years now and I’ve learned to handle the Language Rapists (more or less). Yantai (in Shandong Province) is about halfway between a countryside town and a small (but growing) city.
You get everything from “Wow! Laowei!” to “Can you give up ALL your spare time just so that I can improve my english a bit?” to supreme disinterest “Oh here we go, ANOTHER damn foreigner”
I wish someone would update the message on the British Embassys website and tell you that the Chinese (if you’re not careful) will cheerfully have you running around like a blue arsed fly giving free english lessons.
Good site! Wish I’d found it 2 1/2 years ago.
November 2nd, 2005 at 4:14 am
sorry for the unpleasant experience you guys had for being asked to teach english without any pay back. since being in a country that english is its offical language, i found out it is really helpful for english learners if they have someones can practice english with. if i know this before i might be one of those people you guys just mentioned. only suggestion i have is say no directly to the ones just want to take advantage of you. it is also laowai’s job to educate chinese there is no free english teacher.
by the way. i am glad to teach everyone mandarin who is interesting in it.and it is free.
someday when the demand of enlish is not this high in china.
laowais may ask for the oppotunity to be a volunteer of english teacher.
November 4th, 2005 at 11:34 am
Hahaha. It’s not the pay back it’s the way every person thinks it’s their right that I MUST talk in English to them so they improve. They openly tell me don’t speak Chinese only English. You should teach her English. These are people I just met, they are so open about wanting to use you. Seldom do I hear, oh you are in our country trying to learn our language we will help you.
November 4th, 2005 at 11:59 pm
try to express you are also the one who needs help for learning language, i think most people would like to offer themselves. Chinese people have a lot of misunderstanding about laowais. one of those is that they don’t think laowais really want to learn our language. even though you guys are in China they still feel you are the party to accept them and not to be accepted by them.
pay back is not money only, can be everything. any relationship is involving a process of exchange. if a hot sexsy boy stops me just for i can speak mandarin and he just wants to exchange language with me no anything else, i am happy for having the chance to stare at his face and like to be used by him. if someone is not cute like him i might require other pay back.
November 18th, 2005 at 11:02 am
This summer several of us visited Shanghai and Beijing to meet with several companies and we ran into our fair share of these type of slightly amusing people. We usually said with a straight face to the girls that we will teach them English but only with their tops off. Worked like a charm everytime except once. I did enjoyed the winners curse that one time!
November 27th, 2005 at 11:49 am
I guess the way Americans treat foreigners are much better than the way the Chinese do. Surely here no beggar, hawkers to bother you, and the ordinary just totally ignore you. Few people will come up to you and say ‘nihao’, neither will they come for free Chiense lessons. You end up with very few friends. Thankgiving, Christmas or other holidays, you will be alone in your dorm. Don’t expect to be invited to an American Thanksgiving dinner, like how the laowai being invited to the Chinese family chun jie dinner. Nobody is interested in you, except if you are a Chinese girl white guys can chase after and parade with on campus. No language rapists, but you still have little oppotunity to pratise english. Some will get annoyed, impatient and look down upon you because you speak poor english. Living in US for a few years, your english will not imporve and american culture is as inpenetrable as the day you stepped on north america. You feel like a complete loser, a lonely loser.
Oh, my fellow chinese, why don’t you learn the superb american way to treat foreigners, our guests? When will you ever learn?
November 28th, 2005 at 9:09 pm
Chunguang, are you living in the United States? Actually, you are making some good points. Americans are extroverted but only in a very shallow way. To an outsider they can even seem a little inscrutable. Let me give you some advice. Most Americans make friends through activities. If you, or your other Chinese buddies,want to make friends and practice English then you need to start participating in clubs and orgranized school activities. American universities have newspapers, religious associations, science clubs, outdoor clubs, skydiving clubs, cooking classes, political groups, etc, etc. Take advantage of them! Find something that you are interested in and join. You will find that you soon have lots of friends and lots of things to do.
November 29th, 2005 at 10:27 am
@Chunguang: No one’s interested in you because no one wants anything from you. (Where as laowais in China are approached for language or money or just interest) And there’s a wealth of opportunities to practice English. Lose the one-to-one, teacher to student idea and think about all the minute communications to get through the day. Like asking for directions to the bathroom, ordering at McDonalds, telling the mugger you don’t have any money, telling whities you will/will not set them up with your hot Asian friend, etc. If you make it known you know all the good looking Asian chicks, I’m sure you’ll suddenly have a large group of shallow friends.
December 1st, 2005 at 12:53 pm
Chunguang, I was never invited to a Chinese person’s home for Chunjie, and neither were most of the foreigners I knew. Way before I lived overseas, while I was a student in college, I invited a Taiwanese suitemate to my home for Thanksgiving weekend. While I was living in China, I had a few warm invitations from non-English speaking Chinese who showed me sincere hospitality. However, most Chinese who invited me to do things were looking for an English-speaking friend, and they were direct about their wish. I’d rather cloister with fellow laowai than be used for language practice. Speak English,speak Chinese, but first and foremost, see me as a person and be my real friend.
As for the cultural difference of respect for privacy mentioned by Ryan, asking for a free English lesson is just plain rude and has nothing to do with a lack of awareness of privacy. Would a Chinese ask fluent-English speaking Chinese to give free English lessons if there was no guanxi involved?
Hahaha says he is willing to practice Chinese with a laowai for free, but I wonder how much experience Hahaha has speaking Chinese with foreigners. It’s no fun speaking your language to someone who isn’t fluent because you cannot express yourself naturally, and it is hard to have a sophisticated conversation. After being language humped for several years in Korea and China, I decided to try out speaking Korean/Chinese on strangers who were native speakers of those languages here in the US. Guess what? A majority would tell me in English that my Korean/Chinese was good and continued to use English. I worked my buns off to learn two Asian languages and don’t want to lose those hard-earned skills, but that’s okay. No Chinese or Korean in America owes me language practice.
December 3rd, 2005 at 1:03 pm
Sonagi, I agree with you. I taught in Korea for a year, worked my arse off to learn as much of the language there, and every Korea I see back in Canada could care a less how well I speak Korea, they want English. LOL, all those subway rides back to Uijeongbu from Hongik Uni, or Itaewon, how many tired, hung-over rides I took sitting next to a Korean wanting lessons, too many to count. Sometimes I would see Koreans scanning the subway, empty seats and all, and sit right next to while I was reading my Korean paper, “Hello, American?” “No Canadian.” “Oh, Canada Teacher, very good, how can I be better english speaker.” Lord, here we go, simple question yes, I inform him to take advantage of the many English TV shows on Arriang, AFN, OCN, buy some of the many DVD’s on the street, and from this you can get a feel of how westerners speak to one another.
Does it end there, no, now I am being asked to give some phonics lessons, or tell him if a certain word was spoken correctly.
I do realize I am in another land, and have welcomed English conversation with Korean many times, but when your clearly half a sleep with your eyes closed, or head first in a paper, dont bother a stranger. If I did that in Toronto on the subway to a Korea, Chinese, or Janpanese stranger, it would not be pleasent. There is a time and place for all thing, including approaching someone.
All and all, that is just one of my experiences, when it really comes down to it, I dont care, it can happen 98% of the time, but I do appreciate having the tiny 2% to myself. I cant explain, everyone has a great point, I really liked Ryans:When some day you are purely ignored by Chinese people in the street, don’t get lost!
He makes a great point, I guess it goes both ways. If it all of a sudden stopped, I would wonder why, whats wrong with me, I do like it at times. Its part of the experience out there, we teach English, and sometimes when the bell rings, it doesnt mean class is over for the day. Its the life, we choose to live, for some an upside, for most one of the downsides, I am in the middle, and will go to Harbin, China, to see if feelings have changed.
Rock & Roll
December 3rd, 2005 at 10:23 pm
Hi,this is samuel from shanghai,china.I am pleasured for having some friends from this website.
I am working for a joint venture company.i ‘d like to help anybody who want to get help when he is in china.you can contact me with my mail wjy602@hotmail. com.
December 4th, 2005 at 5:07 pm
@chunguang: what part of america are you living in? the bronx? americans are a lot of things, both good and bad, but one thing is for sure - the vast majority are very hospitable and genuine. they have welcomed outsiders into their homes for centuries. well, except george w. bush. in fact, you are welcome to take him to your home in china forever.
@samuel: 不要强奸我.
December 4th, 2005 at 6:08 pm
Chunguang - you are having a problem with culture clash, just as we do when we go to China. The cardinal rule about the part of the US I come from - around Boston - is that you have to go out and speak to people and make friends. They probably won’t come to you. You can’t just be a lump on a log, cause you’ll end up with no friends. That is particularly true for foreigners, because often times in the states friendship isn’t based on anything except shared experience and when you’re foreign and don’t speak the language the number of shared experiences you have are perhaps a bit less.
Again, I’ve said this on some other post - but if you don’t want to be lonely, then you need to go out and socialise. loosen up! go find a club you want to participate in. You’ll make friends.
I think your line of thought leading up to friendship is very funny. “1) No beggars or hawkers will bother you 2) Ordinary people ignore you 3) No language rapists and drive by “nihaos” 4) Therefore you end up with very few friends.
Are most of your friends in China people that tried to get money off you, sell you something, or ran into you on the street, or tried to get you to speak some dialect with them? NO. your friends are your friends from shared experience. So go out there and be more aggressive about meeting people. If you act like a lump on a log, you will stay sad and lonely and angry at how the U.S. is treating you wrong.
My girlfriend, who is not chinese, but whose language is more different from English grammatically than Chinese is, went to the states for a year at 17 y.o. (she’s 26 now) - to Maine - the WHITEST state in the nation - she’s not white - and had a wonderful time, most likely due to the fact that she is a very open to trying new things, very excitable and very friendly.
I think the number of friends you end up with in life has nothing to do with your quality as a person, but I think it does tend to correlate with how friendly you are, and how interesting you are. Friendliness and interesting-ness are both somewhat subjective, and so you’ll find that in different cultures you may be more popular than in others. not speaking the language well doesn’t help of course, but you’d be really surprised at how much a bit of friendliness can overcome language barriers.
Put it this way - it’s much more likely that you’ll find new people to talk to by being friendly than by being a brooding, unhappy foreigner. These people even I tend to avoid, not because they are foreign, but because there are lots of happy, friendly people all over the place and there is no need to approach the brooding ones.
So buck up! There are many wonderful people to go meet where-ever you are.
December 6th, 2005 at 6:26 pm
Hi,DD:
are you a beautiful girl?If yes,then maybe.hehe
December 8th, 2005 at 8:43 am
3 years ago I was teaching night classes at a university in Beijing, you know the ones, where the only requirement to take the class was to pay–and you get an association with a prestigious university. After about 3 classes a woman came up to me and asked if she could audit the class. She’d already been there for 3 classes. She was an English teacher in a middle school and just wanted to see how foreign experts did it. I said OK, what the heck, one more student wouldn’t make a difference and she seemed quite nice. I also thought it was good of her to spend her own time enhancing her skills for her students. I’d already become accustomed to how frugal the Chinese are, to use a euphemism.
One week she asked if my Aussie roommate I would like to come with her in her car to Fragrant Mountain. That was a nice offer! It’s a long bus ride and we wanted to go there. I said sure. I felt properly acknowledged for my kindness, not that it was necessary.
Unfortunately, the night before the intended trip my roommate got very ill and I wanted to stay home to look after her. I called this woman and expressed my regrets. She started arguing with me! She was extremely upset that I wasn’t going along. It turned out she’d invited her entire middle school class to meet us there and practice their English with us. Can you believe that?
She didn’t come to my class again.
December 8th, 2005 at 1:56 pm
Keisha, that is a classic story. Thanks for sharing it.
December 14th, 2005 at 12:35 am
This does happen in Taipei–but mostly when the foreign person and the Taiwanese friends are in their 20s.
December 25th, 2005 at 6:26 pm
I agree with Ryan. It is mainly culture difference.
Before I read this article, maybe I will say hello to laowai just to show my respect, you know, Chinese always want to be polite,but sometimes they just don’t know how to do it properly. But as someone refered above, there are also some guys who don’t care others and just want to improve their English, as a Chinese saying ‘You just need to be polite to polite person’, you can refuse them directly. Sometimes we chinese also have to get along with such people.
If any laowai in Tianjin want to make friends with Chinese, and want to know more about China, you can reach at hehe@tju.edu.cn.
Best wishes to all laowai in China & Merry Christmas!
December 27th, 2005 at 3:55 am
@DD
我碰巧浏览到你的blog看到你的帖子和这么多回复. 为了避免你说我强奸你，我还是用中文吧。
1）不知道是不是故意的，你忽略了wangjianshuo那句话的另一面： to help foreigners in this city feel at home。
2）没有人强迫你用英语，你完全可以拒绝。在wang的blog里注明了是exchange，所以你不必有被利用的感觉。这本来就是交换。换句话说这是通奸不是强奸。
3）很多大陆人因为缺少交流的机会，有时会打搅到你。就像Andy说的，他在国外学中文也差不多。你没有同样的情况吗？我承认，这些东西给大家带来了很大的困扰。但是除开这些因素，很多人还是愿意帮助你在中国生活得更好。
December 27th, 2005 at 4:07 am
最后说一句
DD,建议你去看心理医生，你的心理有点病态
December 30th, 2005 at 4:19 am
does any one ever get the temptation to teach someone really annoying a little bit of ummm… inappropriate English?
for example youall or howdy instead of hello?
or something more evil…
January 2nd, 2006 at 6:47 pm
@BN: you’re a 白痴. 肏你妈.
@Ibel: yeah, that’s happened, I’ve been witness to it - the more evil part.
January 4th, 2006 at 6:35 pm
Actually ,i don’t wish the forum become an arguing place,it’s so pity if all of you just come here for arguing!
Wish all of you get the feeling what’s friend for ??
January 21st, 2006 at 1:36 pm
Thank God some else dislikes Wang Jian Shuo. Such traffic for someone who does indeed write “I had a lovely dinner with my lovely friends Anne, Bozo and Tinky today!
“. Not that I begrudge him it. The ’seal of approval’ people need. I just stumbled across this talk talk site. It’s not bad.
February 7th, 2006 at 11:28 am
Here’s my language Rapists story: I work for an investment company in Beijing. We are the representive office for an American Company. My boss, is a Chinese guy who lived and worked in the US for about 8 years. Well, he has many friends here in Beijing that have children, that are getting ready to go to University. So, he decided for me that I would teach his friends kids english. His first attempt at this, he “hired” his wife’s friends daughter to work for our company. Her job was to sit in my office and talk to me. Her english wasnt very good, and I really hate teaching (when I first came to beijing, i was an english teacher at a uni). To get around this forced teaching, everytime she would come into my office, I would simply talk to her for like 5 minutes, than find an excuse to leave. Seeing that her english wasnt improving, and maybe she complained the forced meetings stopped. A few months later, another friend of my boss, had his daughter come in, but this time it was more officail. They brought in a dry erase board, purchased books, and actually didnt schedule any meetings for me during 2 time periods 9am-10am and than 1pm-2pm. It was actually made part of my job description for like 3 months! I was to teach her english. Luckily for me however, she was lazy and a terrible student and my boss saw that so he actually stopped the teaching sessions after 2 months (or maybe it was the fact that we merged with another company and the other company didn’t like the fact that the only foreigner in the company was being used in a less productive way than for working on projects.)
February 9th, 2006 at 5:10 pm
I’ve never lived in China…just stayed there for weeks at a time. So maybe my experience is different.
I rarely had anything resembling a language rape occur. I had some kids ask me if they could practice their English. I would reply, “Sure! What do you want to talk about?” And then sit back and watch the panic grow more and more evident on their face. After a minute or two of watching them squirm, I’d ask them if they want to continue using Chinese, and they’d seize the offer like a lifeline.
The lesson learned: People will naturally gravitate toward the most effective communication medium. If communication is their goal.
The other anecdote wasn’t really a language rape…a girl asked me (in Chinese), if I could really speak and understand Chinese. I told her, “No. Actually, everything I’ve said to you over the last few minutes was memorized.” When she looked puzzled, I said, “Yes! This person here helped me memorize all sorts of useful phrases so it would look like I can speak Chinese. For instance, the sentence I just said was memorized. I don’t actually understand a word I’m saying!”
The lesson learned: You catch more flies with honey than vinegar, and rudeness is better responded to with humor than with more rudeness.
But what I’ve learned in my trips to China is that northern Chinese people are very open and gregarious. It probably doesn’t occur to them that they are being that rude. Although it certainly isn’t the province only of the Asians: ask any doctor or lawyer in the U.S. how many times he’s been approached for free advice at a party…
The lesson learned: people of all races and nations undervalue the time and abilities of others, and overvalue their own.
February 10th, 2006 at 2:55 pm
My best Chinese friends only know three words in English goo-od frie-nd and drinky drinky. People I met who wanted to speak English didn’t know how to have a good time. My Chinese is horrible. Really, I felt the most like a real person around people who couldn’t even be bothered to try and pronounce my real English name.
February 13th, 2006 at 11:29 am
ask any doctor or lawyer in the U.S. how many times he’s been approached for free advice at a party
@Nathan: that is probably the best explanation of this phenomenom I’ve ever heard. Spot on!
February 16th, 2006 at 12:07 pm
@DD: Taibei’s situation is no where better. People are even better in English and some of them would come right at you and spit out some English words only because you look foreign. Some would respond in English instead, if you ask them directions or order food in nice restaurants. Doesn’t matter if you’re from Europe, South America or any place else where people don’t speak English. Those are not only language rapists but also racist bastards.
I had a rather uncomfortable experience in Taipei too. Once I took a 30-min bus ride with a friend in Taibei. While we were waiting for a bus, I noticed a middle-aged woman staring at us. Then I thought, she probably felt weird why I would speak English with a foreigner(because I look Asian and she prob wondered why).
After we got on the bus we started to chat again. Five minutes later, the woman switched her seat from the front to right in back of us. We didn’t know the whole time she was trying so hard to get what we’d said. We didn’t switch our seats our of fright until my friend accidentally turned around and saw through the little space in between our seats, her face was right there, less than 10 inches to his, with her eyes looking straight at him.
The story tells us: Never look back to find out whats behind our seats. You don’t know what you’ll see.
February 24th, 2006 at 9:56 pm
It’s a terrible thing to be taken advantage of sometimes
March 3rd, 2006 at 7:06 pm
Y’all,
There is a simple way to flummox “language vampires”. Set up a FREE English corner for two hours a week at McDonalds. Each time a Chinese person wants to practice their English, tell him or her that you have come to China to learn about their great civilization. Therefore, normally you only speak in Chinese. However, as you do NOT want to exploit the Chinese, you are volunteering 90 minutes of your time each week.*
Then, at the English corner, you can weed out the rare Chinese who actually has anything meaningful to say and privately organize language exchanges with him or her. If they get too exploitative in these exchanges (don’t settle for less than 50% Chinese) then you can smile gently and suggest that the two of you meet in future only at the English corner…
Write this up in Chinese on a “visiting card” - your name, a throwaway email, a set time each week, location of McDonalds, etc. You may find that your printing bills have gone up, but this is not only a good way to be less paranoid about the Chinese but also to have more interesting conversations - group discussions tend to be better than those individual thingees.
*Why 90 minutes? Because if you schedule two hours, the language vampires will “extend” this automatically to three hours. This way you can give way and reach your original goal…
P.S. Trouble shooting:
1) The Chinese person says that (s)he cannot come at that time. Answer: suggest that this person send an email to you in a few weeks - your schedule varies and it is possible that the time for the English corner will change.
2) The Chinese person complains that only about five people can talk to you when eating a meal at a table. Smile gently and suggest that this person come earlier than the others.
3) The Chinese person says that 90 minutes is NOT ENOUGH!!! Smile gently and state that you have to invest so much time in learning their written language that you really can’t afford to donate more time.
His or her disingenious reply: “But you don’t have to really learn Chinese characters to understand China! I would be glad to tell you everything you want to know - in ENGLISH!” (Bright expectant smile on her/his face).
Your gentle reply: “At the moment, I am a barbarian in the eyes of cultivated Chinese. Until I become literate in your wonderful language, I can never be accepted by the elite here.”
THAT will flummox ‘em!!!
March 12th, 2006 at 4:10 pm
Ha! I learned to to deal with it in a chinese way. I simply agree, and go on with the conversation, but in mandarin (yeah, I know it doesnt work for all).
March 14th, 2006 at 11:44 pm
A classmate of mine sent me this link. It’s for real, I kid you not. This menu actually does exist in China. I thought I had seen my fair share of bad translations but THIS!! Check it out.
http://www.rahoi.com/2006/03/may-i-take-your-order.php
March 19th, 2006 at 12:58 am
Well… I don’t look like laowai, but if people saw me talking with a laowai as fast as laowai, they would start :
wow, your english very good !
- thank you.
How many level you have ?
- …..
How you study like that ? Could you give me some advice ? Can I have your telephone number ? If I have questions I could ask you… … = =
Or alternative :
wow, you know very many laowais…. could you introduce me some so I could practise my English? i really like English?
or Even:
wow… could you introduce me some handsome laowai guys ? I could teach them Chinese and they could teach me English…..
Well, laowais are not free all the time. They charge for their time. If they’re tired, even you’re willing to pay, they don’t want that money. It is not about money, but privacy and respect .
As for language partner, I do not like it. I don’t mind teaching my friends casually when we’re hanging out, but not tutoring without payment. That’s hard work. And teaching Chinese is how I earn my bread .
March 31st, 2006 at 7:36 am
Feel soo sorry for you dd. if you didnt enjoy life in china, why dont you just go?
March 31st, 2006 at 7:40 am
@Boe: I feel so sorry for you too, if you don’t enjoy this blog, why don’t you slit your own throat?
March 31st, 2006 at 9:06 am
John at Sinosplice has an interesting post on this subject: http://www.sinosplice.com/life/archives/2006/03/31/japanese-issues-in-wuyuan
April 5th, 2006 at 11:49 am
I fully understand your feelings of being used, even as a bystander. When I was still at school, there was once this French teacher who went together with us to a local college in Hunan for a France intro presentation. It was such a small school, only a few hundred meters from the north tip down to the south. What was unexpected was that along the way since we stepped on the soil of the school, the poor French lady got surrounded by hordes! And what was even worse was that she had to repeat answering dumb questions that might pop out at any time such as “Is France a romantic place?” or “Do you like China?” She seemed to be so helpless in the over-passionate crowds and finally had to struggle her way to the auditorium, where for god’s sake hundreds of students’d been already waiting there. They were like the starving people, at the glimpse of something they could fill the stomach, started to shove and roar. It was like a big show was going to kick off.
For god’s sake, there’s nothing special about the English language. Just one of many human languages, isn’t it?
April 11th, 2006 at 1:56 am
It’s interesting to view all the replies(Well, I didn’t view All, but many).
As a Chinese, I consider the phenomenon a culture thing. Thousands of years ago, Chinese people began to think that the group is more important than every individual, so privacy, personal space and time are less valued. That is the reason why Chinese people like to ask other’s age, marrital status and income. (Well, it is changing, especially among young people and in cities) Commonly, if people invite you to their home for Egnlish lessons, they will give you some payback. It is another culture difference. We Chinese don’t like to discuss money first, even it is about money. If I ask someone I take him/her as friend for help, I will say nothing about money. It is a kind of insulting to him/her to some angle. Well, some ppl above said it is nothing about money, it is a kind of invasion of personal time. As I just said, traditionally, Chinese don’t have much concern about other’s personal space and time. For example, if I invite someone to my new house, they will naturally walk into my bedroom and say:” it is big!” and I won’t feel that my personal space is invaded. However, in cities, master’s major bedroom becomes a no-no.
And you may testify my point. Next time, when you begin to know someone, you may try to ask him or her whether he or she is free to teach you Chinese FOR FREE, I am almost 100% sure that you will have positive answers. Well, he/she may ask you to teach him/her English for exchange. That is because when someone asks you to teach him/her English, he or she is ready to teach you Chinese back in heart
there are so many Chinese. Over 1 billion. So you encounter with the situation many times. The phenomenon happens to you A LOT, but it happens to that Chinese only once. What I want to say is, he/she has no idea that you are annoyed with this.
Well, thank you for your patience to read all my words. One more thing, if a Chinese whose English still needs some foreigner to help with, he/she may still lack the knowledge of the westerners’ habbits, culture and stuff. Please be aware of this.
Wish you all the best in China. Bravo~
April 13th, 2006 at 11:36 pm
@Tony: “It is another culture difference. We Chinese don’t like to discuss money first, even it is about money. If I ask someone I take him/her as friend for help, I will say nothing about money. It is a kind of insulting to him/her to some angle.”
A stranger who approaches a laowai is not a friend in any culture that I’m familiar with.
April 24th, 2006 at 2:06 am
I had a similar experience with a Chinese aquaintance back here in England. The Chinese person in question was in the UK on a Masters course, as was I. She was a friend of a friend and was obviously delighted to meet someone studying TEFL. Anyway, the next thing I know I’m getting rough drafts of her assignments in my inbox expecting me to correct them for her. OK, number 1 her written English was so bad I’m not sure how she got on the course, number 2 proofreading academic papers is really time consuming, number 3 several of my classamates charged for this kind of service, which I in vain tried to direct her to them, number 4 the university had English language teachers whose job it was to help the international students with their English. The list could go on, the first time it happened I good naturedly tried to make some constructive criticisms, but by the time the end of the year was rolling around and she was still emailing me stuff despite my making it pretty clear I did not want to help her, not least cause I was more than busy enough with my own work, well anyway, I just randomly highlighted words and emailed it, or just emailed it back unchanged or too late. I got nothing in return, talk about feeling used. Having lived in both China and Japan I’d encountered my fair share of what I termed language leeches, people who didn’t seem to be able to view a person with white skin as anything other than some kind of English spouting machine permanently at their disposal, rather than as an actual person. In Japan I used to tell people if they wanted to learn English they should go to Nova (language school) and I tried the old I don’t speak English line in China a fair few times.
On a related but slighlty tangental note, one time favourite China moments which somehow seemed to say so much, was being with a group of fellow laowai who’d spotted some monkeys, so we’d stopped to take photos, meanwhile all the Chinese tourists passing by were stopping to take photos of us.
April 25th, 2006 at 4:10 am
I didn’t realize how bad this situation here in China until 3 years ago when I was picking some postcards in the ground floor of the foreign language book store here in Shanghai. A foreign lady was browsing books, a Chinese girl approached her asking whether she could practice English with her, and the lady friendly responded yes. The Chinese girl is very pleased, with her mom looking at her proudly in a short distance. I really feel sorry for both: I could imagine how many times a foreigner may confront similar scenes in a day and myself would definitely go mad within three times; for the girl eager to improve her English, I don’t think she could improve her English by such ill conversation. I’m a local and I value personal space.
April 28th, 2006 at 2:03 pm
This is similar to what I went through as a golf professional in shenzhen when i first started 8 years ago……everyone wanted me to help them with their swing when I was at the driving range….but no one could fathom why I wanted to charge them money! At first in order to build my business i was giving 15 minute free ‘teaser’ lessons. But after two months of NO MONEY I started telling people I was too busy…unless of course they wanted to pay me 400 RMB per hour. They ALWAYS said……”ah forget it, I only needed a little help…not a lesson”. So then they would get the little driving range attendant girl to help them with their swing…and she has never even played golf before!!!!
But hey….at least i got some free dinners and drinks out of it! And I gave up teaching golf forever because of that crap I went through! And even now I still run into some of those guys and they still suck just like they did back then because they still wont pay for golf lessons!
April 28th, 2006 at 3:12 pm
@Jeff - I’m a Scot and come from near St. Andrews and golf is in my blood. I agree with you on the lessons, but having been to the driving range many times in Nanjing it’s clear that no amount of lessons can turn a clown with a swing like that of a retarded monkey into even a half decent golfer never mind someone I’d want to play behind. Even professional teachers need some foundation to build on.
April 28th, 2006 at 6:04 pm
There’s a very high premium for someone who speaks both Mandarin and English nowadays. Especially if you’re in China. I do understand if most Chinese think that proficiency in English would guarantee a huge paycheck and I would understand if a Chinese would randomly ask/rape/use an unsuspecting laowai for some English tongue action. Might be an act of desperation. Being friendly because they want you to teach their dog or whoever to speak English is much worse. That’s what I would call “user-friendly”.
I have’nt been a rapee and I doubt if I ever will be as I look like a local. In fact everybody talks to me in Mandarin. They leave me alone as soon as I say “I don’t know Chinese”. Is a simple “NO” not enough to get these rapists off your sight?
April 29th, 2006 at 1:54 am
English tongue action, ummmm, gimme gimme gimme
April 29th, 2006 at 8:49 am
@pinoy28
Of course a no is not usually enough, no matter how visual-ugly DD, Dan, Sino, etc. might be, in China they are English-language supermodels and the leches can’t get enough. In contrast, you are in Chinese eyes English-ugly. Not worth the pick-up line, walking over, free drinks or gossip.
And the guys are of course the pleasant supermodels they are, reluctant to be a mean and just say ‘no’ to all the advances. Unless…the advancee is a VISUAL supermodel.
April 29th, 2006 at 11:22 am
@Certified. Please, don’t pigeon-hole me. I’m not wure how long you’ve been in China but I guess it’s not long enough to be sick of being raped, at times. I’ve spent many hours in conversations being ‘raped’ and put up with it. I work as the sole foreigner in an American company where all my senior staff are required to speak English. Hence, after more than 5 years here (I’m a comparatively short-timer) my Chinese sucks - BIG TIME! I cannot conduct business meetings or daily working pratices in Chinese so in effect, I am being self-abused and self-raped every single day so you can imagine that after a week in the factory the last thing I want to do some times is sit and talk Chinglish. Yes, it is my fault that my Chinese sucks and I have many, many, many exuses for it. Not least the fact that my position requires me to work my ass off and that I only came to China on a 2 year contract initially and although I tried hard to learn it, the motivation wasn’t really there. But, 2 years became 3, 4, 5 and more. If I’d known that I was going to be here for 5 years (probably 7 looking forward) then I would have made more effort. No, I also couldn’t have got myself a local g/f to ‘rape’ because I’m happily married to a Scottish lass and we communicate just fine in Scots. But, why am I am even explaining all that here, to you.
PS - I am never mean or rude to any Chinese person who simply wants to practice English, but I can politely excuse myself and leave when I’m not in the mood or don’t have time.
May 23rd, 2006 at 9:53 pm
I live in the states, and am only starting to learn Mandarin. I have a white American born friend from college who married a Chinese girl, and they travel to China at least once a year. He did not know any Chinese before his first travels to China. He reported the Chinese people are very friendly, and every cafe or restaurant he stopped at, he would find a few people who wanted to talk to him in English, and teach him a word or two of Chinese. He loved it!!
I don’t understand how people can get pissed off if a person wants to speak to them. Who cares what the language is. It is about making friends, learning a new culture, and having a good time.
Why go to China if you want to charge everyone to teach them english, and when nobody pays, to stay locked up in a hotel room. I would be more happy to be around people.
One day I am planning on going to China, and I hope many of you “English teachers” did not ruin it for the rest of us, and turn Chinese people against foreigners. I think it is very narcissistic and rude to dismiss people the way many of you have posted. You sound more like French people than Americans or Canadians. You know the xenophobic French that get annoyed if people don’t speak perfect French. The ones who look down on others, and value their own culture more than yours.
When I travel to China, I plan on meeting as many people as possible, trying as many new things as possible, eating different foods, and exploring a place different than my home country. And I will do it with an open mind and open heart. There is an old saying “When in Rome, do as the Romans”. When I go to China, I want to soak up as much of the experience as I can. I hope people approach me and “use me” as much as they can, I would be happy to help others learn English.
May 23rd, 2006 at 10:16 pm
@Tom: That’s pretty good even if it’s an American rip-off of “Eastman”. Maybe you should give him a name.(not Dulang) I already said you guys should team up on the Eastman thing. If that was that an audition for Beijing Paddy and Meursault. Hey, I think it was pretty fucking funny.
May 23rd, 2006 at 10:29 pm
@Sino. Hey, I just noticed your post to me b/c of the lame Tom-troller post just in. What’d I say? I haven’t re-read the whole thread, but I see nothing for me to disagree with or mock in your post. You’ve been here half a decade, that’s cool. Peace.
May 26th, 2006 at 11:49 pm
Hey, if you can speak English and you are Chinese, let’s speak English. That doesn’t bother me. But if you’re English is crap, let’s speak Chinese. The multiple “Hellos” from across the street is annoying and rude. If you want to talk, lets talk. If you want to yell at someone, make sure it’s not me. 好不好? 同意了吗？答应了吗？
May 27th, 2006 at 12:02 am
Just be clear, that last “Tom” wasn’t me.
You guys would have been proud of me on the bus the other day.
I had my headphones on and was listening to something (either Slayer or Debussy, one or the other) when this girl tapped on my shoulder.
“Hi, I am Amy now.”
“What?”
“I am studying English.”
“Great.”
“Can I talk to you?”
“Go ahead.”
“Um…”
“What do you want?”
“I want to talk to you.”
“What about?”
“Do you mind if I talk with you?”
“… Yeah.”
*Turns round, puts Debussy/Slayer back on, tries not to feel too guilty.*
But really, I was just not in the mood. Turns out if you wait for them to talk, they won’t have anything to say. If they ever did.
May 28th, 2006 at 1:23 pm
My Chinese is pretty bad, and I’m in China alone, so I don’t really mind when someone wants to chat with me in English. It’s the assumption that I, as a foreigner, have a secret way to learn English instantly, and if you ask me “Why you come China?” enough times, I’ll tell you.
And, for the love of god, if you’re going ask me which state I’m from, at least have heard of one. I’m from New Jersey. On the East Coast. Near New York. Manhattan. New York City. World trade center. Two towers exploding? Anything?
June 3rd, 2006 at 12:23 pm
Getting Face…that’s why the buggers want to talk to the laowai. In their heads, the Chinese who talk to a foreigner in English only have one thing in mind…increasing their own sense of self-worth. It’s an ego boost for them: “Ain’t I more clever than the rest of the peasants, I speak english to a foreigner and he listens!”
And why the hell the pretense of wanting to help foreigners. Too often I have had some jerk approach me while I have been minding my own business to ask: “May I help you?”
My response is always the same: “Are you simple or what?”
They never understand it.
June 3rd, 2006 at 8:27 pm
This is where being able to speak just a little Chinese comes in handy:
China: May I ask you some questions?
sarc: 你可以 (heavily accented)
China: You can speak English to me!
sarc: 你说英语,我说中文吧,就我门都会练习. (bad grammar)
China turns and walks away, without even a “goodbye” look on his face.
Works every time, but that final rejection can jolt.
Or how about:
China: Can I ask you some questions?
sarc: You can ask me one, and you’ve just asked it.
At school, where I gotta speak English…
Give invites to ring or chat to only the students who get the best 20 marks in the standard reading/writing/listening tests, this cuts down on a lot of stress while still doing the job.
Encourage students to have the habit of speaking English with a classmate at the same level as them every day for a quarter hour, before speaking to a foreigner. I only want to speak to students who do this, they learn more from me, and they’re a lot easier to talk to. If students can’t find regular speaking partners, I’m not gonna waste my time talking with them.
June 9th, 2006 at 1:25 pm
We are wanting good looking beauty teachers for English class. Our school is a top place for studying English. We pay 15-25RMB per hour before tax,excluding the bonus. We garantee at least 3 hours per week. Let\’s make friends!
Also, I am a china beauty is pickyvv@hotmail.com
June 10th, 2006 at 11:16 am
Vicky - I know just the person. I work for about RMB20 per hour and 3 hours a week sounds about right to me. I’m sure I can manage 3 times a week as long as you include weekends. Forget the bonus, i’ll do it with a smile on.
PS - I also do French.
PPS - If your school is ‘top place for studying Egnlish’, I suggest you go back and resit the exams. Either that or contact Phil, he’ll be glad to help you with transalations. Contact sundance@niuzai.com
June 13th, 2006 at 8:19 pm
@vicky the spam slut: I’ll teach you English 3 hours a week, if you make mehit the airplane, it’s free. Deal?
June 15th, 2006 at 11:59 am
well, I am so sorry to hear you guys so upset at Chinses english-learners. I am one of the types who are too shy to be a language rapist and ended up with finding great difficulty inlearning english well.
June 15th, 2006 at 12:05 pm
@sdaimei - Your written English looks to be perfectly written. And I never, ever, have a problem “talking” to a non-Native English Speaker in English.
I actually enjoy meeting Chinese people who like to speak English.
For example, based upon your post up above, I think we would be able to chat over a beer easily.
It’s the non NES that want me to define words constantly every 10 minutes that kill me.
don’t be shy. But don’t expect every English speaker you meet to “teach” you English. BUT, if you “hang out” with English Speakers you will be passivley learning the language.
Cheers!
June 15th, 2006 at 4:44 pm
I would like to find a English Native Speaker(ENS) to teach English for children in beijing, pls mail me to kwcarla29@yahoo.com,if you would like to do this part-time job in beijng a.s.a.p., thanks!
June 15th, 2006 at 5:24 pm
Hey I’m no longer a laowai, I’m an ENS! No thanks.
June 15th, 2006 at 8:32 pm
@ Carla - to teach English ‘for’ or ‘to’?
It’s just as you say though, a side show.
June 15th, 2006 at 8:52 pm
@Admiralette- Cheap rip off.. If you must do it, do it right. the Admiralette…
June 20th, 2006 at 10:28 pm
Oh, these Chinese guys mistakenly think all those Laowai are with good education and speak good English.
Unfortunately, they are wrong. Most of Laowai are no more than a bunch of craps with lousy English in both writing and speaking.
You guys should be flattered if they ask you to teach them English.
June 21st, 2006 at 8:48 am
I love going shopping in Xidan (beijing) and when people start speaking English to me, I just go off in random spanish phrases. “yo no hablo espaniol. Donde esta el bano? Yo tengo un gato en mis pantelones. Mi perro exploto!!” or other gibberish (one year of Spanish in a public school, and I can’t speak jack). Freaks em out everytime!
The other day, some girl came right up to me in a restaurant(in chinese):
“Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“yes”
“Can I learn english from you?”
“do you have money?”
“how do you charge?”
“250RMB an hour”
“impossible!! Do you have MSN?”
“no”
“do you have QQ?”
“yes”
“can you give it to me?”
“do you have 250 RMB?”
conversation ends, she walks away offended. She’s offended?!
June 21st, 2006 at 1:53 pm
你能不能想象每天听到有人在你背后说 “喂，爸／妈／老公／老婆／老师／狗狗– 你看, 老外!”
听到别人在说你 －－你心里会不会舒服？
站在你背后的人根本没想到你的感受
假设你听到有人在你背后说
“喂,狗狗 你看 — 她老婆怎么那么难看哦”
那你心理会舒服吗?
其实狗狗的回答最经典 －－＂没关系， 她会讲一口流利的普通话 －－ 哈哈！！＂
－－太巧，＂－－当我在写这段文字就有一位从来没跟我讲过话的同事跑过来问我＂有没有外国朋友可以帮我一个朋友学英语＂ －－－ 哈哈！ 太好笑！
July 13th, 2006 at 10:15 am
Ken said:
“Oh, these Chinese guys mistakenly think all those Laowai are with good education and speak good English.
Unfortunately, they are wrong. Most of Laowai are no more than a bunch of craps with lousy English in both writing and speaking.
You guys should be flattered if they ask you to teach them English”.
Judging by your piss-poor English you’ve been taught by just such a teacher. Great generalising though. Do you know “most of Laowai” as you so eloquently put it? At last count there were at least 100 000 in Beijing alone.You must get around. Flattered? You should be flattened Ken.
July 13th, 2006 at 1:23 pm
I am from Europe and therefore I do not speak english and I deny to speak english with a shanghainese in public when I am not in the mood for it. And that´s mostly the case after 4 years here.
Whenever I get pestered with chinglish by shanghainese molestors (and we all know them) I will speak MY language, and that is Spanish. I do also speak German and French fluent. Here we go with the most important european world languages. A great way to keep my mind calm in this lovely city is to speak spanish whenever I hear english words coming out from shanghainese lips. Great way to scare them, they become even smaller, shocked, insecure reeeed face is coming up…(why?) and just run away. Thanks, that´s what I want.
Really dumb experience in Shanghai:
Shanghainese: “You speak english?”
Me: “No, no hablo íngles, lo siento”
Shanghainese: “Oh, yes weather very good”
Me: “Lo siento, pero no hablo íngles!”
Shanghainese: “Oh, sorry my english poor, can you speak slow to me”
Me “Lo siento, pero no hablo íngles!!”
Shanghainese: “Oh, you speak english very good. you teach me?”
Me: “XXX!!!”
Unfortunately no shanghainese molestor believes that there are white noses and countries who do not speak english in this world and that a person who goes to Europe will not able to communicate in daily life with english only. The world is not english and anglosaxon as the chinese believe.
Actual example: A friend of mine went to france, believing that with just english she would be able to do anything there. (well, actually the chinese “agency” who organised her transfer told her, that english is spoken anywhere at anytime in every lao wai country of this world…) 100.000 RMB and 1 week later she wrote emails, crying that she couldnt communicate in daily life and that everyone is speaking FRENCH to her! How impolite those french are!!
July 13th, 2006 at 10:59 pm
Hi Marx, I know you have some examples and you are in shanghai, but it is still too hard for me to accept that shanghairen think english is the only language used by all laowais. What kind of shanghairen do you meet everyday? They all are simple like this? There are no shanghairen at least one has showed you that they know there are more than two languages in the world, and not every shanghairen is interested in laowai. What is the population of shanghai? Do you have chance or you would like to have the chance to meet with different shanghairen, not only the girls in the bar (I am assuming you are a male humanbeing).
July 14th, 2006 at 10:45 am
Off topic comment:
Shanghainese are low minded, selfish, have absolutely no education and knowledge at all (except Eating, sleeping and getting money) and Shanghai is the worst garbage hole in China. Inconvenient to live, dirty and polluted that the God of Cancer could have founded Shanghai by himself.
One good thing is: Shanghai is good to make money. And that´s all. Simply everything what Shanghai can offer. And we are using you well for it, thanks.
Now you think, that it´s just my opinion. Well, no: I lived in Xi´an for 2 years and Xi´an is several classes better than Shanghai will ever be. They have their problems as well, they are developing but the people are educated, warm hearted and share what they have. Honest and open people - the absolut contrary to a common Shanghainese. Oh, and they also do speak and teach Mandarin at its best over there in Xi´an. Shanghainese cannot speak clean Mandarin. Xi´an University professors i know, confirmed this to me very clearly. And i could continue this list till dawn.
My chinese friends say the above about Shanghai as well. Shaanxi ren, Xi`an ren, Sichuanese. And most of the foreigners think that too, dear. But they will never tell you that directly, they will rather use blogs to express their real thinking because Shanghainese are so stubborn and ignorant and so wrongly confident of their little existence that it is impossible to have a critical and true real time discussion with them about their city. Except you keep saying, how beautiful it is and how good and blablabla.
It is more interesting to have an open and intelligent discussion with a stone wall than with a Shanghainese.
So, to finish this: It´s no wonder that you have the worst image in China among your fellow countrymen and foreigners. The unfortunate and infamous “chinese inferior complex” was invented in Shanghai.
Nothing else was ever invented by Shanghainese, since Shanghai was build up by foreigners and foreign companies and not Shanghainese.
And so on and so far…
July 14th, 2006 at 11:04 pm
Woo, Marx, you do have opinions about shanghai. Sounds like money is the only reason to keep you there. If most people in shanghai choose this city for the same reason; they feel that shanghai is a place only for living temporarily, they just want to use it and then leave, there is no way shanghai can be a beautiful home for them.
I am not a shanghairen, and only been there once. I hope someday you will find something good or meet someone nice, maybe just at an instant of your daily busy life. I am sure you will miss shanghai when you no longer live there.
July 18th, 2006 at 6:52 pm
I took a train from Guangzhou to Changsha this past weekend. Unforunately due to mis-named tropical storm Bliss (who calls a tropical sorm bliss?…that is like calling a hurricane “wonderful” (side note, there should be a post on here about those weird chinese names i.e., “Cherry,” “Candy,” “Honey,” “Curly” ..ect)) Anyway, thanks to the storm, my train ride that normally only lasts about 7 hours turned into a 51 hour ordeal. I was the only laowi on one section of the train and I had parents bringing me their children because they wanted me to speak English and talk to them. The train conductor approached me and asked me if I would give an update to all the non-chinese-speaking individuals. However, she wouldn’t let me use the speaker system..I was raped for about 48 hours, now I know what it feels like to go to “fuck you in the ass prison”–Office Space
July 19th, 2006 at 2:18 pm
@dm
just say “no”. Give them a smile and say “no” and just don´t do it. Sit there. drink a coffee and just say “no”
.
“no” is the golden word and they will let you your peace after a short while.
July 20th, 2006 at 2:13 am
@Marx (you are funnier than the real commies.)
Wow! English, Mexican, French, German…! What an accomplishment! You must be very proud of yourself, genius. But I am afraid by Chinese standards these are just dialects. I have to thank you for enlightening me, hijo de puta. Next time any of you ghost-eyed approaches me for directions or something and think everybody should understand your English or half-cooked Mandarin, I will reply in my hometown dialect. I will not understand your English, your Mandarin or whatever. I will only speak my hometown dialect. You think Mandarin is enough for you to get around in China? What a prick you are. Fuck off, Mutterficker. Va te faire foutre! 去吊颈，络定个屎罅先! 垃圾瘪三，黄浦江高头唔没装盖头个!
July 20th, 2006 at 3:06 pm
@ Chenggongrenshi
You are a shanghainese. Its your fate in China and you will have to live with it. Brainless, stupid, arrogant, lazy, dirty, egoistic, selfish, childish, half-cooked wisdoms whenever you open your smelly mouth. Want to talk about everything, control and take part in everthing although YOU KNOW NOTHING, except to eat, to sleep, to shit and to cheat on others (also on non-shanghainese) to get as most money as you can. That´s all.
No basis, no knowledge of anything, only your inferior complex against the people (foreigners) who build up this city for you and who are feeding you. And since you are cowards, you shut your mouth in front of foreigners, so you are using good chinese from other provinces to look down on them, so you can feel special. You are so poor and cheap.
You shanghainese, learn to speak Mandarin and stop looking down to your fellow chinese countrymen from other provinces. You are not in the position for that and you will never be.
Shanghainese dialect? What´s this. Its sounds like a dog language and dogs you are, for foreigners and for chinese people. This sentence not only comes from me, it comes from proud chinese in the western and southern provinces.
Greetings from my close chinese friends from Shaanxi and Sichuan and other provinces in China. They will eat you one day for breakfast, little shanghainese you.
July 20th, 2006 at 3:23 pm
Actually, I think Shanghainese is pretty cool, as languages go.
I don’t particularly think the same about Chenggongrenshi, who strikes me as an unpleasantly abrasive person, but there you go.
July 20th, 2006 at 3:45 pm
So what’s the demarcation point between different languages and dialects? It might equally be said that the different ‘dialects’ of Chinese are different languages, might it not?
July 20th, 2006 at 3:45 pm
@Tom
It is useless to have this kind of discussion here. I know this.
Speaking with a shanghainese is like putting yourself down in the evolutionary ladder. They try to move you down to their level.
And their level is as low as their minds. Anyways, who is that little Mama Chenggongrenshi? Nothing for me. Just another dog.
Probably not even a shanghainese, a wannabe as we see so many here.
But one for sure: He is absolutely stupid. Spanish for example is a world language. Most native speakers on this world speak spanish (in USA more than 30 million people), after Mandarin. Then comes english and then french. He calls it “dialects”
. And then he DARES to speak for all Chinese (”But I am afraid by Chinese standards these are just dialects.”), like Shanghai is the voice of China. 
. Can you feel the shanghainese stupidity and arrogance? It´s obvious.
I have met classy and educated people in Xi`an. Good chinese people with smart minds and manners, helpful and warm hearted. Something you will never see in Shanghai.
July 21st, 2006 at 1:22 am
@azman
What are the criteria for languagehood? That is always an inane question, my friend. Only those Europeans with their peculiar language narcissism are obsessed with it. They have been quibbling on it for ages and have not come to any remote chance of a solution. I will never give a shit about such stupid mental masturbation.
While this language raping thing is, like all other threads of this site, nothing but the whiteys’ hysterical response to the Chinese reality in which their oversized egos fail to fit, I do think their misery is a legitimate reason for some griping and whining. But that Marx guy is just too hilarious. He actually thinks his European language narcissism matters much in China. I love to stir fry a corny dumb ass like him, which is what I do for entertainment when I have some minutes to spare.
@Marx
Your buttons are too easy to push. I did not expect my words could work you up like that. You made things too easy for me and I am a little bored. Try harder next time. One last thing, you can call me Shanghainese if you want cos I have lived there long enough to be qualified. As for your feeble attempt to pitch Shanghai against other provinces, I do not give a shit. You are wasting your time.
July 21st, 2006 at 9:09 am
Fair enough if you don’t know. Just that you said that the various European languages are “merely dialects” to Chinese people, implying that you knew the difference or that there was a Chinese standard which differs from that used elsewhere. Not looking for an argument,genuinely curious as to what you meant.
July 21st, 2006 at 9:31 am
@Chenggongrenshi
indeed you wannabe-shanghainese. you are even cheaper than a real shanghainese. You have nothing else to say, no arguments anymore. So stick your head into the earth and escape with your own magic feeling of being on the right side. You got out of this with (dog-)honour. Haha.
@Chenggongrenshi:
You are nothing.
July 21st, 2006 at 9:54 am
@Chenggongrenshi (I know who you are):
@While this language raping thing is, like all other threads of
@this site, nothing but the whiteys’ hysterical response to the
@Chinese reality in which their oversized egos fail to fit, Ido
@think their misery is a legitimate reason for some griping and
@whining. But that Marx guy is just too hilarious. He actually
@thinks his European language narcissism matters much in China.
@love to stir fry a corny dumb ass like him, which is what I do
@for entertainment when I have some minutes to spare.
A Yankee, i knew it. Can you only speak poor english or can you also speak a real and rich language like spanish, french, italian, german, russian? English is so simple you know. compared to all other languages I speak, hurts my eyes, whenever i put all those silly words together. Not that i care, but i must tell you: It´s a cheap language, simply structured. No way to express yourself in the same way like with a rich language, german for example.
Despite the fact that english comes after spanish (spoken by most native speakers) in the world and in your degenerated small country USA you will find quite 30 million spanish native speakers and growing, according to european statistics. Try to find a job in Florida without spanish…
So, WHO ARE YOU? You Little stinker. English is nothing, especially in Europe. And the whole anglosaxon shit in China will come to an end.
Because English and yankees like you have no future and you will be a**f**ed in China by chinese and being hunted by chinese on the streets. As soon as your fascistic government makes another bloody action á la Iraq, but this time in the asian region (and we already have 2 potential places, isn´t it).
Your time is limited here. I recommend you to rent a house near the airport or US embassy. You will need it one day, captain english.
July 21st, 2006 at 12:47 pm
hahahahahahahahahahahah!!! hahahahahahahahahah! hahahahahahahahahaha!!!!hahahahahah!ha! ha! HAHA! Oh shit,my side hurts! hahahahahahahahahahaha!!! haha! haha! hahahahaha!!!Karl,you’re too funny! hahahahahahaha! haha! You’re a fucking cartoon! hahahaahahahahaha! Fucking wannabe anarchist!
July 21st, 2006 at 1:16 pm
@Dulang: “You little stinker” isn’t in my So You Wanna Be An Anarchist? phrasebook.
July 21st, 2006 at 1:31 pm
@Pete: That’s because you have the English version of the book, captain english. “You little stinker” is actually VERY insulting in Spanish and doesn’t sound like something a 4 year old girl in pigtails would say.
July 21st, 2006 at 1:44 pm
@Precious: My mistake; having dusted off my copy of Mi Poco Anarquista I can see that you are indeed correct.
July 21st, 2006 at 1:58 pm
You anglosaxon yankees are great in mocking about other cultures, and here about China in particular. But look at you. Look at yourself, your view of the world, your criminal and degenerated country, your actions world wide. And STILL you want to put yourself over everything. But what do you have to offer? No culture, no education, no language, no morale. you simply have NOTHING to offer to the world except war, death, lies.
Not so the chinese. You, as an uncultivated and root less country YOU must learn from China and its culture and from Europe. You must learn that your view of life is corrupted and more and more countries that you are trying to undermine with your propaganda, knows it now. I am confident about the Anti-North American atmosphere in Europe nowadays. It will increase, believe me. You are running out of lies and “jokers”.
Now China reacts greatly emotionaly and uncontrollable and proud when it comes to political issues and their Nation. And rightly so. THEY have a reason to be proud of their country. But not you, you little british colony.
So, don´t wonder about “yankee-hunting-scenes” in chinese cities in the future, if your corrupt government DARES to do anything to undermine Chinas strong position in south east asia.
Europeans wants to see a more close relation ship with China in the future. Economically, Culturally and Politically. From that moment on, YOU will just be dialect speakers with your english and your game is over in China.
Chinese: Don´t think that you are close minded people who are not able take critics, silly, who cannot eat correctly, who cannot and so on and so far. That´s what THEY want you to believe, to control you.
Don´t believe yankee-words (we all know what they are worth). Your culture and history is superior and you more open and smarter than any yankee. Dulang and friends: Work on your inferior complex (It´s bigger than the World Trade Center…)
and stop infecting others with it. You have no chance.
July 21st, 2006 at 2:09 pm
@Karl Marx - One word: THERAPY
July 21st, 2006 at 2:27 pm
@ Karl - You go girl. Tell them Yankee running dogs what you think of them. Vive la Europe! Long live the EU! The EU will expand to include Russia, Mongolia, China, Laos, Bhutan and all other countries of our great united-by-land economic zone and then we’ll show those damn yankee pig-dogs whose got the biggest cheque books and the greater ability to live beyond our means. We WILL rule the world and be champions at baseball and ballroom dancing (that’s dancing with baggy trousers). The Yankees will never win another world series ever - now, if only we can get Japan on our side. Anyone want North Korea?
July 21st, 2006 at 3:12 pm
@Groucho Marx: Yeah,you go with that,you fucking suck up to Chinese, butt-licking joke. Don’t forget to wash your Che Guevara T-shirt and your little beret. Say hi to Charlie Manson for me.
July 21st, 2006 at 3:23 pm
What in the name of Greek buggery is happening to this post?
July 21st, 2006 at 3:50 pm
See? It´s easier to mock someone (here the chinese people) than being mocked, eh?
Here you go with your real face. Here you go with the famous yankee double morale standards.
And how well you can handle critics from others by yourself!
USA the Throne of the Morale! Free Speech and Democracy - You are my friend as long as you shut your mouth and as long as you keep poor and weak, so that I can control you, and use you and your resources and your home for my purposes. We can taunt you and write blogs against you, but never do the same with us!
Thanks for the validation of your inner selfs and I hope i have opened at least one pair of chinese eyes here.
Chinese: Ignore yankees in China. Look to europe, learn european languages, believe in yourself.
That´s it here. Eat your fat hamburgers and don´t forget to wash your hands after it…
July 21st, 2006 at 4:12 pm
@ Richard Marx: Were you mocking us? I thought you were just shitting out of your mouth. Do you honestly thing anyone on this blog,Chinese or whatever,actually takes one word you say seriously? You gotta build up a little integrity first. You’re just wasting your time. I’m wasting my time by responding to you but I’m just having fun. You’re a real hoot.
July 21st, 2006 at 4:22 pm
@Dulang - I wrote something to the same effect, but it got lost when my browser crashed… I had wanted to write something about the few valid issues in his posts, but then I just figured it’s simply not worth the time… Nobody takes him serious, he’s just talking too much shit.
July 21st, 2006 at 4:34 pm
Hey, speak for yourself. I take him seriously and I’m in awe of his politics. I agree with him on the ‘hate the damn Yankees’ thing. I’ve always prefered the Red Sox.
July 21st, 2006 at 4:48 pm
@Rage: Yeah. I mean,he’s obviously trying to impress somebody into thinking he’s “romantic” for his devotion to “the cause”. I’ve known lots of nimrods like him when I lived in Europe. I had more darn fun harassing those guys.
July 21st, 2006 at 5:54 pm
Marx reminds me of the french guy in the castle yelling down at King Arthur, etc in Holy Grail. You don’t frighten us, Yankee Pig Dogs! Go and boil your bottoms, you sons of silly persons! I fart in your general direction! Silly Yankee K-niggets!
July 22nd, 2006 at 4:23 am
I’ve grown to like Karl. There’s just something about his passion for heaping insults upon my homeland, an endearing innocence in the fact that he has not yet realized that Americans living abroad have become desensitized from hearing that kind of crap all the time. I welcome Karl and his off-topic rantings!
July 22nd, 2006 at 9:52 am
@ChuckUFarley:(nice handle) I was gonna say Marx is the activist guy in Forrest Gump that slaps the girl around and then apologizes later saying “It’s just that damn Nixon!” As Ace Ventura would say “La-hoo-a-ser”.
@Precious: Absolutely! You know,back in the 80s when I lived in Sweden, the Communists controlled alot of the rock music biz and put on many rock festivals and shows as a way to recruit young people by showing people how “groovy” it was to be a communist. If you were in a band and wanted to have a gig you pretty much had to deal with them. My band would always show up to a stage draped in red banners and “Down with Amerika” posters. I’ve never been a political person but I considered it my patriotic duty to give those guys as much shit as I could. And I even got paid for it! I got over “America-bashing” long before it was fashionable(or as some would say “de rigeur”) He should really try something more original,being the “trailblazer” he wants so badly to be. How about “Down With Jamaica!”? I don’t think that’s been done yet.
July 22nd, 2006 at 10:26 am
@Karl. I think the last few posts clearly demonstrate that Europeans can’t speak English or convey a coherent thought. At least the Chinese irrefutable logic has a purpose, which is to screw YOU.
I’m changing my signoff phrase to: ‘die, die, die, go to Europe, who cares’.
July 22nd, 2006 at 11:03 am
@Certified: You forgot to say “except for Rage” ,although I’m sure he would agree with you. At least the guy has a sense of humor.
July 22nd, 2006 at 11:33 am
Wooo…………Good heavens! I am away for two days and… What a scene! I didn’t do it. It wasn’t me.
@Marx,
You are so …….(flipping thru my dictionary searching for the right word)…..adorable! But I swear to all gods, eastern and western, I did not intend to confuse you. I don’t mind if you call me a Shanghainese. But a yankee? Pleaaaaaaaase! Not when the moon turns blue.
@ all yankees,
It is a bit unfair. You guys have such a numerical advantage here. As I am told, human waves are not American style. I would love to see the Europeans also gang up. When the day of Armageddon arrives, I promise I will be the most interested spectator.
July 22nd, 2006 at 12:36 pm
Oh,what a beautiful blog! I like it very much! I’m agreeable to your point of view!
my name is 反应釜 I hope to make feiends with you !
July 22nd, 2006 at 12:45 pm
You’d love to see the Europeans gang up and do what? I think there’s a lot more Euro’s here than you think, it’s just that we’re generally more reserved, polite and quieter than our yankee cuzzins
And besides, the Europeans are not as tightly integrated as most people think. Take the French for example, we’re all kinda hoping they vacate and move to Quebec so we can turn France into a big field. No one in Europe would miss them.
July 22nd, 2006 at 12:58 pm
ALL YOU EURO-MOFOS BRING IT ON! I’LL KARATE CHOP YA! I’LL GIVE YA A SWIFT KICK TO THE ANKLE!
July 22nd, 2006 at 1:01 pm
Dulang - and then i’ll cry and make you feel all guilty and then you’ll give me lots of reparations and then i’ll bite your ass.
July 22nd, 2006 at 1:06 pm
@Sino: Yeah,something like that.
July 26th, 2006 at 1:28 am
docmarko@gmail.com Hangzhou China.
Well I saw this language rapist thing on here and felt the urge. So…My phrase came to be language vampires about three years ago. Same thing though. Over an dover, non stop and yes it gets on the very last nerve many times. I am an American psychiatrist living and working here in China and aftet living in three cities and four years it does bite. Sick of the fake “I want to be your friend” BS, some sitting there with their NOTEBOOKS or e-translators and asking “how do you spell that”? “What does this / that mean”? Especially when I’m trying to just relax, have a coffee, have a beer, eat a meal or come up to me simply because I stood still somewhere for five minutes.
Another side of this? The same damn questions 1,000 times over. Where are you from? Why did you come to China? When will you go back? Oh my, you can use chopsticks? How old are you? And of course, all this they expect for free.
Now I’m a doctor, a psychiatrist in specialty, and I get this and a truck load of, I also want all the free psychology and/or counseling I can get routine as well. If they do their job for me, I’m quite sure I will have to pay for it, and more than a Chinese person, much more. Just as every shop I go to sees my expat face and triples the price.
Really nice when the beggars grab onto me and hold on for dear life again for my expat face.
Staring is another great perk, lookin? curious? fine, but to stop and look me up and down, stare at my shoes, see what I’m buying in ANY store and watching me carefully eat.
Saying, hearing laowai about 20 times a day, (a slow day), and having some say it in front of my face and then continue to have a nice conversation about me at 2 feet away.
Hearing someone yell “hello”, again 20 times a day and thinking that is the funnest thing ever because it’s the ONLY English word they know. And usually after you have walked 10 yards past them already.
The fact that getting a straight anser to something simple is nearly impossible and takse longer than a flight accross the ocean. Lies that aren’t lies, it’s “saving face”.
Some things, allowed for Chinese, but not for expats.
Constantly changing rules of many things so that you can’t play because you can’t keep up.
Trying to do something that is serious to me/us/you, while the person your dealing with is smiling like hell or just stright our laughing at you in the middle of this.
At times can and is so acceptable that they can don something, insult us in some way,but expats do anything even remotely like this and we are terrible people.
Girls who are money and or visa chasers. (Of course I don’t mean all girls here), but they do exist. Want to marry just for security and nothing to do with love by any means. (Had one after two days, said lets marry, I promise I will stay with you for five years, nice).
So I guess it’s a love / hate relationship for many here. Not anywhere are things perfect. And I v’e had a bad couple of months lately for many reasons. Guess I needed to vent and rant a bit to get it off my chest. Maybe can feel better now.
Don’t get me wrong, I like many things here also, but difficulties do abound sometimes. I treat many expats medically and psychologically and most of my psyc patients are Chinese. I do the best I can to service them, improve their quality of life and self healt in everyway I can.Sometimes it is very rewarding and so I continue to try to help. That’s what I do of course and hope that I can increase their knowledge of the field of psychology here. Many people do want it, and many do need it.
What the future will bring I don’t know, (psychiatrist not psychic), but I hope it means something in my life.
Good mental health to all.
Thanks
Doc Matt
July 26th, 2006 at 6:07 pm
Foreign Friends
I found a funny commercial on Youtube called ‘foreign friends’ encouraging non English speakers to be pro-active in learning English.
Of course, the flip side of this is an increase in the number of the dreaded ‘Language Rapists…
July 26th, 2006 at 6:09 pm
@Occidentalism: okay
July 26th, 2006 at 8:41 pm
Yes, pity the newcomers who don’t know to *run* when someone approaches with the intent to rape glint in their eye.
One good trick is to answer confusingly. Once I got cornered by some fat little emperor: “How oold ah yoo?” “It’s rude to ask a woman her age. Don’t you have any manners” He looked terrified and scampered back to his mother.
But people really don’t realize how offensive it is. Probably because a lot of foreigners ARE English teachers looking for paying clients, and most of us monkeys can’t speak. Still, annoying that anyone youngish and white must be an English teacher with lots of time to waste.
July 26th, 2006 at 8:43 pm
@Dr. Matt: Great rant. You should stick around here for a while, I think you’ll like it. And, you know, if you ever need someone to talk to, I only charge 85 bucks an hour.
July 27th, 2006 at 6:58 am
@Dr. Matt: Don’t listen to Pete. He’s crazy.
I’ll only charge ya 50 bucks an hour.
@Pete -
July 28th, 2006 at 4:25 pm
I’ve been a resident of Nanjing for six years. First there’s a glaring hypocrisy among many of the later laowai posts, that is, you too have a concept of “chinese” “laowai” etc., all these groups and then making generalizations about them. “Do they all think that we white people all speak English?” is a funny statement. The poster obviously speaks English, so “their” generalization isn’t all that bad. The poster is also still trapped in this “us” and “them” mentality. If you switch the tables here, the Chinese are getting pidgeonholed for the behavior of a small minority. There are some outrageous people in China, a good deal of them 暴发户, they shock the common locals with their insane greed, too. It’s not “Chinese people” who do this, but rather people, and pretty silly ones at that.
Now to add my two cents about the original post: Hong Kong and Taiwan (and even Guangzhou) people are used to whites, they don’t think it’s strange anymore. I think the same think will happen in the mainland after the bulk of farmers get metropolized (which will take over 50 years).
I don’t know what the best tactic is for other parts of China, but in Nanjing the best think to do with annoying people is to pretend they don’t exist. Once you open your mouth you’ve started a kind of game, and it’s a pretty inane one at that. As a rule, when I’m in public I don’t open my mouth. If needed (as in people are touching me) I’ll take action against it (like a quick, painful hit or spitwad to the shirt). If they don’t run right away I just point at them and start yelling “theif”. I don’t care how people see me, if they spread rumors about me, or think that I’m ugly. I have a right to ignore all strangers and protect my personal space and property if necessary.
Making friends is only done in areas where I have common interests with the strangers (like in an art gallery or under specific pretexts online). When two artists meet the two parties are pretty clear about each other, and don’t talk about what they ate for lunch.
July 30th, 2006 at 4:41 am
My approach is to say I’m Norwegian, most Chinese don’t know where the hell it is! Must be annoying if you are from Norway , but always throws them off
Sorry it’s off topic, but about the comical Marx part of the thread.
I just want to point out that English is in fact a European language you silly little man.
July 30th, 2006 at 10:28 am
Dr. Matt, 30 kuai/hour. Remember I’m certified.
August 10th, 2006 at 6:21 pm
I run into this too. When I was in primary school, I went to a classmate’s house, and her mother said to me during dinner, “I hope you’ll come often and help XXX (my friend) improve her English.” I wanted to scream: She invited me here because we’re friends, not because I’m supposed to teach her!
And I’m not even a laowai, just a Chinese girl who happens to speak English passably well.
August 10th, 2006 at 7:04 pm
hi,
found this website after some random clicks. I feel sorry about this issue which has bothered, and is bothering, thousands of foreign people in China. being a Chinese (but studying and living overseas currently) I can truly imagine and understand this irritating situation you’ve experienced… so much work and effort needs to be done immediately by the Chinese gov-ern-ment to improve on the quality of the citizens. materialistic achievement (if any) doesn’t bring progress to China if her people are still lacking of basic courtesy and a sense of respect. uncivilised indeed. I felt so bad.
August 12th, 2006 at 1:40 pm
click in this site by accident too…. Luckly there is noone wants to study chinese in here(where I live now). =D
Well, just tell everyone who wants to take advantage of you that in western culture, you don’t want to be bothered by stranger.
My friend used to tell those who ONLY want to speak english :” 对不起，我不讲英语。“
But I really hope you guys can have nice experience in China. Honestly if you know Chinese, just use it at the very begining and state that you don’t want to speak English. That might helps.
August 19th, 2006 at 4:14 pm
Totally fascinating to read the rapist column. From my experiences of the would-be rapists coming after me I’ve developed techniques:
Would-be rapist: “Hi, how are you? I’m happy to meet you…”
Me: “Qu’est-ce que vous voulez monsieur l’encule…”
Would-be rapist: “Uhh…”
Me (doing a little counter-raping): “对不起,我是法国人. 我的英语讲得不好. 不过, 你好像讲得很流利. 肯定比我好”
The only place this doesn’t work is in the elevator at my apartment complex where everyone knows I’m from an anglophone country. Fortunately, most of the neighbors are more interested in trying to figure out how much I’m paying in rent than in violating me linguistically.
August 19th, 2006 at 6:32 pm
@Ben - seems a good tactic, maybe I’m gonna add on a ‘can you teach me Chinese’ and see their expression. Pardon’moi — 我的英语不好，但你会说中文对不对，教我中文吧。
August 20th, 2006 at 1:28 am
I can understand where you guys are coming from. Recently I received an email from a mainland Chinese named Zu Min who is coming to Malaysia to study for a Masters in Accountancy at University Utara Malaysia. She asked me if I could teach her how to do her thesis and I said ‘yes if you could brush up on my Putonghua’. However, being a foreign born Chinese I did not hear from her again.
August 26th, 2006 at 12:10 pm
Hi guys, I am a Chinese person.I am very sorry that some of us make so many troubles to you. I think what I can do is to tell my friends not to do it again. I think it’s very very importanat for China to communicate with the world, and learning forgin language is the first step.When we know each other enough, I think lots of mistakes won’t happen. Thanks for your understanding.
As we are eager to learn English, I think some of you want to learn Chinese too. Then I am very glad to be your pen friend. Write to Anatorian@gmail.com, if you like. Let’s do some effort to let the world’s people understand each other.
August 27th, 2006 at 12:47 pm
This is a good site,I read this just because I wanted to improve my English,But,I am not a English Rapists.I say “你好(Nihao)” instead of “Hello”,when I met a foreign people first.just because it is in China.
August 28th, 2006 at 4:43 am
Suck it up. You’re using Chinese people, our resources, everything. And if you ever got laid in your life, it was probably with a Chinese girl. Chinese people want to use you? You let them. Or tell them to fuck off. Quit whining. You have no reason to be in China.
And besides, most foreigners I’ve met start off with knowing nothing about Chinese culture, let alone knowing the language. And we don’t shun their ignorance and tell them to go back to their own crappy country and quit bothering us.
September 14th, 2006 at 1:25 am
Kim
Looks like your page was heavily hit by spam
September 14th, 2006 at 1:10 pm
“it was probably with a Chinese girl. Chinese people want to use you? You let them. Or tell them to fuck off. Quit whining. You have no reason to be in China.”
surely the 1st sentence contradicts the last?
September 16th, 2006 at 9:52 pm
Ban Zhang, your post reminds me of a scene I saw in a London stage play called Dis-orientations recently (http://www.bordercrossings.org.uk/disorientations/), which featured both Chinese and Western characters miming to an extremely weird language tape. As you’ve probably guessed, I’m an English guy, living in London, but have visted China on a couple of occasions. I was fascinated by the fact that there are now more speakers of English in China under the age of 5 than there are inhabitants of the UK. I appreciate English is the world’s most dispersed tongue but, this year, China overtook the UK in terms of GDP, and will no doubt outstrip the USA by 2030, so surely there now needs to be an effort in the opposite direction?
September 19th, 2006 at 7:03 pm
wait a second…people are still reading this thread. okay, let me just say this to dana: stop eating 4 big macs in one sitting, stop listening to mariah on your ipod. in fact, stop surfing the net - these are all american resources and you and your grubby little fingers are spoiling the pure american way of life you desire so much.
or, in other words, fuck you cunt!
October 1st, 2006 at 2:53 am
shop for a brand, shop for a fit.
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October 1st, 2006 at 4:17 am
I like Nike especially Team Jordan line and Shox, Air Max, Air Dunks, Forces. Very comfortable, fashionably appealing, versatile.
just like the site sell shoes: www.nikelist.com
October 17th, 2006 at 8:09 pm
For some reverse language raping tales check out the blog of this greenhorn
http://pandagator.info/blog/index.php?paged=2
October 19th, 2006 at 8:56 pm
Oh God, he insists on calling Hong Kong “Xiang Gang” (in pinyin, with tone marks).
What a galloping backside.