The China Teaching Web

ESL Topic - - Being a Good Samaritan

You will find that “being a Good Samaritan” is a concept that is foreign to most Chinese people. China is a country where people will watch an event transpire but rarely lend a helping hand. This is a good way to help students think about doing something for something else even if they don’t receive anything in return.

Warmup: Print this article out and have the students read it outloud. Ask them what they think about what happened and what they would have done in the same situation.

Questions to Discuss:

• Are there “Good Samaritans in China?”
• Why are people so often unwilling to help a fellow Chinese citizen out?
• Should you help someone if you may bring danger upon yourself?
• What is the Golden Rule?
• Other than saving someone’s life or preventing someone from being robbed, how else can you be “a Good Samaritan?”

You can also discuss with students what they would do if they found someone’s cell phone or wallet on the ground. You may be surprised by some of the answers that you receive. Don’t judge these people based on their answers but try to help them understand that doing something nice for someone else is a good habit.