Comments on: Why Learning English in China is No Longer Just Important

By: Xue Wi

Xue Wi — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:41:27 +0000

I think author make change to article to suit his needs. English is very important for me to learn.

By: TJ

TJ — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 08:02:30 +0000

Even if I only read the title, I would deduce that the article is stating the importance of English in China…

The first comment gave me a good laugh. Nice break from a very hectic day…

Maybe “we” need eyeglasses… he he…

By: J.macklby

J.macklby — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 01:13:11 +0000

I understand that more people in China now speak English as a second language, than all the native English speakers of North America, Britain and Australia combined.
Surely this can not be regarded as a healthy situation…After all the Chinese are soaking up and learning everything about our language and culture, while we learn precious little about their language, and about them.
I’ll bet that out of 350 million North Americans, less than 100,000 of them are seriously pursuing Chinese language studies in the schools and universities.The recently showcased Beijing Olympics probably will not do enough to promote the learning of Chinese in the West.We need more ‘Sinologists’. We need a change in our National Policies regarding the learning of Chinese in North American schools, a change in the National Will…..Mr.O’bama, over to you…..

By: Herbert Lee

Herbert Lee — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:28:37 +0000

Yes, it’s really true that schools are giving a basic grounding in English. And it’s true that there seems to be a lot of English teaching centers everywhere you go. Unfortunately, the teaching of speaking skills and fluency is very weak. Most teaching centers are commercial businesses who choose a book from a publisher, hire a few teachers (foreigner ratio may vary from center to center), rent a building and promote like crazy! Not much attention is given to whether students actually learn to speak or not. So yes here are lots of places to learn (quantity) but the quality is definitely an issue.
I spent the last six years researching how to learn English fluency. I have compiled a report – Fluent English Research Report and can share it with any interested readers. They can email me at:
englishresearchinstitute@gmailcom

Herbert Lee
Director of Research

By: J.macklby

J.macklby — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 03:23:16 +0000

To sum up the well documented 10 points of ‘ Jhunex ‘ in a nutshell, I would venture to say that Chinese students are a shy lot, and so their English teacher must work harder than a teacher of other Nationalities, just to bring them out of their shells…………

By: Robert Vance

Robert Vance — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:55:17 +0000

@Jhunex,

I’m teaching at the university level right now and I agree with those 10 reasons that you presented. Fortunately, however, out of a class of 60 students, there are usually 4 or 5 who can help me keep things going. These days, I ‘force’ my students to talk by just pointing at random people during my class, making them stand up, and having them respond to a question. Sometimes they are red-faced but they always try their best. I think eventually, they will gain more self confidence.

I have also taught kids and personally, I find that so exhausting. At least college students will pretend to enjoy what you are doing even if they are bored out of their minds.:)

By: Jhunex

Jhunex — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:09:59 +0000

Perhaps then, the title of this article is a bit deceiving. The pursuit of English skills is as important in China as ever but now a Chinese student must work extra hard to stand out amongst the millions of other students who are also learning the English language.

This does it all. Yeah it’s true that Chinese students must really work hard to be able to achieve that English proficiency in themselves. It really sounds difficult on their part because of the following reasons.

Chinese students don’t know how to:
1. enter a discussion
2. express disagreement without offence
3. pose a question politely
4. hold the floor against an interruption
5. refuse a turn to speak – gracefully
6. deflect a question
7. respond to a challenge
8. use humour
9. respond to humour
10. seek clarification without losing face

I’ve have taught two college schools and a middle school here in China and currently teaching in a kindergarten. These reasons were enumerated for I’ve observed these during my entire teaching career where in my students are adults. You maybe surprise to know why I’m in a kindergarten school now. Teaching college students will really wear you out mentally as compared to teaching kids where in it’s on the physical aspect. Not only that, teaching kids makes us more healthy and young. Why not try it for you will really enjoy rather than teaching lazy college students who think that learning English is not at all important.

By: Robert Vance

Robert Vance — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 10:13:38 +0000

@Andy Zajac,

The ONLY people who would be misled about this article are people like yourself who did not bother to read the entire article before making a comment about it.

Where in the article is there a sizable paragraph about myself? I don’t think I even once mentioned myself in the article. And even if I did, so what? I own and operate this blog.

By: Andy Zajac

Andy Zajac — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 04:18:28 +0000

Contradicting comments came from Mr. Vance along with a sizable paragrah about himself. I really don’t care about your comments but you shouldn’t mislead the people who are reading this site.

In China nobody cares about a BA or MBA. Chinese people want to know what you can do for them. That’s the way it is. Good luck.

By: Jhunex

Jhunex — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 02:50:47 +0000

@Andy Zajac,

Yeah, what’s the point of mentioning how many BA’s ang MBA’s you’ve finshed. You made me laugh with your Nov.12 comments for it seems you haven’t understand what the author would like to emphasize. Before making any contradicting comments, better make it sure that you are on the right side of the road.