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On 'Give up the fight to learn'

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-01-19 09:57

Many do not 'give up' but learn Chinese

Honestly, I have been in China for over six years as well. I have lived in both the south and the north. I have also lived in the countryside and the cities. I have noticed more and more foreigners living in China, and many of them speak awesome Chinese. Before, you would only get a few who lived in China at all. Now I can say that 80 percent of my foreign friends in China speak very good Chinese.

Well

Non-speakers can be like a barrier

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On 'Give up the fight to learn' Give up the fight to learn

Once I had a boss who did not speak Chinese. It was interesting to observe, just as blind people develop their other senses, he substituted his functional deafness with other senses. However accuracy was limited. This lead to ugly scenes.

It's a pity, about 20 years ago almost all foreigners came to China because they wanted to be here, because they loved China. Today, many "expats" are here simply because they are sent here by their companies, often it makes no difference for them whether they work in China, India or Brazil.

A non-Chinese-speaking manager in China is the same like a non-English-speaking manager in the UK. In the best case, he will delegate work to local colleagues. In the worst case, he is an obstacle to development of the company.

Lao Sichuan

Bar keeps getting higher

I agree with your thoughts about tuning-out. However, I am not sure if I feel good about it and if it is helpful.

I think your approach is more positive. I get offended sometimes when my Chinese colleagues talk in Chinese. The official language is English but Chinese is the unofficial language. But then it gives me freedom as well - I don't need to worry unless someone comes up and talks to me in English.

I have never given up on learning Chinese. I keep trying but you know the bar for the basics just keep on getting higher and higher because everything I learn becomes basic once I have learnt it.

Chiko

Is ignorance really bliss?

Wait, not being able to speak Chinese in China makes you more informed? I've been terribly misinformed. By knowing less, I know more? I get it now! Or should I say I "don't get it".

The misinformed

(The story and comments can be accessed at www.chinadaily.com.cn/metro)