NanchangEnglish: April 2007

Sunday, April 8, 2007

THIS WEEK IN NANCHANG ENGLISH (TWINE) -- Week 5

This week we begin our series: "This Week in Nanchang English." This blog will give us a chance to share some of the ideas our Freshmen come up with, as they spend a semester learning to articulate their ideas and arguments in English.

We talked a little about my real role as their Oral English teacher ...

And I gave them some thoughts on what to consider when they are presenting (articulating) an idea or argument.

TWINE -- BeiDa and Qinhua

Peking University and Qinhua University are considered China’s most prestigious universities. Only the top scoring students from China’s middle schools are invited to study there, and these schools enjoy preferential treatment in terms of government support for important projects like research.

PLEASE DISCUSS YOUR VIEWS REGARDING PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT FOR PEKING U. AND QINHUA U.

Do you believe it is acceptable for this kind of “preferential treatment” to continue, or is it time for other colleges and universities to have an equal opportunity to have access to these resources?

Equal Resources to all colleges?
Explain?

No
Bei Da and Qinhua represent a greater return on investment than the other schools
Best university = best treatment
China has to make the best of its resources because it is not very rich
China is a developing country. It can't afford to support all schools. Other students can achieve through study and hard work
The best students in China deserve the support of the government because they worked harder. Most are very poor and they deserve the chance to improve their lives
In 1997 President Jiang said we should build the world's best technology college

Yes
We share education we should share resources
All should get the same resources. Other universitiye need good teachers too
High score is not everything. Some lower-scoring students have better abilities, but are deprived an equal education because of their scores.

TWINE -- Women Presidents?

Today, 12 of the world’s countries have women presidents.

A. DO YOU THINK WE WOULD HAVE A MORE PEACEFUL WORLD IF MORE WOMEN WERE ELECTED; and …
B. IN YOUR VIEW WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO ACHIEVE A MORE HARMONIOUS WORLD SOCIETY?

More Peaceful?
Explain?

No
Doesn't matter if the president is a man or woman as long as he/she protects the environment. But women in China have fewer rights than men
Because then men will have to take over the housework
Men have more energy
No Difference. Women have the same character as men
Peace is not determined by gender. Consider that there is a woman president in the Philippines who can't keep order in her country

Yes
Women have more love/kindness
Women have more feelings are more sensitive
Then men will have more time for fishing and going to the bar
Women have a sixth sense and will use a different strategy, behind every successful man is a good woman
If a woman is elected president the man will have to do more housework, husband and wife will argue all the time. Tradition also disagrees with the idea. Women should stay at home and put her energy to taking care of her home
Women are more friendly
Whoever can do the job

TWINE -- Culture Shock

Recently there was a big debate about Western culture and English language learning in China. Some people believe that the more that Chinese people begin to adopt Western customs – such as celebrating Western holidays and fast foods – the more they will lose touch with traditional Chinese customs.

IN YOUR VIEW IS THE EMPHASIS ON THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND THE EXCITEMENT OVER “WESTERN” CUSTOMS A POTENTIAL THREAT TO CHINESE VALUES?

Bad Influence?
Why?

No

Maybe it's a good thing to understand the history of other cultures ... Just make sure to keep in touch with our own traditions.
No change in the short term; maybe over the long term
Christmas is fun, it's a bridge to communicate
I love Western culture, especially the food, clothes, music
Also love American brands like Adidas, Nike, Sony, Ericsson,
Every coin has 2 sides. Get the good out of Western culture, reject the bad; each has good and bad qualities
We follow western customs just for fun, but we honor our own traditions more
The world is a big family. We must learn from each other. Absorb the good and delete the bad

Yes
The more time we spend on English the more we ignore our own Chinese language as well as our own customs. For example, holidays.
China was once the capital of the world; there is strength in standing on your feet.
Every nation has its customs. No one wants to see their customs forgotten.

TWINE - Pick One

Choose ONE of the following topics to discuss

IF YOU COULD MAKE ONE CONTRIBUTION TO THE BEIJING OLYMPICS, WHAT WOULD IT BE … AND WHY?

Question 1 Contribution
I would be a volunteer
Why?
Several people answered this question, but since most gave the same reason for their choice we have only put one response here:

I would like to volunteer because it will give me an opportunity to show foreigners things and teach them things about China. Also, I love sports, so it will be fun to work in an atmosphere where there is a great sports competition, and to make friends with other people.Beijing is our country's capital and we are proud of it and want to show it off to the world!

IF YOU COULD GO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD YOU’VE NEVER BEEN BEFORE, WHERE WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

Question 2
Where would you go?
Why?
Where？ Tibet
Why? Clean, Animals, Lake Ta Zu Hu
France
Why? Not so busy/strsaaful; Best friend is there
U. K.
Why? Culture, Royal Family, Beckham, it's civilized, want to know history
Korea
Why? History/Culture/Language
Africa
Why? Animals and Forests
Japan
Why? Memoirs of a Geisha
Brazil
Why? Football
Olympics
Why? Because Beijing is our capital
USA
Why? NBA
Paris
Why? Very Romantic
Australia
Why? Animals
South Africa
Why? Animals
Hangzhou
Wuhan
Beijing
Great Wall
Northern China

London
Why? Cambridge, want to have a cup of coffee on the Thames
Harbin
Canada

Hawaii
Why? Girls, they party every night
New Zealand
Why? My favorite teacher is from there, Lord of the Rings set there
Germany
Why? Football
Sahara Desert
Why? Fascinated with the idea of surviving the desert

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOUR BOYFRIEND/GIRLFRIEND, WHAT WOULD IT BE, AND WHY?

Question 3 If I could change one thing what and Why?
My Boyfriend Quit smoking. It's bad for your health, and it makes you stink. Some say they smoke to reduce pressure but there are other ways to reduce pressure, likke taking walks, seeing a movie, etc.
My Boyfriend I hope my FUTURE boyfriend will have a healthy lifestyle
My Girlfriend I wish she would become more friendly