Teaching English in China:
“To Speak or Not to Speak” that is the Question
Lily Visser (Canadian)
(International College, Hunan Agricultural University)
There are many opinions as to whether the use of the English language is absolutely necessary here in China. As an English teacher here, albeit, for a short time, I have drawn some of my own opinions based on my personal experiences with the students that I have taught.
Firstly, I am teaching at the International College, where those registered are preparing to enter Colleges or University’s abroad. For them it is most important that they have a good command of the English Language, proficient not only in reading and writing but also in speaking and comprehension. After all, many consider English the Universal Language.
Second, I teach an evening class to university students, from a variety of disciplines, who all need or want to pass the necessary exams to complete their degree requirements. Some want to study abroad and some just want to complete their bachelors. Passing an English exam here on campus is a necessary requirement, ordained by the administration of the Hunan Agricultural University. Without a pass they will fail to be handed their official degree.
For all of my students I feel a great sense of understanding and compassion for what they must achieve to fulfill their dreams. Part of my understanding comes from the simple fact that as a foreigner without a command of the Chinese language, my endeavors to communicate effectively has been one of my greatest challenges while here. I realize, as well as my students, that communication is a fundamental necessity in life, but it can also mean opening doors, which may well be closed if the ability to communicate correctly fails. We, I believe are limited by the limits of our language and for these students the Chinese education system has seen the importance of expanding the language world for its students.
For some the challenge will certainly be greater than for others. As for the students I have taught so far, the degree in understanding and speaking English can range any where from 70 to 20 percent. I believe that with careful understanding and individual direction each of them can succeed, if they can overcome one major hurdle. That major hurdle at present is trying to have them beat their shyness and fear of failure or losing face.
I try to press upon them that their failures may well become their greatest learning experiences; by not taking chances they will only slow down their progress to success and fulfillment of their dreams.
Through the use of role-playing I have found the students to have far more courage and confidence than they have sometimes led me to believe. When participating in group activities they not only open themselves to creative thinking but also show me their capacity to work and learn together as a team.
As their facilitator, I can only hope that my being here will help them to understand the importance of challenge. That to accept their challenges is part of the growth in their successes. It is also my hope that they will share and use their success to help others who may one day walk in their shoes.
I believe the Chinese have a saying that goes something like this, success comes by joining together, and one should help another and not let their fellow man down.
My time here has not only opened my eyes to the possibilities for each of my students but has also helped me in finding out more about myself. Their courage to take on this challenge of entering the English-speaking world has strengthened my desire to take on the challenge as well of entering the Chinese-speaking world.
“To speak or not to speak” is no longer a question in my books; to speak is one of the greatest gifts of all. For any of us to walk away from this gift is to deny oneself, the opportunity of being a member of the global family.
