copyright © 2011 – mics 2011, curt hill teaching in china teaching chinese students in the u. s....

Copyright © 2011 – MICS 2011, Curt Hill

Teaching in China Teaching Chinese

Students in the U. S.

Curt HillValley City State University

Why do I want to know this?

• Most MICS participant institutions have surplus capacity

• China has developed a middle class– Many families can afford to educate their

children abroad

• A U.S. degree carries considerable prestige in China

• The culture and educational system of China makes for some challenges


My Experience• Not an expert on China• Taught three classes for four weeks• Java

– Freshman class

• C# and Data Structures– Sophomore classes

• Three 90 minutes lectures• Five 90 minute labs• Each class is part of International

Studies programCopyright © 2011 – MICS 2011, Curt Hill

Chinese education system• Entrance exam

– Results determine what colleges may be entered

• No individual schedules– Major determines class mates

• No evaluation during the term• A and B exams at the end of a

term• Once they are admitted they must

work hard to not graduate Copyright © 2011 – MICS 2011, Curt Hill

Culture

• China still has a cultural foundation of Confucianism

• There is no I in Confucianism, but a very strong group orientation– Projects are always group projects

• In Confucianism it is better to be right than original

• These grate on us of Western culture


Flavor• Corporate Style

– Company housing and transportation– Substantial property around campus

• Includes stores and housing

– Campus hosting of companies beyond startup

– Internships at college stores and businesses

• High school feel– Bells– Mandatory recorded attendance


System• The Chinese realize that their

system has flaws• They are actively trying to improve• In 1949 literacy was at about 20%• In 2002 it was about 90%• Higher education actually got

worse before it got better• Still excessive attention to

memorization and not enough to higher learning skills


Bias

• I worked at what we would call a vocational or community college

• Two or three years• Faculty were for the most part very

young• I did not see the upper tier

institutions


Five reasons that they did not ask questions

• Deference to foreigners• Deference to the elderly• Deference to positions of authority• Lack of confidence in their English• Do not want to look foolish in front

of their peers


Set Up For Failure• Transport these students into our

system and bad things often happen• They do not realize how easy it is to

fail a course• They have not seen the penalties for

plagiarism• They do not have the help of all their

peers that are in all their classes• Normal issues of culture shock, such

as English proficiency


Problems

• There are several problems that may occur when Chinese students come to the U.S.

• Understanding our culture and gaining language skills

• Plagiarism and group orientation• Grading issues


Into our Culture• This is a common problem

– Take any two students from the same culture and place them in ours and they will become friends

• Saving face inhibits them from interacting, even with students– Little confidence in their language skills

• Respect for authority inhibits their asking questions or getting help– They remove themselves from help

due to cultural pressures


Group Think

• Cooperation is so ingrained that it can often result in what we would consider plagiarism– Families of assignments

• In software development this is actually desirable– We seldom see it that way in

academia


Grading• In the classes I observed the

grading was heavily weighted for the final examinations– All or nothing

• Chinese students are trained to look forward to that– Sometimes at the neglect of day to

day assignments

• Test system emphasizes rote learning because it is easy to test


What should you do?

• Actively engage them in your class in a non-threatening way

• Directly invite them to seek you out in the office or after class

• Record your class, so they may view again

• Be very clear what you expect them to do and when– More commands and fewer

suggestionsCopyright © 2011 – MICS 2011, Curt Hill

[email protected]


copyright © 2011 – mics 2011, curt hill teaching in china teaching chinese students in the u. s....

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