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}  How many Chinese students are expected to be in the incoming freshman class?

}  What are the biggest challenges Chinese students face when transitioning to BU?

}  How long is the typical school day for most Chinese high school students?

}  How would you pronounce the name “Xie?”

Where Are Chinese Students Coming from in China?

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The Chinese Cultural Paradigm

}  Family }  Confucianism - The Prevalent Philosophy in China }  Filial Piety and Respect for Authority }  The One Child Policy and Its Effect on Chinese Students }  Business or Piano? }  Recent Reforms to the One Child Policy }  “Every time my daughter calls home, she says, ‘I don’t want to

continue this,’ ” Mrs. Cao said. “And I say, ‘You’ve got to keep studying to take care of us when we get old’, and she says, ‘That’s too much pressure, I don’t want to think about all that responsibility.’ ”

¨  NY Times Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/17/business/in-china-families-bet-it-all-on-a-child-in-college.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&

The Chinese Cultural Paradigm

}  Education }  Education Today – Very Socialist-Oriented }  “ ‘All the parents in the village want their children to go to

college, because only knowledge changes your fate,’ Mrs. Cao said.”

}  Learning English – Very Different Languages

}  Chinese Parents’ Sacrifice - Sending Their Child to College

Education in China: A Typical Day }  Here is a day in the life of typical Chinese high school students:

v  6:00am – they wake up

v  7:30am – arrive at school and begin classes

v  12:00pm – after completing 4 classes, they have a 2 hour break for lunch and a quick nap

v  2:30pm – classes resume

v  6:30pm – after completing 3 or 4 more classes, they are given a break for dinner

v  7:00pm – night classes begin

v  10:00pm – classes end for the day and students are able to go to bed or do homework

v  Students devote their entire weekends to homework and classes begin again from 7-10pm on Sunday evening

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So Basically… US

China

China

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}  The Language Barrier – English Proficiency

}  Social Integration on Campus

}  Coming from a Test-Prep Culture }  Gao Kao Exam

}  Inexperienced with Discussion-Based Classes

}  Great Respect for Authority – Fewer Questions in Class

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Challenges for Chinese Students at US Universities

What’s in a Name? }  Top 15 Most Common Chinese Surnames

1.  Wang – W“ahhh”ng 2.  Li – Lee 3.  Zhang – Jahhhng (and #21 Zheng - Jung) 4.  Liu – Leeyoo (but one syllable – say it fast!) 5.  Chen – just Chen, that’s an easy one 6.  Yang – Yahhhng 7.  Huang – Hooahhhng (one syllable) 8.  Zhao – Jaow 9.  Wu – Woo 10.  Zhou – like Joe! 11.  Xu – Shew (ok, that sound doesn’t exist in English, but do your best) 12.  Sun – not the heavenly object! Soowun (but one syllable)… 13.  Ma – Mahh 14.  Zhu – Joo 15.  Hu – Hoo

}  Extra Credit: He Huhh (not the English pronoun, and don’t say it like “Huh??”) Xie Shyehhh (Great job!)

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What’s in a Name? }  Sam’s Top 10 Chinese Name Tips:

1.  All “Zh” sounds are pronounced as “J” 2.  All “X” sounds are pronounced as “Sh” 3.  All “C” sounds are pronounced as “Ts” – ex. Cao = Tsaow 4.  All “Q” sounds are pronounced as “Ch” – ex. Qiu = Cheeyo (say it fast!) 5.  “a” is more like “ahhhh” - Relaxing! Think soft vowels! 6.  “e” is more like “ugh” – as in when you find something unpleasant 7.  “i” could be either an “ee” sound or an “ihhh” sound: Qi = Chee and Chi = Chih ; Xi

= Shee and Shi = Shih ; Zi = zih (never zee) 8.  “o” most often pronounced like in “home” 9.  “u” is often an “oo” sound 10.  Did You Know? : Chinese names (in Chinese) are written last name first.

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Now You Know!

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}  How many Chinese students are expected to be in the incoming freshman class?

}  What are the biggest challenges Chinese students face when transitioning to BU?

}  How long is the typical school day for most Chinese high school students?

}  How would you pronounce the name “Xie?”

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