How to Improve Oral How to Improve Oral EnglishEnglish

Why Can't Chinese Why Can't Chinese Students Speak English Students Speak English

Very Well?Very Well?

The Culture Barrier: The The Culture Barrier: The Real Reason Chinese Real Reason Chinese Students Don't Progress! Students Don't Progress! Monash University Monash University

(Australia) Website has (Australia) Website has an article; an article; http://www.monash.edu.ahttp://www.monash.edu.au/lls/China/index.xmlu/lls/China/index.xml

““Working with Students Working with Students from China”. from China”.

In this article they discuss In this article they discuss two issues relating to the two issues relating to the English language skills of English language skills of Chinese students Chinese students studying at the studying at the university. university.

1. 1. Should Chinese Should Chinese (Language) Be Banned (in (Language) Be Banned (in the classroom)?the classroom)?

2.2. Obstacles to effective Obstacles to effective spoken expression… spoken expression…

1. Should Chinese 1. Should Chinese (Language) Be Banned (in (Language) Be Banned (in the classroom)?the classroom)? However international their content, the However international their content, the

disciplines we teach in Australian universities are disciplines we teach in Australian universities are conceived, elaborated and passed on in English. conceived, elaborated and passed on in English. Their discourse is framed in English, and that is Their discourse is framed in English, and that is what we expect the students to acquire, use and what we expect the students to acquire, use and contribute to and what the students themselves contribute to and what the students themselves expect to acquire and use.expect to acquire and use.

But we need to recognise that But we need to recognise that few, if any, few, if any, students from mainland Chinastudents from mainland China arrive on our arrive on our campuses with the level of English language skills campuses with the level of English language skills they would need to work only in English, and that they would need to work only in English, and that even the best of them are likely to take at least even the best of them are likely to take at least half a semester (6 weeks) to develop facility in half a semester (6 weeks) to develop facility in thinking in English.thinking in English.

2. Obstacles to Effective 2. Obstacles to Effective Spoken Expression:Spoken Expression:

Students don't know how to:Students don't know how to: enter a discussion enter a discussion add to the last speaker's turn add to the last speaker's turn express disagreement without offence express disagreement without offence pose a question politely pose a question politely hold the floor against an interruption hold the floor against an interruption refuse a turn to speak - gracefully refuse a turn to speak - gracefully deflect a question deflect a question respond to a challenge respond to a challenge use humour use humour respond to humour respond to humour express non-comprehension without looking foolish express non-comprehension without looking foolish seek clarification without losing faceseek clarification without losing face

Monash University Monash University proposes a solution to proposes a solution to these problems these problems

In an article by In an article by Australian English Australian English Teacher, this issue Teacher, this issue has been discussed has been discussed at length, and I at length, and I propose to share propose to share these discussions these discussions with you now…with you now…(“(“Conversational Conversational English: Breaking English: Breaking Through the Chinese Through the Chinese Culture Barrier”. By Culture Barrier”. By R .P. BenDedek)R .P. BenDedek)

““Facilitating Facilitating Interaction in ClassInteraction in Class””

http://www.monash.edu.au/llhttp://www.monash.edu.au/lls/China/teaching/interactions/China/teaching/interaction3.xml3.xml

What Does Culture Have To What Does Culture Have To Do With Successfully Do With Successfully

Learning English?Learning English?Why don’t students Why don’t students speak freely in English in speak freely in English in Class? English Language Class? English Language Culture is very different Culture is very different to Chinese Language to Chinese Language Culture. Culture.

Even though you think Even though you think that being that being 'Chinese''Chinese' means that you have means that you have 'a''a' culture, i.e. culture, i.e. 'one''one' culture, you really have culture, you really have many cultures in China many cultures in China that effect you and the that effect you and the way you think and act. way you think and act.

Some of The Cultures That Some of The Cultures That Affect You as Chinese Affect You as Chinese

Students:Students: 1.1. Traditional Confucian Traditional Confucian CultureCulture

2.2. Communist Culture Communist Culture

3.3. Province, Town, Village Province, Town, Village Culture. Culture.

4.4. Family Culture Family Culture

5.5. School Culture School Culture

6.6. Classroom Culture Classroom Culture

1. Traditional Confucian 1. Traditional Confucian

Culture:Culture:

Confucianism puts loyalty to Confucianism puts loyalty to family and friends first, your family and friends first, your 'face' second, and then your 'face' second, and then your country (probably after country (probably after Money, Western Movies and Money, Western Movies and Music, girl/boyfriend, Music, girl/boyfriend, friends, and worries about friends, and worries about the future). the future).

2. Communist Culture:2. Communist Culture:

In Communist Culture there are In Communist Culture there are 3 main things you must do:3 main things you must do:

1.1.You must love your You must love your Country Country

2.2.You must love your You must love your Country Country

3.3.You must love your You must love your CountryCountry

3. The Culture of Your 3. The Culture of Your Province, Town, and Province, Town, and

Village:Village:

Maybe the culture is Maybe the culture is the same in each, the same in each, but it’s not always but it’s not always so. so.

4. Family Culture4. Family Culture::

Family culture can be Family culture can be different to the surrounding different to the surrounding culture. For Example:culture. For Example:

Some families are Muslim Some families are Muslim (Islamic)(Islamic)

Some families are ChristianSome families are Christian Some families are BuddhistSome families are Buddhist Some families have no Some families have no

religionreligion Some families are Some families are

members of the members of the Communist PartyCommunist Party

5. School Culture5. School Culture::

A mix of traditional Confucian A mix of traditional Confucian culture and communist thinking culture and communist thinking from the period of the cultural from the period of the cultural revolution. (e.g. Students get to revolution. (e.g. Students get to report on the teachers, and so report on the teachers, and so have power over them). This is not have power over them). This is not traditional Chinese culture. traditional Chinese culture.

The Chinese method of learning is The Chinese method of learning is by by Memorization.Memorization. The teacher The teacher talks and the students write down talks and the students write down what the Teacher says. The teacher what the Teacher says. The teacher tells them what to learn, and they tells them what to learn, and they memorize it. memorize it. Unfortunately,Unfortunately, this this method of learning is not sufficient method of learning is not sufficient for learning effective and natural for learning effective and natural communication in English.communication in English.

6. Classroom Culture:6. Classroom Culture:

Coloured hair, western clothing, cell phones in Coloured hair, western clothing, cell phones in class as well as MP3's and ipods to listen to class as well as MP3's and ipods to listen to music. This certainly is not the traditional music. This certainly is not the traditional culture or the Communist culture of China. culture or the Communist culture of China.

In some classes where most students are not In some classes where most students are not really interested in English, there’s a good really interested in English, there’s a good learning environment but in others, where learning environment but in others, where most students are interested in improving most students are interested in improving their English, it’s a poor learning environment. their English, it’s a poor learning environment. Why? Why?

One student, or group, One student, or group, control and/or rulecontrol and/or rule the class. Others are afraid of them, or don’t the class. Others are afraid of them, or don’t know how to stop them. So everyone suffers, know how to stop them. So everyone suffers, and little progress is made. and little progress is made.

The Difference between The Difference between Grammar and Language Grammar and Language

Culture.Culture.

'Can we be friends?' 'Can we be friends?'

Western Culture: Western Culture: We’re having We’re having difficulties with difficulties with someone!someone!

Chinese Culture: Chinese Culture: We use to benefit We use to benefit ourselves!ourselves!

The Foreign Teacher's The Foreign Teacher's Biggest Problem!Biggest Problem!

Statement:Statement:'You should 'You should understand Chinese understand Chinese culture!'culture!'

Reply:Reply:‘‘It’s because of your It’s because of your Chinese culture, you Chinese culture, you haven’t been able to haven’t been able to progress in normal, progress in normal, natural and effective natural and effective communication!’communication!’

What is the Purpose of Oral What is the Purpose of Oral

English Exams?English Exams?

The purpose of The purpose of exams in class is not exams in class is not to test knowledge or to test knowledge or grammar but to test grammar but to test Language and Language and Communication Skill.Communication Skill.

What is the Purpose of What is the Purpose of Doing 'Real Time' Group Doing 'Real Time' Group Discussion?Discussion? To learn SKILLSTo learn SKILLS To Learn from To Learn from

OthersOthers To Learn that To Learn that

there are no right there are no right or wrong answers or wrong answers in conversations - in conversations - only good or bad only good or bad communication communication skillsskills

What is Expected of You in What is Expected of You in Oral English Class?Oral English Class?

1.1. Do not waste the teacher's time. Do not waste the teacher's time. 2.2. Do not waste the other student's time.Do not waste the other student's time.3.3. Do not waste your own time. Do not waste your own time. 4.4. Learn from the teacher.Learn from the teacher.5.5. Learn from others.Learn from others.6.6. Learn by your mistakes. Learn by your mistakes. 7.7. Do what is asked - understand and think about Do what is asked - understand and think about

the assigned tasks.the assigned tasks.8.8. Use imagination and skill to communicate in Use imagination and skill to communicate in

English.English.9.9. Improve your listening skills by listening Improve your listening skills by listening

carefully to everyone who is speaking English carefully to everyone who is speaking English in class. in class.

10.10. Improve use of grammar, by paying attention Improve use of grammar, by paying attention to and learning from both the teacher and to and learning from both the teacher and other students. other students.

11.11. Correct your own speaking flaws, even before Correct your own speaking flaws, even before you get up to speak, because you will already you get up to speak, because you will already have heard the teacher correct other students.have heard the teacher correct other students.

Which Students Fail to Get High Which Students Fail to Get High Exam Marks? Students With Exam Marks? Students With

Wrong Attitudes!Wrong Attitudes!

8 Wrong Attitudes:8 Wrong Attitudes:

1. 1. Let Chinese cultural thinking prevent you from Let Chinese cultural thinking prevent you from learning to communicate in English in a natural learning to communicate in English in a natural way. way.

2.2. Refuse to believe that a native English speaker Refuse to believe that a native English speaker knows better than a Chinese grammar teacher, knows better than a Chinese grammar teacher, how to speak English. how to speak English. 3.3. Some Students only want to Some Students only want to memorizememorize what to what to say. say. 4.4. Don’t really try to learn to communicate in Don’t really try to learn to communicate in English.English.

5. 5. Get the teacher to tell you what to write down, Get the teacher to tell you what to write down, to think, and to say. This stops you from learning to think, and to say. This stops you from learning natural English. natural English. 6. 6. Don't work hard. Just get everyone to make you Don't work hard. Just get everyone to make you feel good and feel loved and to be friendly. (This feel good and feel loved and to be friendly. (This does not happen in the real world in real life) does not happen in the real world in real life) 7.7. Just 'kill time' until you can go to work. Just 'kill time' until you can go to work. 8.8. Another Really bad attitude.Another Really bad attitude. Choose the Choose the ‘best accent’.‘best accent’.

How Can You Get Very High How Can You Get Very High

Exam Results?Exam Results? Listen carefully and do what is asked. Listen carefully and do what is asked. Have a right attitude to learning in class. Have a right attitude to learning in class. Do the work you are asked to do. Do the work you are asked to do. Listen all the time to everything said in Listen all the time to everything said in

English. English. Practice the 'skills' as much as you can. Practice the 'skills' as much as you can. Learn to have your own opinion. Learn to have your own opinion. Learn to express yourself in English. Learn to express yourself in English. Don't be afraid of mistakes. Don't be afraid of mistakes. Don't be afraid to lose face. Don't be afraid to lose face. Don't be silent (unless you usually chat in Don't be silent (unless you usually chat in

Chinese in class) Chinese in class) Ask lots of questions - especially if you don't Ask lots of questions - especially if you don't

understand something. understand something. Give informative answers when asked a Give informative answers when asked a

question. question. Learn to 'interject' - to cut people off.Learn to 'interject' - to cut people off.

Rules for DiscussionRules for Discussion

Talk!Talk! Standing there Standing there saying nothing is not saying nothing is not discussion - no discussion - no marks for not marks for not talking! talking!

Ask QuestionsAsk Questions Give good and Give good and

informative informative answersanswers

Use SkillsUse Skills

I am afraid of losing I am afraid of losing face!face! If you are afraid of If you are afraid of

losing face in class losing face in class - never open your - never open your mouth in English in mouth in English in public. public.

Why? If you don't Why? If you don't make your make your mistakes in the mistakes in the classroom, then classroom, then you you willwill make make them in real life. them in real life.