I believe that it is unprofessional to not use the common language in a work situation (i.e. English). However, it is you who will have to take the initiative.

Some ideas:

• Keep trying to communicate, it may take time
• Ask to go to a Chinese restaurant with them one day, with a view to learning more about their food/culture
• Learn a few Chinese phrases

Let me know how it goes. Don’t give up!

This translates into an interesting situation where we (university authorities) give what we think is good advice to our Chinese students, but they prefer to take advice from fellow Chinese, even though these may not be as well informed.

This can be very frustrating for the universities and sadly works against the best interests of the students.

Jem

I have an impression of westerners if strangers are frank and open firstly, and then they would decide whether to make friends with. Am I right? Last Friday, I started the first real conversation with a colleague in an open office area since I started my work last June. I wanted to change a little, rather than escape the office as soon as I finished my work there (it is not my main work base). Just chatted, discussed different things, I really enjoyed it. What surprised me, it become much easier to chat with other colleagues as well. The next time we met, we are closer and feel like old friends – what a relief! I am not isolated any more!

In reverse, when I try to be open to people from my country, have a feeling that they are hiding from me. I was told that this behaviour is described as ‘naïve’/’childish’ by my families. Hope you know what I mean. It confuses me a lot. Wondering if you have the same problem.

Great article James. This should really help people make a more informed decision. It’s a good reminder that, while potential benefits are large, so are the costs. As other people have said, studying in the UK can potentially be a very rewarding experience, both personally and academically. However it requires continuous investment (inside but also outside of the classroom) during the entire time of your studies to realize that potential.

Having said that, I am glad to have met many foreign students from all over the world that have been willing to make that investment and lean out of their comfort zone. I think this has made for a very enriching experience for all of us – wherever we are from.

That blog which you have written on, “Should Chinese students study abroad?” is pretty good. I bet it’s taken you a long time to write it. It took me a very long time to read it. You’ve managed to insert a lot of facts and (interesting) weblinks into it. I agree with the comments you made about the major difficulties which these international students must face when they come to study here. I do remember even European students who came to study in UK who told me how difficult it was for them. I think it’s even harder for Chinese people because it’s more difficult for them turn learn english. It certainly doesn’t help when they only hang around with their own Chinese mates rather than mix with the locals. I think Chinese societies can be bad for them as it generates an environment which makes it even more difficult for them to integrate with locals.

My advice for them when they come to UK is to perhaps participate in a sports which they really like and join the university team. Only join one type of sporting activity because it’ll take up too much of their time if they try too many. Getting a part time job with an agency helps a lot because it really tests their english ability. Their greatest benefits will be with improving their language skills and understanding English people better by interacting with them. I don’t think at £5/hour the money side will help them very much. Working for an agency is good because they can work only when they want to, so it doesn’t take up too much of their valuable study time.

Now the above is a lot easier said than done. Here’s what I think it’s like in their shoes. Firstly, it must seem very daunting trying to socialise with English people rather than their local Chinese mates when they’re all talking about things you haven’t got the foggiest idea about. It must be very tempting to take the easy option and just hang around with their Chinese mates who will share the same experiences, TV programmes, culture and major problems which they face in the foreign country. This is why I think they’ll have a better chance of building long term friendships with locals if they join a society which they truly have an interest in. I think they’ll build up good bonds with their new english mates when they keep talking (in english) about their similar interests. Sorry to go off the point. The most daunting step must be at the start when, they may find it very difficult build up rapport with (some) English people.

Secondly, the language barrier is definately another great problem for them. I bet you would find it difficult now to not talk to any of your English speaking mates about your similar experiences in China and only mix with local Chinese and only talk to them (in Chinese) especially when they won’t really understand what you’re going through. They’ll obviously have different priorities too. It’s much more difficult for mainland Chinese people in UK. I think that a lot of local English people will be very impatient when trying to understand chinese people speaking to them in broken English. I reckon it’s because English is the main language recognised worldwide so they don’t need to learn other languages. People in other countries will try to learn English due to it’s importance so they will understand the difficulties that foreigners face.

Thirdly, the admin and legal side must be quite difficult for them. Especially when they’re trying setup UK bank accounts, ensure they have the correct visas and pay all their bills (Council tax, water, electricity and gas bills) on time. This is obviously very important to them. If they get this wrong, they could lose a lot of money. Could you amagine doing all this in China in chinese without any help whatsoever? Would you really know if you were paying your bills to legitimate firms? Perhaps one or two of them might fall for one of the annoying many “You’ve won a holiday!” scams they recieve. It must have also been difficult for them at the start to find good UK universities to apply for during 6th form time in their own country. You hear about a lot of these dreadful scams which gangsters and mafias play on young people especially in China. The usual trick which my own govenment has played on me and a lot of other people. Force young people into debt so that you can control him. The Chinese mafia will be a lot more ruthless, nastly and greedy……although Gordon Brown is not far off. D just kidding.

Finally, living over 3000 miles away from their family and close friends must also be a problem. If there’s a problem with their family at home, they can’t just take the train home to see them. No parents around to give them valuable experienced advice every month. However, I don’t think that living away from parents is really as big a deal as my first 3 points, because I personally think that you benefit more if you depend less on your parents. You learn more by just jumping in the deep end and swimming because you have to, not because you’re advised to….or told to by your caring mummy and/or daddy. However in reality for some people, living with their parents can actually cause them more stress. Divorce, family rows and violent parents who may be extremely difficult to reason with, are problems I think a lot of young people have to face when growing up. Even if that person’s parents appear to be the happily married couple, we don’t actually see what they’re like at home.

In summary, if I was in their shoes. Getting a good grade an the University course is obviously the number one priority. Especially with family pressure from whoever pays the £10200/year. I assume that they would have chosen their course carefully on the basis that it’ll be useful and something which they enjoy doing. Take the brave but very daunting step of mixing with mainly local english people rather than their own Chinese mates. I explained before about how joining one society (Not chinese or asian society) which they have a keen interest in will help them. He who dares wins. Don’t sink, swim.

Sorry, I think I’m turning into an old man by just droning on. I’ve done more talking than listening. (More writing than reading in this case) D

Enjoy the rest of your China trip. Don’t forget to get back to me about “Jing Jing”.

Best Regards

Lewis

thats all from me

There’s plenty to think about though! – Very impressive, this is probably better than most of the ssays I do for university projects!

Yes, the cost James quoted there is EXACTLY how much I pay for one year at University of Edinburgh (爱丁堡大学) in Scotland, £10,200. That is like $20,000, or 140,000 RMB. Even for an American that is steep, since everything costs 1.5-2 times as much. Not to say it isn’t worth it, and we have to adjust ourselves to other countries, cultures and financial settings, but it can’t be part of the burden and pressure. Regardless, I was SOOOO surprised to see how many Chinese are studying here. In my dorm alone I would say 50% are Asian, all mostly main-land Chinese.

The other thing I want to respond to for any Chinese reading this who will/are studying abroad in what James wrote in the “Culture Shock” section: I have found that Chinese are the WORST in all my friends here in Edinburgh at getting out of little groups of Chinese…and many of my non-Chinese friends comment on this, saying it is hard to get to know you. Seems like a Chinese students friends are mostly all Chinese (a few exceptions, but it always seems that the westerner, be it Italian, German, French or American, that makes the first move to befriend them), and they only study with their classmates that are Chinese.

I have been able to penetrate these groups of Chinese students because I speak Chinese and prefer to hang with Chinese people in order to learn from each other more, yet my Chinese friends aren’t so willing… and even don’t completely treat me like part of their group. I always feel like _I_ have to introduce them to western things, like having a western lunch, or maybe going to a pub, just at least to try it or have a place to chat… it isn’t exactly the same as bars in China or the States.

So, my advice, if you do go abroad and don’t want to see this money being wasted, and want help with this difficult-to-learn English, break away from always only being with other Chinese people. I can’t believe how many of the Chinese here first met each other on QQ BEFORE coming just so they would feel secure in Chinese groups. Don’t do it. Don’t only do what makes you feel secure! You may feel insecure for a bit, but you will learn a lot more reaching out to the westerners and other Asians here… and they will learn from you! There is a lot of misunderstanding about China in the world (I know, for currently I am writing two essays, one titled “Is China a Threat to the West – A response to the ‘China Threat Theory’”, and the other on how the west views China’s foreign policies in the light of Mao’s Thought and Deng’s Theories)

So, if you are going to spend the money, make it worth it, for yourself and others. Work with your Western classmates and dorm/flatmates, not in what seems like competition or isolation against them. The world needs to know you!

Sorry, sounds like I’m complaining, but not, I just felt that this was an important issue that is for the good of you Chinese students, and James gave me the opportunity… so blame him.

And that’s all I have to say about that.

-Rich