Hunan Cross Cultural Education

This list contrasts some of the values assumptions which affect teaching and learning in China.  It is general in nature, and you may want to argue with some of its assertions.  We feel that it may be helpful in giving some handles with which to grasp some of the cultural differences.

For the next two weeks, everyone should be working with their groups on the Mid-Term Group Project.  Each group received a copy of the Group Project Guidelines along with your list of cultural stereotypes.  Please pay close attention to these guidelines as you prepare your written and oral reports!  Following directions is the key to doing well on the project!

Here is a sample presentation from a previous class that you might find interesting;

If you’d like to see some similar presentations from previous years, check out the videos HERE.  (Some of these are examples of GOOD presentations, some are examples of POOR presentations – you can watch and decide which is which!)

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This post is for my students at the Hunan Institute of Science & Technology ( 湖南理工学院 ) who are taking the course: “The Society and Culture of Major English-Speaking Countries ( 英语国家社会与文化入门 ) : An Introduction (Book One / Second Edition)“

Fireworks welcome in the ‘Year of the Tiger!’

Despite Fears of a Post-9/11 Drop, Most Science, Engineering Post-Grads Have Stayed

By DAVID WESSEL : The Wall Street Journal

Most foreigners who came to the U.S. to earn doctorate degrees in science and engineering stayed on after graduation—at least until the recession began—refuting predictions that post-9/11 restrictions on immigrants or expanding opportunities in China and India would send more of them home.

Newly released data revealed that 62% of foreigners holding temporary visas who earned Ph.D.s in science and engineering at U.S. universities in 2002 were still in the U.S. in 2007, the latest year for which figures are available. Of those who graduated in 1997, 60% were still in the U.S. in 2007, according to the data compiled by the U.S. Energy Department’s Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education for the National Science Foundation.

Foreigners account for about 40% of all science and engineering Ph.D. holders working in the U.S., and a larger fraction in engineering, math and computer fields. “Our ability to continue to attract and keep foreign scientists and engineers is critical to…increase investment in science and technology,” Oak Ridge analyst Michael Finn said.

“Data for all available cohorts indicate that ‘stay rates’ of foreign science and engineering doctorate recipients in 2007 are slightly higher than they have been in recent years,” Mr. Finn said. His findings, which use tax data to track graduates over time, cover the years before the U.S. plunged into a recession that damped job prospects in many U.S. industries and universities.

Other analysts see signs that recent foreign grads are increasingly likely to return home, particularly in today’s weak job market. “I have no doubt that the 2009 data will show a dramatic shift,” said Vivek Wadwha, executive in residence at Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering, who has been warning loudly about the threat that trend would pose to innovation in the U.S. In October 2008, Mr. Wadwha and others used Facebook to question 1,224 foreigners studying at U.S. institutions at all levels. More than half the Indians and 40% of the Chinese said they hoped to return home within five years.  (more…)

For those of you in my “Society and Culture of Major English-Speaking Countries ( 英语国家社会与文化入门 )” class, here are the guidelines for your Mid-Term Group Project:

Mid-Term Project Guidelines Fall_09

If you have any questions, let me know!

I received word today that H1N1, commonly called “Swine Flu”, has been found this week in several students at H.I.S.T.  So far, classes are NOT canceled, but the faculty are requesting that all students take extra care so that we can keep the spread of this flu to a minimum.  If you think you are coming down with the flu, DON’T COME TO CLASS!

Seriously, it’s better to miss a week of class than it is to get all the rest of us sick!  Here are some more tips if you think you might be sick;

• Know the signs and symptoms of flu. Symptoms of flu include fever or chills and cough or sore throat. In addition, symptoms of flu can include runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting.
• Stay home or in your dorm if you are sick for at least 24 hours after there is no longer a fever (38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating).  Staying away from others while sick can prevent others from getting sick too. Ask a roommate or friend to check up on you and to bring you food and supplies if needed.
• Cover you mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.  Germs spread this way.
• Drink plenty of clear fluids (such as water, broth, sports drinks, and electrolyte beverages for infants) to keep from becoming dehydrated.

So, it’s been quiet around here all summer, sorry about that!  It’s not because nothing was happening, in fact, the opposite is true!  We were VERY busy this summer with the end of the Spring ’09 semester and the arrival of 13 cultural exchange students from America!

Now the Fall ’09 Semester has begun and in addition to the class I taught all last year, The Society and Culture of Major English-Speaking Countries ( 英语国家社会与文化入门 ),I am now also working in the foreign exchange office of the Hunan Institute of Science and Technology ( 湖南理工学院 )!

I have some new and exciting responsibilities that are going to make this next semester a new challenge, but one that I’m really looking forward to!  I’ll be sure to post a story or two here about how things are going!

This week in my class, “The Society and Culture of Major English-Speaking Countries ( 英语国家社会与文化入门 ), we had our mid-term group project reports.  Each group came up with a list of stereotypes that Chinese often have about Americans or America in general.  From that list of stereotypes, I chose one and the group chose one and those two stereotypes became the basis for a research project.

The results of the research were put into a written report (500 words) and a 5 minute oral report to the class.

Everyone did a great job.  If you’d like to see the reports, I’m slowly getting them online here.  (They should all be up by next Thursday – that’s my goal anyway!)