The Chinese Cultural Paradigm

1 } 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?” 2 Where Are Chinese Students Coming from in China? 3 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 6 So Basically… US China China 7 Challenges for Chinese Students at US Universities } 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 8 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!) 9 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. 10 Now You Know! } 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?” 11 12 .

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