Archive for Academics

An Open Letter to Taiwan’s Sinologist English Professors

via arbiterofwaste

19 May, 2008  Comments off


Dear Sinologist English Professors,

Back in 2003, when I first came back to Taiwan to pursue a career in the education industry here, I was full of hopes and ambition. Now, 5 years on, I’m not so optimistic–the educational system in Taiwan is decrepit, it’s full of apathetic non-professionals, and worst of all, quasi-professionals. That’s right, you know who I’m talking about, you, the Sinologists (a.k.a., China-studiers) we English profs have to compete against for jobs in Taiwan. For example, at National Chi Nan University (暨南大學) down south, where the chairman and most of the leading “foreign” faculty members are Sinologists or people who were trained in fields other than English. One of your many strongholds, and at my own (soon to be former) institution, 3 out of 4 western English faculty members are sinologists, or people who were trained to study China (history, religion, etc.) in some form or another. Moreover, many of you are non-native speakers of English so that, if I apply for a faculty position in the Dept. of Foreign Languages, I may very well find myself competing against a German sinologist who knows dick about American literature and speaks with a Colonel Klink accent, but has numerous tier three publications on the Mencius. Quick, hire him! Seriously, only in Taiwan…

Don’t get me wrong, I can sympathize: you worked hard and finally got your PhD in a field you were really interested in, found you couldn’t really find a job teaching your specialization in classical Chinese bone fragments in your own country, and then wound up over here in Taiwan teaching English. Perhaps you have a lovely Taiwanese wife (who, of course, claims she’s Chinese) and you want to be with her here in her own country, or whatever it is she calls Taiwan…Granted, you speak a bit of Chinese, but you’re teaching American literature at a major university and pretending to be an “expert” in it for chrisakes! If your Mandarin is that good then hmm, why don’t you sinologists consider getting jobs in, for example, the DEPARTMENT OF CHINESE ?!

But no, Taiwan says, if we’re going to have big-noses teaching anything it’s going to be English, not Chinese. They need to love our “Chinese culture,” but we’re not going to trust them to actually teach anything about that in Taiwan. How would that be possible? A western man teaching Mencius in Taiwan? Surely you jest. So, given this sorry state of affairs, rather than stealing more jobs from the qualified, I humbly submit that you should seriously consider going to China, where your love of the “Middle Kingdom” can truly blossom and you’ll find all sorts of teaching opportunities in the Guo Xue worker’s paradise.

Sincerely,

D. S. Hwang

Why do many Chinese do so well in School in the US?

via Ray

19 Apr, 2008  Comments off

There is an old Doonesbury Cartoon when Kim was in High School. Kim is an orphan from Vietnam, and adopted by two Jewish parents. This other student is asking her why do Asian’s do so well. Her first answer is lots of studying and do the homework. The other kid does not accept this. Then Kim answers she’s secretly an Alien and the kid accepts that answer.

My 2 cents on why many Chinese Students do so well in the US:

1. High expectations in school work
2. Working with the kids on Home Work. Every night my wife works with my daughter on her Algebra 2 work.
3. Setting a career path at an early age (you will be a DR., you will be a Lawyer, etc.). Per a Harvard Business School study graduates that had written goals/plan made a lot more than those who did not.
4. Pressure to perform. B’s are not acceptable.
5. Putting a premium on education. Examples of this is the huge amount of tutoring that Chinese parents will send their kids to. From reading at a young age to SAT preparation. There are so many of these after school tutoring where i live.
6. High expectations of going to a great college. Chinese American Education Expectations
7. Community expectations (my son is a law student at UCLA).
8. The amazing amounts that parents will spend on their kids education (My daughter now has a Grand Piano, that’s a great example of this). My daughter is also going to Piano, Cello, and Voice lessons. Another example is how the best school districts in Southern California have huge Chinese populations. Why, because they are willing to pay the money for houses in good districts. Examples are San Marino, Arcadia, Walnut, and Diamond Bar. My daughter goes to school in Diamond Bar.
9. Proof of this working - high acceptance rates at University of California Berkeley for example. Chinese Asian Representation in Colleges
10. Focus on academics verses sports for status.

I have seen an article that lays out some of these ideas, but I can’t find it right now.

Another example is one of my daughter’s friends. Only spoke Chinese at home. Now in 9th grade is one of the top students in English.

An article on my site that summarizes the above with more information: Chinese Students - What can be Learned from them for Getting Good Grades? in my new section: School Tips & Education Articles

References:

Term 1 is Ending! The Final Push

via leafgirl04

6 Jan, 2008  Comments off


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The year starts off slightly off-centred. A new adventure to be found every day!

A news brief to kick off the new year…

With this week left before the finals start, it’s starting to get a little… how shall I say this? It’s time to turn the gas on! Vroom, vroom!

Reporting on other areas:

This month has been the preparation and steeling of feelings, for people are departing throughout this month. Many of whom I will probably never see again. But hey! At least there’s the internet… and visitation rights.

So, in culmination, in contrast to December’s mostly party-like atmosphere (as much as we could make it), January looks to be a balance between send-offs and school.

Finally a posting related to academics.