September 3, 2001
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Racism... Egads.
I've had quite a bit of extra time today, so I decided to call one of the English language schools here that operate hoping to teach Chinese students wanting to learn English. I'm hoping to make some money on the side so that I may do more than survive, so that I may drink and party my ass off - but it looks like my social dreams may be shortlived.
The company I approached is called English First. They have two schools in Shanghai, one in the Pudong side, and the other is in Puxi side (Puxi is district I just learned of, kinda like North York, not quite as far west Etobicoke). The area coordinator there met with me for about 45 minutes and briefed me on the feasibility of being able to teach a class of students there, part-time. They are looking for part time teachers to teach between 6 - 9 in the evenings every other day and offer between 240 - 320 RMB depending on your teaching experience, of which I have none of =(
He then proceeded to tell me that the Chinese here, aren't too keen on learning English from another Chinese person. No matter how long I've been in Canada, no matter how well I can speak it, they'd much rather learn from a foreigner was what I was told. He then proceeded to tell me about the subtle intricacies of teaching English, and the questions you are commonly asked.
What is the difference between:
1) I will take my umbrella tomorrow.
2) I am taking my umbrella tomorrow.
3) I'm going to take my umbrella tomorrow.
Well, I was kinda stumped there. He then showed me a book on superlatives and how they are used. And then he asked me:
What is the difference between how 'much' and how 'many'?
Well, that one is an easier one, do you know the answer? How would you answer a student if you were asked that question?
How the hell am I going to buy drinks at the bars? Aiya....
Simon is discouraged.
I've witnessed many firsts here in Shanghai. I'll add to the list as they come. This is going to get messy.
Simon's Shanghai Firsts
Aug. 31 - Meeting a fellow Torontonian. Meeting the head of advertising for Gucci.
Sept. 1 - Seeing the grandeur of Nanjing Lu. Mastering the Metro system in Shanghai. Seeing pajama people. Seeing a hot Shanghai girl that grossed me out with armpit hair. Then noticing that she didn't shave her legs either (this is very common here, i'm going to puke).
Sept. 2 - Eating at a hole in the wall joint and having the best xiao loong bao ever. Having dinner at the luxurious Grand Hyatt hotel later that day. Travel to Pudong area. Zhang Ziyi look alike sighting (twice!).
Sept. 3 - Walking on the street and seeing a little boy take a shit into a bag while on the sidewalk.
Sept. 4 - Meeting two Japanese hottie twins! (Okay I didn't meet them yet but they go to my school!)
Sept. 8 - Meeting, for real this time, three hottie locals (Okay not extremely hot, but hey let's not be mean here) and hung out all night with them.
Sept. 10 - Zhang Ziyi sighting again!!! Shitting in the squatter.
Sept. 12 - Mr. Underwear man on the street. Nothing but underwear.
Sept. 23 - Real massage (totally legit). Gaddamn!
Oct. 8 - First job in Shanghai.
Oct. 11 - First Blurrrrghhhh....
Oct. 19 - First trip outta town (to Nanjing). First encounter with females outside of SH.
Comments (5)
Are you a grape?
*Shudder* Those questions sound like English Grammar course final exam I took last year. It's funny how people from other countries learn English - they are taught things like superlatives, subordinate clauses and other flabbergasting grammatic idioms that we native English speakers have literally no clue to their mere existence, much less their utility in our everyday spoken or written language.
As for Coelho's "The Alchemist" - I did pick up that book a few months ago on the recommendation of a few friends, but didn't really care for it as much as they had. Maybe I'm not so much into the "preachiness" of the book - I found "Le Petit Prince" a much better read, with respect to that style of book.
However, he IS a brilliant writer, and his other novel "Veronika Decides To Die" was simply terrific! It remains one of my favorite books to this day.
Hope things are well with you in Shanghai Simon. Looking forward to hearing more about your adventures and my grandfather's alma mater Fudan.
No difference, you're still taking the damn umbrella tomorrow!!! That's weird that they don't want to learn english from a chinese person, whether it's discrimination, or a pride thing...eh whatevers...
that helicopter excursion sounds awesome! i'd love to go to tibet, along with my oxygen tank on my back of course. hope you don't smoke...
hi Simon, glad to see you decided to keep in touch with the English-speaking world! Keep telling us about your experiences so we can live vicariously through your Shanghai adventure. ...thanks for your input about YAP.
Even though you were disappointed at the interview, the guy seems to have asked the right questions. If you get into teaching English, I'm happy to oblige if you have any grammar questions (or if you want to know what answer the interviewer expected).
We've got a British teacher called Osama (Egyptian name and looking Egyptian - although his mum was from the UK and his father from the Sudan), but our students are fine about him as he was born and bred in the UK. Maybe China is different.
We've also got a South African teacher who's lived in Canada and he keeps saying 'hot' all the time. Now I know where the term 'hot' is hot.
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