User Comments - xiaophil

Posted on: Getting Taller (Not Fatter)

bodawei

Yeah, there is a problem with what I said.  I guess I should say that typical (don't worry; I'm not saying this is true for everyone) Western values are based on rights and wrongs that are universal and do not change (in theory) according to the relationship one has with another. 

The test cheating problem is something I have come across many times, so that is why I mention it here.  I have talked to some Chinese people, and most admit it is wrong, but then they say it is also wrong to tell on someone, and if everyone else is cheating, they might as well cheat too because they don't want to be the loser just because they don't want to cheat. 

I agree that there are lots of different ideas out here in China.  Still, some values really stand out time and time again.

Posted on: Getting Taller (Not Fatter)

Bodawei
I might be missing something, but I was talking about right and wrong, although pauley did use the word 'wrong' at the end.  I should add, I do my best to not be too judgmental. 

Posted on: Getting Taller (Not Fatter)

Whoops, forgot the translation and pinyin...wa1! hao3xiang4 xin1 ping2lun4 xi4tong3 mei2shen2me wen4ti2! bang4ji2le!Wow! Seems like the new commenting system works! Awesome!

Posted on: Getting Taller (Not Fatter)

哇！好像新评论系统没什么问题！棒极了！

Posted on: Getting Taller (Not Fatter)

bodawei

Now that is an intersting set of papers to read.  I can't agree with you more about the culture gap.  What many people don't understand is that the concept of morality is different here.  In the West the foundation is 'right and wrong'.  Here it seems to be 'loyalty to the group'.  There was one time I gave an examination to MBA students.  One person was exempt from the test because of her high English level, so I thought it odd that I saw her taking it.  I found out later that she was taking a test for her classmate that just had a baby several weeks ago.  I informed the school and she was forced to retake the class.  Later she came up to me and told me, "I'm sorry.  I didn't think I was doing anything wrong.  I was just helping a friend."  My Chinese wife told me later that she thinks it would have been better to have done nothing because might have turned the students against me, possibly endangering me.  I try my best not to look down on this behavior and instead just write it off as a cultural difference, but it is hard for me to really 'get it'.  It just shows how hard it is to step out of one's cultural foundation.

Posted on: Getting Taller (Not Fatter)

bodawei

I'm curious as to what topic caused 90 students to rant against Western values?

I sometimes admire the Chinese emphasis on harmony and helping each other (even if sometimes it is only theory).  However, I could never understand the concept of primarily living for someone else.  If everyone lives by this rule, is anyone actually living?  Anyway, they think we are missing the point too.

Posted on: Going to Wudang Mountain

thinkbuddha

Because as we all know, 之首 is our pal.

Posted on: Addressing Family Members

sfrr

I see your point, but I guess perhaps we'll have to disagree.  But in hopes to move you over to my side, I will make my case briefly. 

First

I see translation as a distraction, and thus doesn't promote a good Chinese learning environment.  What I mean is, it is a natural reaction for humans to zero in on the language that we are most familiar with, so no matter how good we get at Chinese, must of us will read English first, and only then if we have patience will we read the Chinese. 

Second

CPod staff has been very good at chatting with us lately in Chinese.  (Thank you CPod!) If CPod management suddenly tells them to use pinyin and translate, I'm afraid they will simply post less. 

I think people might say, "Well, if people want to learn Chinese, they should force themselves to read the Chinese, and as for staff, it's their job, so they should just grin and bear it," but I think human nature gravitates towards the path of least resistance.

Just to be clear, I didn't originally understand why John made his request.  I fully support him deleting the comments of native speakers if they pass the threshold of being useful to learners.  

反正,新年快乐!

Posted on: Addressing Family Members

John

I disagree with asking us to translate and use pinyin at the intermediate level, even if it is just a suggestion.  I think you took lessons in China, so you know the textbooks at the intermediate level have no pinyin and translations except for new vocab.  This is the way I feel it should be here too, especially since there are so many free pop-up dictionaries available.  However, I know others disagree (but I doubt all).  It is something that I can bite my tongue about, and will avoid mentioning from here on out. 

I just hope that you don't start making such requests at the upper-intermediate and advanced levels ;).

Cheers

Posted on: What have you done in 2009?

bodawei

Haha, I guess the opposite might be generally true in English.  I'm down with it = I like it.  He's up to something = He is doing something bad/naughty.