Chinese competitiveness and learning English
by chris
China is a competitive place. Industrialised China may just be the most competitive place in the world. I’m not sure. But when it comes to learning English, some Chinese people are so desperate to practice that they will talk to any white person they can find.
Of course, not all white people speak English as a native language (in fact, most don’t), but most white people in China know some English. But most people in China do not know that. Many Chinese people will walk up to a white person and smile and begin speaking English. Some foreigners love this about China. It is a great way to make friends if you are open to it. For those who are not, it is a nuisance.
Since learning English is a big way for a Chinese person’s career to advance, and since China is so competitive, Chinese people will use you to speak English. Of course, they would not claim to be doing so. They would say, I like foreigners, or I am just very friendly. The truth is that you are their teacher, and their being friendly is your payment. This is the part I resent. Nothing is free, not in China, not anywhere. But if you are not equally friendly, people push and push, as if to force you to speak to them. As disinterested as you appear, by putting on headphones, reading a book, looking out the window, talking to your friend, they will talk to you.
I have solved this problem for myself, on the advice of the Monkey Queen. When people I do not know come up to me, I tell them, in Chinese, that with Chinese people I do not know, I only speak Chinese. That way, I am the one getting something out of our conversation as well.
Sadly, it is not as easy as that. There is a young man, about 17 years old, in Suzhou who apparently spends his time looking for white people to talk to. I am not the only one who knows of this boy. Whenever he sees you, he will approach you and speak in a strange kind of monotone English. His English is very good but he is strange and frightening. He repeats that he likes foreigners and wants (or expects) you to come with him and chat. I feel bad for him because it is likely he has some mental problems. He may have had a nervous breakdown, as many Chinese students do due to the pressure of exams at the end of high school. I can find no other explanation why he spends so much time around tourist areas, and pushes so hard to talk to you, as if begging, and yet he clearly has a good education.
Is it possible they are only being friendly and nothing more? Perhaps, but I strongly dislike being picked out of a crowd for my race. Either way, the likely explanation is that some Chinese people think the key to getting ahead is to have excellent English and the key to learning English is to speak to every foreigner they find on the street. Competition has pushed Chinese society to this point.
Tags: China, competition, English