Distilling Chinese Education into 8 Concepts

Learning in China is mostly based on memorization and repetition, which may work well with mathematics and penmanship. Nevertheless, in other subjects, the information, if not properly organized into concepts, will not make sense. For example, in America students are taught to reduce, reuse, and recycle in environmental science. Due to the nonalphabetized nature of the Chinese language, memorizing the same phrase in Chinese will not make sense for purposeful learning.

Avoid giving scissors and clocks. Scissors and other sharp objects, such as knives or letter openers, are cutting instruments, and they are bad for building or reinforcing relationships. The Chinese words for “giving clocks” sound like “paying funeral respect.” The gift of a clock could be misinterpreted as an end to the partnership, as in a funeral. Look at the gift, and compliment it suitably as a sign of admiration and appreciation.

There followed a series of entertaining games. Everything started out lightheartedly, and each team took turns winning at a variety of friendly competitions. One of the last races required the teams to use chopsticks to carry a raw egg across a finish line. Players had to transfer the egg from one person to the next without touching or dropping it.
During this particular event, the jovial atmosphere of the game changed dramatically due to its extreme challenge. The teams giggled at the idea of the American faculty team even having a chance to win with the chopsticks. The race started, and the American faculty team quickly took the lead by a long stretch. The cheerful laughter subsided, and the teams even stopped cheering. Finally, the runner-up teams struggled for second place in awkward silence.
At the end of the race, some of the students congratulated the American faculty team. Interestingly, none of the Chinese teachers said a word. One Chinese faculty member finally explained that the American faculty team had caused the adults to lose face not just by winning but by defeating them by a wide margin. Another Chinese student expounded that the Americans were not supposed to be good at using chopsticks, simply because that was perceived as an exclusively Chinese skill.