The Unbroken Rule

Quidong Foreign Language School

One of the rules issued by our employer in China was not to take on work outside the classroom. For example, they didn’t want their contracted English teachers moonlighting at other training institutions. At the middle school in Qidong where Frank and I were instructing we were approached by several of the parents who asked us to take on their child in private lessons. We explained the company rule to them. They persisted so we agreed to spend time with their child if we could gather at various locations and conduct English Corners.

An English Corner in China is orchestrated by foreign English teachers at libraries, restaurants and permitted public meeting sites. The instruction consists of promoting general conversations on sorted topics. The three ‘T’ topics to be avoided are Tianamen Square, Taiwan and Tibet.

Enjoying a meal at a private setting

The topics we covered with our group of students included western food and how to eat a hamburger with your hands, ♪ music ♪ , the good and bad of zoos, the power of family and the love of friends.

We enjoyed the students’ company immensely. Their rapid conversation and upbeat energy kept us buoyant in a country with a great number of rules. One regulation we learnt from our students was that the ratio of adult to youth or junior youth in public was two young people to one adult. For example, Frank and I supervised six middle school students on our various outings. At a restaurant, which is considered a private setting, we could be with as many as eight students, but if we went to a public place, like a park or a shopping centre, it was necessary for at least one or more of their parents to attend.

Rules aside, we had a tremendous time with our students, inside and outside the classroom. We highly recommend that you take time to be with your students so that you may learn from them.

Beautiful students

Curious about the food

Hello Mr and Mrs Black

Qidong, Jiangsu Province

Rule No. 5: Respect the rules.