Comments on: Chinese immigrants vs. Laowai expats http://chinahopelive.net/2009/07/04/chinese-immigrants-vs-laowai-expats A cross-cultural adventure with the personal side of China Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:05:15 -0800 hourly 1 By: William Crampton http://chinahopelive.net/2009/07/04/chinese-immigrants-vs-laowai-expats/comment-page-1#comment-9317 William Crampton Fri, 04 Dec 2009 04:44:03 +0000 http://chinahopelive.net/?p=3473#comment-9317 Thanks Jessica. I sent New Century an email this morning. Your advice on location is appreciated. Thanks Jessica. I sent New Century an email this morning. Your advice on location is appreciated.

]]> By: Jessica http://chinahopelive.net/2009/07/04/chinese-immigrants-vs-laowai-expats/comment-page-1#comment-9290 Jessica Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:05:28 +0000 http://chinahopelive.net/?p=3473#comment-9290 Hi William, Since your children are 12 and 14, my suggestion to you would be to homeschool them while sending them to a language center that specializes in teaching Chinese to foreigners. I suggest this because I think it would be very difficult for your 12 and 14 year old, having never learned Chinese, to be "immersed" into a public school setting. The language would be so far above their heads that it might even be counterproductive to their goal of learning the language. Especially with a plan to only stay two years in China. On the other hand, the language school we attended (or one like it), newcenturychinese.com, would (I think) be a great option. In two years, especially with their background in learning other languages, they would be able to progress quite quickly. I would also recommend moving to a city that is a friendly environment for language learning...like Tianjin. Larger cities like Beijing and Shanghai are not only more expensive (both in terms of language school cost and daily living), but people tend to view foreigners as tourists that are just passing through. In Tianjin, people are (while used to seeing the occasional foreigner) still curious and friendly and talkative. It's the kind of place where you can quite easily get to know the people in your neighborhood...giving lots of chances for language practice.:) That's my 2 kuai worth, anyway. :) Hi William,

Since your children are 12 and 14, my suggestion to you would be to homeschool them while sending them to a language center that specializes in teaching Chinese to foreigners. I suggest this because I think it would be very difficult for your 12 and 14 year old, having never learned Chinese, to be “immersed” into a public school setting. The language would be so far above their heads that it might even be counterproductive to their goal of learning the language. Especially with a plan to only stay two years in China. On the other hand, the language school we attended (or one like it), newcenturychinese.com, would (I think) be a great option. In two years, especially with their background in learning other languages, they would be able to progress quite quickly.

I would also recommend moving to a city that is a friendly environment for language learning…like Tianjin. Larger cities like Beijing and Shanghai are not only more expensive (both in terms of language school cost and daily living), but people tend to view foreigners as tourists that are just passing through. In Tianjin, people are (while used to seeing the occasional foreigner) still curious and friendly and talkative. It’s the kind of place where you can quite easily get to know the people in your neighborhood…giving lots of chances for language practice.:)

That’s my 2 kuai worth, anyway. :)

]]> By: William Crampton http://chinahopelive.net/2009/07/04/chinese-immigrants-vs-laowai-expats/comment-page-1#comment-9281 William Crampton Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:19:45 +0000 http://chinahopelive.net/?p=3473#comment-9281 My children (at least the 12 and 14 year old) asked me to take them to China to learn the language. I will try to home school them in math and English, God forbid , eh? I will contact your friends to see if they can give me advice on visas and enrolling them in school. Thank you for your kind response. My children (at least the 12 and 14 year old) asked me to take them to China to learn the language. I will try to home school them in math and English, God forbid , eh?

I will contact your friends to see if they can give me advice on visas and enrolling them in school.

Thank you for your kind response.

]]> By: Joel http://chinahopelive.net/2009/07/04/chinese-immigrants-vs-laowai-expats/comment-page-1#comment-9278 Joel Thu, 03 Dec 2009 07:32:38 +0000 http://chinahopelive.net/?p=3473#comment-9278 That's a good question... wish I had a good answer for you. Our daughter is too young for school so we haven't started tackling the education-in-China issue. I can only tell you what I've heard from other parents. You can try contacting some friends of ours at their blogs who tried putting their kids in the public and private systems in Tianjin: <a href="http://www.nash.je/" rel="nofollow">Tim & Helen</a>, and <a href="http://brandtsx4.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Cindy & Jason</a>. Looks like Tim's & Helen's blog is having trouble at the moment. They also might be able to refer you to other families who have more experience. I've heard of foreign parents putting their kids in public schools in Taiwan and Japan. But aside from kindergarten and primary school, while one parent watched them like a hawk, I've not heard of foreign kids going through the education system in Mainland China. It seems to be the assumption that aside from language acquisition, there's no benefit and many detriments to the Chinese education system. I've also <em>heard </em>that the prejudice is greater in Mainland China, that kids will feel even more like outsiders, but I don't know if that's true. That’s a good question… wish I had a good answer for you. Our daughter is too young for school so we haven’t started tackling the education-in-China issue. I can only tell you what I’ve heard from other parents. You can try contacting some friends of ours at their blogs who tried putting their kids in the public and private systems in Tianjin: Tim & Helen, and Cindy & Jason. Looks like Tim’s & Helen’s blog is having trouble at the moment. They also might be able to refer you to other families who have more experience.

I’ve heard of foreign parents putting their kids in public schools in Taiwan and Japan. But aside from kindergarten and primary school, while one parent watched them like a hawk, I’ve not heard of foreign kids going through the education system in Mainland China. It seems to be the assumption that aside from language acquisition, there’s no benefit and many detriments to the Chinese education system.

I’ve also heard that the prejudice is greater in Mainland China, that kids will feel even more like outsiders, but I don’t know if that’s true.

]]> By: William Crampton http://chinahopelive.net/2009/07/04/chinese-immigrants-vs-laowai-expats/comment-page-1#comment-9275 William Crampton Thu, 03 Dec 2009 06:13:09 +0000 http://chinahopelive.net/?p=3473#comment-9275 Pardon me if I am out of line. I think you all are at a much higher intellectual level than I but I am going to China next month and desperately need advice on a personal level. My wife and three children would like to move to China in January for two years. The children want to learn the Chinese language and culture. What does it take to enroll children in public schools? I am retired (62) and my wife speaks Spanish. I understand it is difficult to get a Z visa if you are over 60. We have been living in Japan for the last six years and the children, who were born in Guatemala, have gone to Japanese public school the entire time we have been here. They speak English, Spanish and Japanese well enough. The experience of putting the kids in a school where neither of us knew the language was horrible. Prejudice is incredible and the children have had many obstacles to overcome. Yet I think, after a short visit to China a year ago, that it may be harder in China than it was in Japan. Could anyone comment and advise please? I need to know how to immerse them and at the same time protect them from my imaginary (?) fears. Pardon me if I am out of line. I think you all are at a much higher intellectual level than I but I am going to China next month and desperately need advice on a personal level.
My wife and three children would like to move to China in January for two years. The children want to learn the Chinese language and culture. What does it take to enroll children in public schools? I am retired (62) and my wife speaks Spanish. I understand it is difficult to get a Z visa if you are over 60.
We have been living in Japan for the last six years and the children, who were born in Guatemala, have gone to Japanese public school the entire time we have been here. They speak English, Spanish and Japanese well enough.
The experience of putting the kids in a school where neither of us knew the language was horrible. Prejudice is incredible and the children have had many obstacles to overcome. Yet I think, after a short visit to China a year ago, that it may be harder in China than it was in Japan.
Could anyone comment and advise please? I need to know how to immerse them and at the same time protect them from my imaginary (?) fears.

]]> By: chriswaugh_bj http://chinahopelive.net/2009/07/04/chinese-immigrants-vs-laowai-expats/comment-page-1#comment-8620 chriswaugh_bj Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:22:59 +0000 http://chinahopelive.net/?p=3473#comment-8620 Glenn, I believe you are right in saying that China does not allow dual citizenship. Glenn, I believe you are right in saying that China does not allow dual citizenship.

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