Culture in China

Culture in China

The culture in China is very different from the culture in the United States. Even those who are of Chinese descent and who have been exposed to some elements of Chinese culture will find that actually living in China is a very different experience. This shouldn’t discourage you. Experiencing a vastly different culture is a large part of the adventure of teaching abroad and you should embrace it.

At first, you may have trouble communicating. Next Step China’s immersion program will have you communicating in Chinese fairly quickly, but it does take time and practice to develop fluency. You may experience frustrating situations in which you don’t have the Chinese vocabulary to express what you need or want and those around you don’t speak enough English for you to be understood in your native tongue, either. This is inevitable. When it happens, remain patient. Your Chinese will improve. For necessities, you can also contact Next Step China’s agents, who speak both English and Mandarin fluently.

Language is not the only cultural barrier experienced by English teachers in China. You will find the food to be different that you may have expected. When thinking of Chinese food, most westerners picture a buffet with egg rolls, sweet and sour chicken and pork layered on top of fried rice. While these kinds of foods do exist in China, you will find that there are many other dishes with which you are completely unfamiliar. Again, this is part of the adventure. Enjoy it. If you are looking for a taste of home during your adventures in China, as long as you are in Beijing or one of the other large cities, you can always find a KFC, Pizza Hut or McDonald’s.

Chinese culture tends to be a bit more structured than many Americans are accustomed to. Authority is generally clearly recognized and deferred to. This need not be a problem, and in fact is generally a good thing for teachers, as teachers are highly respected and viewed as important authority figures in China.

Another thing many westerners notice about the Chinese people is that they tend to be very direct. It is not considered rude in China to ask frank questions, even if they are of a somewhat personal nature. The Chinese people have adopted many western customs, such as the hand shake for greeting. They also retain many of their own. While most Chinese these days shake hands, for example, some still offer the traditional Chinese greeting: a light bow with the hands held palms together in front. As long as you embrace the differences, you will enjoy the adventure of experiencing the fascinating Chinese culture.