QUESTIONS? Chat us on Skype

Work and Live in China

Work and Live in China

We provide opportunities to travel, live and explore China while teaching English.

44-203-936-54-39 (UK Toll Free)

1-888-253-0045 (USA/Canada Toll Free)


Email: [email protected]

WeChat ID: alexandra_taylor

Zhong Jun World City, building C, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China

Open in Google Maps
  • HOME
  • ESL JOBS IN CHINA
    • WHY TEACH ENGLISH IN CHINA?
    • SHANGHAI
    • SHENZHEN
    • BEIJING
    • XUZHOU
    • SUZHOU
    • ZHENGZHOU
    • WEIHAI
    • WUXI
    • FUZHOU
    • TAIZHOU
    • WUHAN
    • GUANGZHOU
    • HANGZHOU
    • DALIAN
    • FOSHAN
    • HONG KONG
    • More cities
    • More jobs
  • ABOUT US
  • TESTIMONIALS
  • BLOG
  • RESOURCES
    • F.A.Q.
    • How to apply
    • Teachers’ Gallery
    • Documents Legalization
    • Chinese Consulates
    • Third-Party Visa Handlers
    • How to apply for a Chinese Visa
    • Interview Tips
    • Mandarin courses in China
  • CONTACT US
APPLYNOW
2
David Mitchell
Tuesday, 21 April 2020 / Published in General

8 Linguistic Pitfalls to Know when Teaching English to Chinese Speakers

ESL job in China

Perhaps the only thing that Chinese and English have in common is that each is considered to be among the most difficult languages to learn.

To that end, they can also be very difficult to teach.

Below are some common linguistic pitfalls encountered by those teaching English to Chinese speakers and some ideas on how to remedy them.

Tones

One of the most standout things about Chinese Mandarin is its use of tones; flat, rising, rising-falling, and falling.

While English has tones for things like questions or excitement, these tones are not usually essential to the meaning of the words.

Keep in mind when teaching English to Chinese speakers that this is where they’re coming from.

Many Chinese English learners instinctively mimic the tone of their foreign teacher. 

Be aware, therefore, of the natural fluctuations in your voice and try not to change your tones erratically.

Dialects

English has many accents, but few distinct dialects. And what dialects there are, rarely intermingle. Not so in Chinese.

While pretty much anyone who’s been to school in China can speak standard Mandarin, dialects are many and varied.

Thanks to these linguistic anomalies, an English term or concept might be easily understood in Nanjing, but not so much in Chengdu, for example.

While most of your students will likely be from the same place, it’s important to be aware of those that are from elsewhere. On the plus side, in my experience, Chinese speakers enjoying talking about the differences in dialects.

It’s confusing, but also kind of fun.

Context

Another key factor in determining meaning in Chinese is the context in which the words are expressed.

As a foreigner who struggles with tones and pronunciation, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been saved by the context of the conversation.

Even for Chinese speakers, relying on context is second nature as so many words are pronounced exactly the same.

Chinese speakers, therefore, listen to spoken words differently to English speakers and do not necessarily understand how different English words work in different contexts.

It’s important to have students incorporate new vocabulary into spoken and written sentences to be sure they understand the words and are using them properly.

This can be time-consuming, but be patient and always keep the context in mind.

Characters and pinyin

Those teaching English to Chinese speakers must understand that Chinese speakers don’t learn to read in the same way as English speakers.

There is no way to look at a Chinese character and “sound it out” like English readers do in primary school. And contrary to popular belief, very few Chinese characters are pictographs.

Chinese has no alphabet, only smaller stroke elements that are combined to create characters.

Students must, therefore, first learn not only the Roman alphabet but the concept of an alphabet before learning English.

Pinyin, the Anglicized spelling of Chinese characters, can also throw up confusion, as through it students will have learned to read sounds using Roman characters in a completely different way.

You’ll basically have to unteach them all of that.

Pronunciation

The most common problems for Chinese speakers learning English are with the “r”, “l” and “th” sounds.

The “th” sound doesn’t appear anywhere in Chinese and is therefore often replaced with an “s” or “z” sound. As for “r” and “l”, these sounds are found in Chinese, but only usually at the beginning of words.

It may, therefore, be much easier for your students to pronounce “live” and “read” compared to “always” and “every.”

It’s important to focus carefully on the placement and movement of the mouth and tongue when teaching “l”, “r” or “th” sounds to your learners. Start there and focus on the correct sounds.

This will likely require a continued attention, but the students who grasp it will have unlocked an important level of English proficiency that will separate them from their peers.

Gender

Chinese English learners often have trouble mixing up “he” and “she”.

This may seem basic to a native English speaker and is thus a common source of frustration for teachers.

The reason for this is that in spoken Chinese, the sound “ta” can mean either “he”, “she” or “it”.

It is pronounced exactly the same, so differentiating between gender in spoken language is simply not a concept Chinese speakers are familiar with.

This requires some getting used to, and the only remedy is near-constant vigilance when teaching English to Chinese speakers.

Age

You may be asked to teach a variety of age groups in China, particularly if you’re working in a language center.

And while teaching primary and secondary grades is very different, you’ll likely be asked (read: required) to juggle both, perhaps even alongside kindergarten and adult learners.

Remember that all age groups will have different wants and needs.

With very young learners, the focus is going to be basic vocabulary and pronunciation. With older learners, the focus is often on reading comprehension.

In my opinion, listening skills are under-emphasized in Chinese schools, so this is where you, as the native English teacher, can be of great value.

Personally, I think a student who can comprehend spoken English is better positioned than a student with better reading and grammar skills but poor speaking proficiency.

So talk to your students, even if they don’t fully understand, and even if it’s not directly tied to the lesson.

Keep talking, but be sure to grade the spoken language you’re using to your students’ level. 

Just like you wouldn’t talk to kindergarten kids about the stresses of office life, there’s no need to tell older learners that the grass is green.

Culture

The final point is more general but offers a way of addressing the above considerations as a whole.

Chinese and Western cultures are dramatically different.

Chinese history is much longer than European or American history, Chinese mythology has a wholly different cast of gods, spirits, legends, etc, and everything from pop music to the political system is unique from our experience.

It’s important for teachers to connect on some level with their students, but this can be an enormous challenge in a cross-cultural classroom, particularly one that contains upwards of fifty students.

Do as much research as you can into Chinese cultural reference points and look for glimpses of commonality that will give you insight into how your learners think and feel.

This will help provide the opportunities for connection so essential to teaching English to Chinese speakers.

What you can read next

Best Places to Visit in China in 2019
25 Best Places to Visit in China in 2020 + 3 Secret Destinations
Cost of living in China
Cost of Living in China in 2020 – Complete Guide with Prices Breakdown
UK passport
How to apply for a Chinese Tourist Visa in the UK – 2020 Guide

Recent Posts

  • Learning Chinese Mandaring Online

    4 Essential Tips on How to Learn Chinese Effectively: Where to start in 2020?

    Have you been interested in learning Mandarin C...
  • covid tests at chinese airports

    8 Essential Tips for Surviving Quarantine in China

    As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread al...
  • New COVID Testing Rules

    New COVID-19 Testing Rules for Foreigners Traveling to China

    Rule changes for passengers traveling to China ...
  • Jobs in Beijing, China

    Beijing Allows in International Flights After 5-Month Ban

    Beijing is to allow in a select number of inter...
  • Free Online Resources for Foreign ESL Teachers in China

    Foreign Teachers in China May Be Permitted to Take Part-Time Jobs

    Foreign teachers in China will be able to take ...

Recent Comments

  • Apply For China Visa In Usa | Search Results Web results World News, Latest World News, Breaking News on 🇬🇧 Chinese Work (Z) Visa: The Ultimate Guide for UK citizens in 2020
  • How Long Does It Take To Get A Teaching Degree | --------------------- on 16 Things To Know Before Teaching English in China (2020 Guide)
  • David Mitchell on How to apply for an English teaching job in China
  • AffiliateLabz on Documents Legalization for Work Z Visa: The Complete Guide (2020)
  • AffiliateLabz on How to apply for an English teaching job in China

Categories

  • Explore China
  • General
  • Teaching certification

Featured Posts

  • Learning Chinese Mandaring Online

    4 Essential Tips on How to Learn Chinese Effectively: Where to start in 2020?

    0 comments
  • covid tests at chinese airports

    8 Essential Tips for Surviving Quarantine in China

    0 comments
  • New COVID Testing Rules

    New COVID-19 Testing Rules for Foreigners Traveling to China

    0 comments
  • Jobs in Beijing, China

    Beijing Allows in International Flights After 5-Month Ban

    0 comments
  • Free Online Resources for Foreign ESL Teachers in China

    Foreign Teachers in China May Be Permitted to Take Part-Time Jobs

    0 comments

Application form

MENU

  • Home
  • About us
  • FAQ
  • Blog
  • Contact us
  • Why teach English in China?
  • Useful links
  • Teachers’ Gallery
  • How to apply for a Chinese Visa
  • How to apply
  • Job board
  • Taizhou
  • Shanghai
  • Beijing
  • Shenzhen
  • Xuzhou
  • Suzhou
  • Hong Kong
  • Hangzhou
  • Guangzhou
  • Nanjing
  • Zhengzhou
  • Tianjin
  • Weihai
  • Wuxi
  • Shijiazhuang
  • Dalian
  • Fuzhou
  • Wuhan
  • Qingdao
  • Foshan
  • Ningbo
  • Huainan
  • Nantong
  • Wenzhou
  • More cities

Want to know more about teaching English in China?

Subscribe to get notified of more awesome content from our blog and get useful tips!

Authorized by:

SAFEA (State Administration of Foreign Experts Affair P.R.China )

GET IN TOUCH

Office hours: Monday to Friday 1 p.m. - 11 p.m. CST (China)

Email: [email protected]
Work and Live in China

Zhong Jun World City, building C, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China

Open in Google Maps

  • GET SOCIAL
Work and Live in China

© 2013-2020 All rights reserved. WORK AND LIVE IN CHINA.

TOP