Anyone look at "Culture Shock! China" or "China - Culture Smart"?

[xianu]

Just wondering if anyone who has lived in China has read or looked at either of these books. They seem about the same, but one is slightly newer than the other. Thinking of assigning these are readings for students studying abroad in China. Any feedback would be welcomed before I lay down the cash and buy them. 谢谢！

[kdavid]

The amazon.com reviews are generally quite poor for both of these books.

I'm not sure what you'll be doing over here, but if you're coming to teach English, this website is quite good, though it may scare the pants off you if you read it the wrong way:

http://middlekingdomlife.com/guide/

I should note that I've been here since 2006 and disagree with many of their arguments, as well as their general attitude towards the "de-professionalization" of the average foreign teacher--though this is more likely to exist in public schools than private.

Regardless, it's a nice, brutally honest look at China and its education system.

[jeffofarabia]

I don't know if I would recommend your link. The coverage I have read so far is so negative. China definitely has its problems, but if that is all you focus on you're never going to enjoy anywhere you travel or live. I think the best way to enjoy China is not continually trying to judge it by the standards of your home country. Just recognize that it is truly one of the world's greatest civilization and it has its own way of doing things.

[xianu]

I either send students to China for summer/semester/year, or take students to China for short-term language study in the summer (about 4-5 weeks). THe summer guys have me with them to help them understand their faux pas, etc., and to help them gain a larger appreciation of how things work,a nd why things work (or don't). The long term students, come on their own. I just wanted to give them something to read so they can feel more on top of things, but obviously, I don't want it to be a completely negative, "the Chinese are all out to get you" kind of point of view, but I would like them to have a handle on the kinds of things they can expect. Moreover, since these guys are all going to be speaking chinese at some level or other, they will be interacting with locals, rather than just holing up in some pub with only non-Chinese teachers or students, and living in a less westernized part of China (Xi'an). The goal is to have them be culturaly aware, and somewhat educated, so that they have some sort of reference for how best to not piss someone off. Since the amazon reviews are often written by people who don't know the language, or who haven't lived in/been to China, specifically, I don't trust them. I was just hoping one of you more experienced folk who have lived in China and honestly read/evaluated the books might have something insightful to say about them.

[imron]

I didn't look at it too thoroughly, but the link kdavid does seem to provide a reasonably in-depth look at China from the eyes of a westerner, and although aimed at foreign teachers, much of it is also relevant to students. Anyone scared off by the harshness of it may not find China that suitable a place, the bits I did read matched quite closely with what I experienced during my time living China.

[flameproof]

I don't know if I would recommend your link. The coverage I have read so far is so negative.

I didn't read anything. But I believe it's better to be negative programmed and then positive surprised rather then the other way round.

Very often this culture shock happens because people just pick the positive and ignore the negative completely. In China people get overwhelmed easily by the 5000 years history thing, which after 1 week in China crumbles to pieces.