How do Chinese Kids React to Foreigners?

Oriental Pearl

17 Dec 202311:02

Summary

TLDRThe video features an American guide sharing experiences about living in China, emphasizing the curiosity and friendliness of Chinese children towards foreigners. The narrator discusses frequent interactions with kids eager to practice English, even outside major cities. He also highlights the benefits of learning the local language to enhance communication and enrich travel experiences. The video promotes language learning through programs like Pimsleur and encourages viewers to engage in cultural exchanges. The narrator expresses gratitude to his audience and invites them to support his channel for more travel adventures.

Takeaways

👋 Greetings are common: Chinese people, including children, are likely to greet foreigners, especially outside of big cities.
👶 Kids' curiosity: Children in China show a high level of curiosity towards foreigners, often approaching to say hello or practice English.
📸 Photo opportunities: Foreigners might be asked for photos by locals, highlighting the novelty of their presence.
🗣️ Language barrier: Speaking Chinese as a foreigner can draw attention, but not speaking the language can also lead to stares or curiosity.
😢 Initial shock: Some children might cry upon seeing a foreigner for the first time, but they usually get used to the person over time.
🚨 Standing out: Foreigners do stand out in China and other Asian countries, but communication can bridge the cultural gap.
📚 Learning the language: The speaker recommends learning the local language to communicate more effectively and have smoother interactions.
📈 Limited conversations: Without effort to learn the language, conversations with locals might be very limited.
🌐 Global similarities: Despite cultural differences, the ability to communicate reveals that people around the world have much in common.
🎓 Language learning methods: The speaker suggests using audio lessons, specifically mentioning the Pimsleur method, to start learning a new language.
🎉 Community support: The speaker expresses gratitude for the support from the channel's community and encourages viewers to subscribe and engage with the content.

Q & A

How are foreigners generally treated when walking down the street in China?
-Foreigners in China, especially in smaller cities, may receive a lot of attention. Locals, including children, are often curious and may greet or approach them, sometimes even asking for a photo.
What is the typical reaction of Chinese children towards foreigners?
-Chinese children are quite curious about foreigners, often more so than in other Asian countries. They may say hello, approach to talk, or even chase after them to practice their English.
How might an American teaching English in China be received by the children?
-While some children might initially be frightened or cry upon seeing a foreigner, most get used to the teacher over time. The 'shock factor' usually diminishes after the first day.
What happens when a foreigner speaks Chinese?
-Speaking Chinese as a foreigner can draw more attention. However, it can also facilitate smoother communication and interaction with the locals.
What is the speaker's advice for foreigners wanting to communicate effectively in a foreign country?
-The speaker recommends learning the local language to communicate effectively. They personally use audio lessons to learn new languages and suggest starting with such methods for conversational skills.
What language learning method does the speaker endorse?
-The speaker endorses the Pimsleur method, which focuses on conversation and correct pronunciation from the start, and is available for 51 different languages.
Why does the speaker suggest that it's a good time to buy language learning software?
-The speaker suggests that it's a good time to buy language learning software due to the end of the year sales, implying that there are discounts available.
What is the speaker's view on the importance of learning a foreign language?
-The speaker believes that learning a foreign language can greatly enhance one's travel experience, allowing for more wholesome adventures, conversations, and interactions.
How does the speaker feel about standing out as a foreigner in countries like China and Japan?
-While acknowledging that foreigners do stand out, the speaker emphasizes the commonality of human communication and the shared experiences that can be found through language.
What does the speaker encourage viewers to do at the end of the video?
-The speaker encourages viewers to subscribe to their channel, watch to the end, and support the channel, especially for those interested in the travel and filming adventures.
How can viewers support the speaker's channel?
-Viewers can support the channel by sending a thanks on YouTube or by going to Patreon to provide financial support.
What does the speaker hope to achieve with their videos?
-The speaker hopes to provide insight into the experiences of foreigners in China, foster understanding, and encourage language learning to enhance cross-cultural communication.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Curiosity and Friendliness Towards Foreigners in China

The speaker, an American living in China, discusses the common reactions of Chinese people, especially children, towards foreigners. He shares his experiences as an English teacher and how children were initially curious and friendly, often approaching him to say hello or even practice English. He mentions that this curiosity is not unique to China but is also observed in other Asian countries. The speaker also talks about the possibility of being asked for photos and how speaking Chinese as a foreigner can draw more attention. He emphasizes the universality of human curiosity and the importance of language as a tool for connection.

05:00

😶 Initial Shock and Adaptation: Teaching English in China

The speaker recounts his experiences teaching English in China, noting that some young children were frightened upon first seeing him, possibly due to his foreign appearance. However, he highlights the resilience and adaptability of children, as most of them became comfortable with his presence over time. He acknowledges the 'shock factor' on the first day of class but emphasizes that learning and communication eventually become smooth. The speaker also discusses the broader implications of cultural interaction and the value of learning local languages to facilitate deeper connections and understanding.

10:01

🌐 The Power of Language in Bridging Cultural Gaps

The speaker emphasizes the importance of language as a means to connect with people across cultures. He points out that while foreigners may stand out in countries like China and Japan, the ability to communicate can help to break down barriers and reveal shared human experiences. The speaker encourages viewers to learn foreign languages, sharing his personal method of using audio lessons to learn Cantonese and Vietnamese. He promotes a language learning program that focuses on conversational skills and correct pronunciation, suggesting that it's an opportune time to invest in language learning software due to end-of-year sales. He concludes by thanking his viewers for their support and inviting them to engage with more of his content.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Curiosity

Curiosity is the desire to learn or know more about something or someone. In the video, it is depicted as a common reaction of Chinese children towards foreigners, which is a key theme. The speaker mentions that children are 'quite curious about foreigners' and may approach them to say hello or practice English, as seen in the script where kids come to talk to the speaker, reflecting their inquisitive nature.

💡Foreigner

A foreigner is someone who comes from another country and is unfamiliar with the local customs, language, or culture. The video's narrative is centered around the experiences of a foreigner in China, highlighting how they are perceived and interacted with by locals. The term is repeatedly used to describe the speaker's status and the unique perspective they bring to the cultural exchange.

💡Cultural Exchange

Cultural exchange refers to the interaction between people of different cultures, leading to the sharing of ideas, customs, and traditions. The video emphasizes the importance of language as a tool for cultural exchange. It is illustrated when the speaker talks about children wanting to practice English and when the speaker themselves uses audio lessons to learn new languages, showing a mutual interest in understanding and connecting with one another's cultures.

💡Language Learning

Language learning is the process of acquiring the ability to communicate in a new language. The video stresses the value of learning the local language to communicate effectively and to immerse oneself in the culture. The speaker shares their personal experience using audio lessons to learn Cantonese and Vietnamese, suggesting that this method is beneficial for anyone looking to learn a new language and communicate more smoothly with locals.

💡Teaching English

Teaching English refers to the act of instructing non-native speakers in the English language. In the video, the speaker's experience teaching English in China provides insight into the local children's behavior and attitudes towards foreigners. It is mentioned that some children were initially scared or cried upon seeing the foreign teacher, but later became accustomed to their presence, indicating a process of adaptation and acceptance.

💡Stereotyping

Stereotyping is the act of assigning fixed, oversimplified characteristics to people based on their group affiliation. The video touches on this concept when the speaker is described as a 'walking, talking alien' by some locals due to their foreign appearance. This highlights the initial reactions of surprise and the subsequent need to break down these stereotypes through interaction and communication.

💡Attention

Attention in this context refers to the act of focusing on or being aware of someone or something. The video discusses how speaking Chinese as a foreigner, or simply being a foreigner, can draw attention in public spaces. This is exemplified by the speaker's anecdotes about being asked for photos or people looking through a coffee shop window at them, indicating the heightened visibility and interest that foreigners may experience.

💡Pimsleur Method

The Pimsleur Method is a language learning technique that emphasizes listening and speaking skills through audio lessons. The speaker endorses this method for its focus on conversation and correct pronunciation, which they use to learn Cantonese and Vietnamese. The mention of Pimsleur in the video serves to illustrate an effective approach to language acquisition, which is central to the theme of cultural exchange and communication.

💡End of Year Sales

End of Year Sales refer to promotional events that occur towards the end of a calendar year, offering discounts on various products. The video mentions this as an opportune time to purchase language learning software, suggesting that it's a cost-effective period for viewers interested in learning a new language. This ties into the broader message of the video about the benefits of language learning for cultural exploration and interaction.

💡Travel Filming Adventures

Travel Filming Adventures are experiences where one documents their travels, often through video or photography. The video's speaker mentions these adventures, indicating that the content is part of a series or ongoing project that involves traveling and documenting cultural experiences. This concept is integral to the video's theme of exploring and understanding different cultures through firsthand experiences.

💡Human Connection

Human Connection refers to the ability of people to relate to and communicate with one another on a personal level. The video concludes with the idea that despite cultural differences, the ability to communicate can foster a sense of commonality and shared humanity. This is illustrated by the various interactions the speaker has with locals, emphasizing that beneath the surface, people often have similar interests and desires for connection.

Highlights

Introduction to the curious and friendly reactions of Chinese children towards foreigners.

Anecdotes of children actively approaching and interacting with a foreigner.

Observations of behavior extending outside major cities like Shanghai and Beijing.

Description of how even adults may greet foreigners on the street.

Details of frequent interactions with children due to teaching English.

Instances of children using English words like 'hello' to communicate with foreigners.

Comparison of children's curiosity in China to those in other Asian countries.

Experience of children being initially frightened by a foreigner's appearance.

Mention of using Pimsleur audio lessons to learn Cantonese and Vietnamese.

Benefits of learning a local language to enhance communication.

Impact of language skills on forming connections and interactions.

Promotion of language learning software, highlighting end-of-year sales.

Encouragement to learn foreign languages to enrich travel experiences.

Reflections on the universal human ability to communicate and connect.

Call to subscribe and support the channel on its journey to reach one million subscribers.