Why Chinese Immigrants Struggle with English Fluency

I recently came across an interesting article in the Toronto Star that I think many of you might enjoy.

 As you can see by the title, the article focuses on a problem that is probably not just limited to Canada, but likely exists in other English speaking countries such as the England, Ireland, Scotland, the United States. Australia, New Zealand and others.  

The article has generated a lot of interest and a lot of comments, so I am posting the complete article so that you can read the whole thing before I add some of my own comments in a separate post. 

I suggest that you read the entire article, the links it sends you to, AND as many of the comments as you can so that you can get an idea of what other people think. It might provide you with some insight into what native speakers expect from you 

Why Chinese Immigrants Struggle with English Fluency 

Nicholas Keung

The Star Immigration Reporter

59 Comments

   Mandarin-speaking Zhenyong Li, who came to Canada in 1998, said he 

finds small talk in English more difficult than his engineering jargon.

  Zhenyong Li has no trouble speaking English in his engineering jargon, but the Chinese immigrant says it can still be challenging to carry on small talk.

And yet, casual conversation with native speakers around the water cooler is crucial to language development — and social integration — for those whose mother tongue is something else, especially Mandarin.

A new study found the Mandarin-speaking immigrants it tracked had made “no significant progress” in their English accent, fluency and comprehensibility seven years after their arrival here, compared with their Slavic-language (Russian and Ukrainian) speaking counterparts.

The study by the Montreal-based Institute for Research on Public Policy followed 25 immigrants each from Mandarin and Slavic groups, and assessed their listening and speaking skills at years 1, 2 and 7.

“Mandarin-speakers over time did not get much easier to understand when native listeners heard them speak,” said University of Alberta educational psychology professor Tracey Derwing, who co-authored the study with NorQuest College language instructor Erin Waugh.

Make Little Progress 

“They made very little progress in their pronunciation and fluency. They still had many pauses and hesitation.”

Participants in the study — all possessing the same overall language proficiency, well-educated and with similar language training here — were shown pictures and asked to describe them in their own words, while being evaluated by 30 listeners to eliminate any bias or subjectivity.

Researchers also found the Mandarin speakers had had significantly fewer conversations of 10 minutes or more with native and non-native English speakers than did the Slavic participants.

The Mandarin speakers were, as a whole, more reluctant to initiate conversation and appeared to be less aware of current local events than the Slavic speakers.

The Slavic speakers, as a group, the report said, were more assertive and more deliberate in their effort to learn English. They also had an advantage because of interests shared with the larger community (ice hockey, for example), which helped with conversations.

Li, who came here from Shanghai in 1998, said Mainland Chinese learn their English from

textbooks through reading and writing, and have no opportunity to drill their listening and speaking skills outside the classroom.

“If you cannot listen or speak proper English, you feel discouraged to participate in a conversation because you are afraid others don’t understand you,” said Li, 52, who has a master’s degree in engineering  from the California Institute of Technology and is a manager of a Markham consulting firm.

The Chinese Professionals Association of Canada in Toronto has introduced several programs to address the language gap, which focus on pronunciation and “soft skills” in communication.

“It’s vital to be able to carry small talk,” said its president, Hugh Zhao, who moved here from Shenyang in 1989. “Small talk leads to common understanding and other big topics. It’s not enough just to talk about the weather in Canada.”

Zhao, a computing manager at the University of Toronto, said the Chinese language is very different from the English alphabet, and so are the cultures attached to those language.

Also, silence, which for the Chinese is a virtue reflecting humbleness, is not valued in the West, where people tend to appreciate participation and outspokenness.

Not Active in Class 

“(Mainland) Chinese students are not active in class because, if they understand it, they don’t want to show off. And if they do not understand something, they don’t want to ask and show their ignorance,” Zhao said.

“Sometimes, people are just afraid to make mistakes and decide not to speak. We have to learn not to be afraid to embarrass and humiliate ourselves.”

Derwing said English-language training for immigrants must focus more on listening, speaking and pronunciation skills, as well as the so-called soft skill of engaging in casual conversation.

“Communication is a two-way street. The burden of communication should not be on immigrants’ shoulders only,” she added. “Canadians should not just zone out or shut down when they hear somebody speak with an accent.”

 Here are three of the first comments on the article:  

Cold Hard Truth

"...... Ms. Derwing Tracey Derwing paints a pretty cold picture of Canadians with her closing comments, which border the gratuitous. Given that the average "Joe" doesn't understand the finer points of culture models and the significant differences between Canadian and Chinese cultures, I'd say the people responsible for teaching English to (albeit desiring) immigrants are doing pretty well. It's up to the immigrating parties (Chinese in this case) to adapt to the culture they've joined, screw up their courage, put their narcisism  to rest, and just open their mouths so they can learn while talking, just as we do when we're children and learning English as our first language. After all, the immigrants chose to come: the lion's share of the burden ought to be theirs. If they feel ill-done-by, they know where the nearest airport is.

Lingo Steve 

"  Not surprised. As someone who speaks 11 languages, including Mandarin, and knows many Mandarin speakers here in Vancouver, i would say the main reason Mandarin speaking immigrants don't do well in English is that they are not very interested. I have, however, met motivated Mandarin speakers, who chose to immerse themselves in the local scene, interact with locals etc. and they learned to speak very well. Poor success in language learning is almost always because of the attitude of the learner."  

Rex Saigon 

SFH makes a great point: too often the language spoken at these CPAC ( Chinese Professional Association of Canada) is MANDARIN!!    NON-CHINESE should be the ones looking at volunteering to lead informal discussion groups — strictly in English — for Mandarin speakers (or any others!) who TRULY want to learn OUR country's native tongue. Such classes might not be for absolute beginners, but those with a rudimentary understanding looking to enhance casual communication skills. Having fellow Mandarin-speakers teach such classes is theoretically fine, so long as those teaching are ABSOLUTELY FLUENT in English, something I find far more likely among Cantonese speakers than Mandarin speakers in Canada at this point in time. Perhaps classes led my people fully fluent (meaning NO accent) in English are already provided, but I have to wonder, especially considering the culture's tendency toward like leading like.

To read  some of the other 53 comments go to” http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1205277--why-chinese-immigrants-struggle-with-english-fluency

Let me know what YOU think AFTER you have read the article and some of the comments. 

Here are some of the questions I would love to get your answers to: 

1.   Do  YOU agree with the results of the study? Why or why not?

2.   Do you agree with the reasons given for the problem? Why or why not ?  

3.   What is your reaction to some of the comments to the story? Do you agree or 

      disagree with them?  Why or why not:? 

4    Are you surprised about some of the comments? 

4.   What are some possible solutions to this problem? 

5.   Is it necessary for Chinese speakers to take steps, or is it all their teachers' fault? 

6.   Canadians and Canadian employers clearly think "soft " skills are important. What 

     is your opinion? 

7.    Do YOU think these "soft skills" are important, or should employers hire you even 

       if you don't have them? 

Speak English for "Just A Minute"

Are you trying to improve your spoken English or get a better mark on an important speaking test such as the IELTS?

Are you interested in improving one specific aspect of your speaking?     

Watch the following video for some instructions on a speaking game called Just a Minute. This is a game that help you improve your speaking skills while you have  fun at the same time.

In the game, you can focus on all aspects of spoken English, OR simply one aspect at a time, for example, grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation OR fluency.  In order to play. you need at least one partner, but playing with three people and even four people also works well.

This is a useful game to play in an English classroom. but the great thing about it is that you don't have to play it in class. You can play it with your friends anywhere you want - at home, on the bus or subway, at the beach or at the park. All you need is a series of topics and the instructions on how to pay the game. 

Watch and listen to the instructions:   

Watch two native speakers playing Just a Minute 

Here are a few more suggestions:

Watch or listen to yourselves

Try video-taping or audio taping yourself. For example, you could use a regular  video camera, or simply the video function of your smart phone. After playing several rounds of Just A Minute, stop, watch yourself and be prepared to discuss things you did right as well as areas where you need improvement.  Remember, many athletes do this all the time in order to improve their performance. Make sure you find both the good and the bad. No one does everything wrong, so you need to acknowledge the positive aspects of your performance. 

Focus on specific problems:

Focus on improving on specific areas you have problems with in grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, fluency. For example, if you have trouble consistently using the past tense(s) when you speak, choose topics that force you to use the past tense. Here are a few to get you started: your first day in school, first time away from home. first kiss, first date, first cigarette, first punishment, first teacher.

If you have problems with constantly saying uh...uh...uh..., focus on trying not to hesitate.  Change the rules so that instead of taking your place the first time you say ah, your partner simply counts the number of times you do it. Keep a record, and focus on reducing the number of times you stop and hesitate with ah..ah... In the Toastmasters organization, this person is called an ah counter. 

Practice New Vocabulary  

If you are trying to practice using new vocabulary, make it a rule that specific words MUST be built into your one minute speech. Even if you speak perfectly for one minute, you lose a point if you don't use ALL of the words.  These could be any kind of words: words about the environment, parenting, psychology, crime, descriptive adjectives, power verbs , etc.

Don't Get too Anxious  

As the speaker in the first video said, no one is perfect. Native speakers can have problems with this game, especially when it comes to repeating words, so don't expect too much of yourselves. Make sure you are serious about practicing, but make sure you have fun at the same time. Try to make some of the content entertaining and funny. Laugh at yourself and your mistakes.

Choose Appropriate topics

Choose topics are small and narrow enough for you to be able to come up with something without having to think too hard.  For example, the topics of  sausages, bottled water, showers, shoes, lip piercing are all topics that you can probably start talking about immediately. Controversial topics such as capital punishment and  euthanasia, however, are better topics for prepared speeches in which you can do some research.

Develop Some Strategies

There are a number of strategies you can use to help yourself improve speaking about anything spontaneously. One of them, is to keep up with things that are going on around you - not just  news, but interesting developments in the areas of psychology, science, technology, child care .....  The more you know,  the more you can say.

I will discuss other strategies you can use in another post, but in the meantime, go to the SPEAKING PAGE  for more information on preparing for important advanced level speaking tests,  making presentations or simply holding a conversation.

One Minute topics

I have several lists of potential ONE MINUTE TOPICS topics that I am currently revising. I will post them within the next day or two. 

If You don't suceed, Try, Try Again

Many of us have heard this expression so many times that we don't really believe it anymore. But what would happen if we actually did try again each time we failed?  

Would we really improve? Would we learn more than we expected to? Could we accomplish some of the great things we have dreamed about, but never achieved because we gave up too quickly?

Sometimes it takes a child to teach us how being passionate and highly motivated can make us develop the kind of perseverance and  stick-to-itiveness, we need in order to succeed at anything important - even though we know we will fail many times along the way.  

The important thing is that you must be passionate about whatever it is you are trying to accomplish. With passion, there are NO failures - only learning experiences that can help us improve and modify our approach, strategies or plans. strategy or plans. 

For a good look at someone who succeeds at a very difficult task precisely because he is so motivated and passionate that he knows he will succeed - not the first time, but eventually. 

It is that attitude that  makes him mature beyond his age, and an inspiration to all of us who want to give up when things get difficult.  

I hope you come away from it feeling that if  "seven- year old Audri  can do what he did, YOU TOO can also accomplish something you find difficult: - learning and most importantly improving your English.

All you need is to be motivated, passionate and perseverant , and as seven year old Audi says, " if you don't succeed, try, try again."

 

How Well Did You Understand? 

Let me know with a comment below

Pronununciation Tips For ESL Speakers

Pronunciation Makes an Impression!

How well do people to understand you when you speak English? Do they often have to ask you to repeat things? 

Speaking clearly enough to be understood MUST be one of your most important priorities if you live in an English country. 

Real communication involves two parties: a speaker and a listener. If the listener can't understand you, you are NOT communicating. 

 It doesn't matter how interesting you are if people have to struggle to get the point.  In fact,  if they have to keep working hard to understand you, they eventually simply stop trying.   

If you are an adult, you will probably never sound like a native speaker. NO ONE expects you to, so don't worry about it. What IS important is that you speak clearly enough for people understand you. This does NOT require getting rid of your accent. It does involve making a real effort. 

You CAN take steps to speak more clearly. I have previously written about some of the steps you can take to improve your pronunciation,  but the following article by Suzanne Bennett offers some excellent advice. Make sure you read the tips section. 

Article: 

Pronunciation  is always a big challenge when speaking a language that is not your own. No matter how hard you try, there are always some sounds in a foreign language that your tongue and lips simply will not want to make! What can you do to sound as native and natural as possible.continue reading

New Pronunciation Links, Videos and Activities

I have also added some new links to the Pronunciation Links on the right hand side of the page, as well as new videos and practice activities on the PRONUNCIATION PAGE.


Of course, as you know, singing English is also a terrific way to practice, so why don't you try out a few songs on the MUSIC PAGE. 

Working in Canada

Everything you Need to Know About Your Occupation in One Place 

 

 

Are you feeling frustrated about not making any progress in finding a job in Canada? Do you find yourself wondering what you are doing wrong? 

 

Maybe you live in the wrong city. Maybe there is no need for the kind of work you do there, or maybe you just aren't using the right strategies to find the job you want.

If you are serious about wanting to work in your own field of expertise, Working in Canada
is a very useful website created  by the Canadian government to provide people with as much information as possible about all the occupations in Canada.

The tools at Working in Canada can help you find the name and a description of what your occupation is called in Canada. It can also identify the main tasks the jobs involves and the skills required for that particular trade or occupation. 

You may think what's the point? An engineer is an engineer no matter what country you come from. Unfortunately this is NOT TRUE. The name of your occupation in your home country may actually be different than it is in Canada. As well, the job duties and the skills required to do the job may also be quite different.
 
For example, many immigrants who have always considered themselves engineers in their country are only considered high level technicians in Canada because they don't have the full requirements to be Canadian Engineers.

Canada uses the National Occupational Classification (NOC)  to  classify more than 2 million job titles in its system. Doing some research on the Working in Canada Tool will tell what you just what specific duties, skills and specific training and education are required for you to be able to work in your field of expertise.

The website can also help you find out whether your occupation is regulated or non-regulated. There are two types of jobs in Canada. Regulated occupations require you to have a license.  Non-regulated occupations do not require a license. 

Ddifferent provinces and territories regulate occupations and trades such as nurses, engineers, physicians, teachers and dentists among others, but  about 80% pf Canadian workers work in non-regulated occupations.  

If you are a foreign-trained professional, working in a non-regulated job is a good way to start your career to gain Canadian experience, or while you are waiting to become licensed in a regulated profession.

Working in Canada can also help you find out 

• what the outlook or prospects are like for your occupation, what jobs are currently available and what regions and cities they are located in, 

• what the salary rates are for that occupation in different locations, and  

• which associations and unions are related to your trade or profession.

Researching your occupation will help you learn about job opportunities and find the one that is right for you.   Click on the Working in Canada tool. You can also embed the widget on your own computer or iPhone.  

Working in Canada also has a very useful and informative Working Canada You Tube Channel   featuring  192 videos on various aspects of working and living in Canada.

The channel includes more than 70 videos on a wide range of occupations, which can give you a good idea of what duties and responsibilities are involved in a specific occupation as well as  the kind of characteristics prospective employees need to be able to do the job.

The following video is a brief tutorial on the Working in Canada site. 

Watch a Video:

Watch the following video about what a biomedical technician does on the job. There are subtitles, but try to listen ONLY and take notes on your first and second listening. Then, take the quiz below.  After that, go ahead and listen and read the subtitles at the same time.

How well did you understand? Take the quiz below. 

How did you do?

If you enjoyed this post, write a comment below, or become a subscriber.

Global heroes from Seattle

It's been almost a year since I attended the first Partners in Learning Institute in Seattle along with 49 innovative educators from all over the world. We've stayed in contact ever since on the various social networking sites, the Dirty Fifty Facebook page being the one I like most.

 All these educators have inspired and motivated not only their students, but also their fellow teachers. That's why they've been interviewed for Daily Edventures, a blog by Anthony Salcito, Vice President of Worldwide Education at Microsoft. I'm really proud and honored to be one of these global heroes in education. You can read more about what we've been doing and how we've been trying to change education and bring innovation into our classrooms. Here are the interviews in the order they were were published.

Learn from your students and don't be afraid to fail

Teaching teachers

Learning and teaching: The twins of eTwinning

Education is a fundamental right

Teaching computer programming with fun in mind

 

Technology benefits the learning process

Inspiring learners by learning

Tweet! Retweet! Share! Open the door of your classrom!

A teacher who teaches with dusty books and a chalkboard but knows to inspire kids. 

Children need assistance from adults to cope with digital literacy

Nearly everything I do now is aimed at encouraging teachers to embrace innovation in education.

Innovation doesn’t only apply to technology, but also to the way teachers inspire students. 

Technology can bring the real world into the classroom.

The present elitist system needs to be carefully dismembered into a system that recognizes that each individual is unique and gifted.

Dare to use media and technolgy!

A Partners in Learning Institute Reunion: Learn from the Masters

Sonja was our trainer at the Institute.

I look forward to the day that teachers stop thinking of technology as another ’thing‘ that they have to deal with and it truly becomes a tool that is so integrated into teaching and learning, that it becomes invisible.

They're my global heroes too.

More to come, watch this space.

Canada: We Are More

 

For many years, people have been asking Canadians to "define" Canada, or just what a Canadian is - especially since we are a young country made up of immigrants form all over the world. Two years ago Shane Koyzan, wrote and performed the poem " We Are More " at the opening ceremonies of the 2010 winter Olympics.

As we celebrate Canada Day today, I thought it would appropriate to post it
Speaking of more, the actual poem is much longer than the one performed at the Olympics.

Take the time to listen to Shane and read along more than once. It will help you to understand it better. If you are brave enough, try to say it along with him. I know it's a challenge, but it can be done !. ( Think of how good it would be for your pronunciation!)

I have posted the words to both the short AND long version of the poem.

We Are More 
a Spoken Word Poem (Video Version)
by Shane Koyzan 

We Are More 
a Spoken Word Poem (the original version)


When defining Canada
you might list some statistics
you might mention our tallest building
or biggest lake
you might shake a tree in the fall
and call a red leaf Canada
you might rattle off some celebrities
might mention Buffy Saint Marie 
might even mention the fact that we’ve got a few
Barenaked Ladies Barenaked Ladies
or that we made these crazy things
like zippers
electric cars
and washing machines
when defining Canada
it seems the world’s anthem has been
” been there done that”
and maybe that’s where we used to be at
it’s true
we’ve done and we’ve been
we’ve seen
all the great themes get swallowed up by the machine
and turned into theme parks
but when defining Canada
don’t forget to mention that we have set sparks

we are not just fishing stories
about the one that got away
we do more than sit around and say “eh?”
and yes

(Short Version starts here) 

we are the home of the Rocket  and the Great One
who inspired little number nines
and little number ninety-nines
but we’re more than just hockey and fishing lines
off of the rocky coast of the Maritimes
and some say what defines us
is something as simple as please and thank you
and as for you’re welcome
well we say that too
but we are more
than genteel or civilized
we are an idea in the process
of being realized
we are young
we are cultures strung together
then woven into a tapestry
and the design
is what makes us more
than the sum total of our history
we are an experiment going right for a change
with influences that range from a to zed
and yes we say zed instead of zee
we are the colours of Chinatown and the coffee of Little Italy
we dream so big that there are those
who would call our ambition an industry
because we are more than sticky maple syrup and clean snow
we do more than grow wheat and brew beer
we are vineyards of good year after good year
we reforest what we clear
because we believe in generations beyond our own
knowing now that so many of us
have grown past what used to be
we can stand here today

filled with all the hope people have
when they say things like “someday”

someday we’ll be great
someday we’ll be this
or that
someday we’ll be at a point
when someday was yesterday
and all of our aspirations will pay the way
for those who on that day
look towards tomorrow
and still they say someday

we will reach the goals we set
and we will get interest on our inspiration
because we are more than a nation of whale watchers and lumberjacks 
more than backpacks and hiking trails
we are hammers and nails building bridges
towards those who are willing to walk across
we are the lost-and-found for all those who might find themselves at a loss
we are not the see-through gloss or glamour
of those who clamour for the failings of others
we are fathers brothers sisters and mothers
uncles and nephews aunts and nieces
we are cousins
we are found missing puzzle pieces
we are families with room at the table for newcomers
we are more than summers and winters
more than on and off seasons
we are the reasons people have for wanting to stay
because we are more than what we say or do
we live to get past what we go through

and learn who we are
we are students
students who study the studiousness of studying
so we know what as well as why
we don’t have all the answers
but we try
and the effort is what makes us more
we don’t all know what it is in life we’re looking for
so keep exploring
go far and wide
or go inside but go deep
go deep
as if James Cameron was filming a sequel to The Abyss
and suddenly there was this location scout
trying to figure some way out
to get inside you
because you’ve been through hell and high water
and you went deep
keep exploring
because we are more
than a laundry list of things to do and places to see
we are more than hills to ski
or countryside ponds to skate
we are the abandoned hesitation of all those who can’t wait
we are first-rate greasy-spoon diners and healthy-living cafes
a country that is all the ways you choose to live
a land that can give you variety
because we are choices
we are millions upon millions of voices shouting
” keep exploring… we are more”
we are the surprise the world has in store for you
it’s true

Canada is the “what” in “what’s new?”
so don’t say “been there done that”
unless you’ve sat on the sidewalk
while chalk artists draw still lifes
on the concrete of a kid in the street
beatboxing to Neil Young for fun
don’t say you’ve been there done that
unless you’ve been here doing it
let this country be your first-aid kit
for all the times you get sick of the same old same old
let us be the story told to your friends
and when that story ends
leave chapters for the next time you’ll come back
next time pack for all the things
you didn’t pack for the first time
but don’t let your luggage define your travels
each life unravels differently
and experiences are what make up
the colours of our tapestry
we are the true north
strong and free
and what’s more
is that we didn’t just say it
we made it be.

—–