Sometimes when learning a new language, we learn proper grammar and pronunciation, but we forget emotional context.

Terri Morgan writes an excellent article about this when discussing communciation challenges between Chinese and US businesses. Take a look if you are interested: http://www.chinasuccessstories.com/2009/05/28/language-communication-differences/

I can relate to this article, because the author cites a very common mistake that well meaning Chinese make when talking to westerners.

In the past I have worked for a few language schools in Beijing. From time to time my supervisors would call or text with the statement "You had better..", such as "You had better arrive at 3pm instead of 4pm," or "You had better come tommorrow." Somtimes even "you had better teach this way".

Each time I ended up feeling a little irritated, wondering if Chinese managers were just pushy or rude. However, after spending some time in China, I realized we both were misunderstanding each other. 

This is because, as Terri points out:

in American English, the phrase "You'd better..." is often considered a challenge or a threat. "You'd better do what I say or you will suffer the consequences." is a phrase children may hear from their parents and others. It's an implied order. It provokes an immediate negative response and may cause an American to prepare for a fight. "

She continues by providing the direct Chinese translation:

In China, the Chinese phrase "你好做..." or "好是你..." is polite and very considerate. It reflects caring for the other person's well-being. The core idea is that whatever is being suggested will be helpful to the person. "今天下雨了。好是你带伞子。" may be translated as "It's raining today. You'd better take an umbrella." The implication is that the speaker is genuinely concerned about the other person's health and is advising him or her to be prepared. Unfortunately, the result of this word choice in English is to imply that something bad will happen if the person does not take an umbrella. The courtesy intended by the speaker is rendered as a threat to the listener.

So Westerners out there, if a Chinese person tells you "you'd better....", remember they are trying to be polite.

For all you Chinese readers out there, you had better not say "you had better".  Maybe try "it would be better if you..."

Can anyone else give an example of this sort of thing happening?

www.glexchange.net

One of the benefits of being Western in China is that from time to time you will have an opportunity to do a modeling job. I had a chance to be photographed for my Chinese school's new brochure. I was worried about my bad haircut but I think things came out all right. See if you can find me!

http://www.glexchange.net/images/GL%20brochure09-web.pdf

If the link dosen't work you can find it at www.glexchange.net

Recently I was also an extra for a kung fu movie. I'll post the photos from that soon.

I'm happy that spring has finally made its way north to Beijing. The warm weather hasn't really kicked in yet, but I'm down to two layers of clothing, which is a start. Sometimes I miss my old home of Shenzhen in the south, but then again Beijing dosen't have an insane typhoon season so I guess I shouldn't complain.

It's exciting to see plant life returning to the city in the form of green fuzz and white flowers popping out of trees. I took a cab by Tiananmen at night after bowling this weekend and was treated to the surreal sight of trees filled with white blossoms and hanging lights. 

My Mandarin school also released an online newsletter for March.

Some of you might find it interesting because it features interviews with a grad student from Finland, a translator and mother from Germany, and a British woman who used to work with addicts in the UK.

Check it out:

http://www.glexchange.net/Newsletter/Jan-Mar/Newsletter-3.html

It's facinating to see how people of all shapes and sizes somehow all end up in Beijing studying Mandarin. It makes life here really interesting.