'FOREIGNERS?"

     Chinese people have many reasons for learning English and foreign culture. Some plan to study abroad. Others hope to travel abroad for business or pleasure. But not everyone in China expects to leave the country. Many people study language and culture so they can communicate more freely with "foreigners" right here in China.
        If that's you, one of the first cultural pieces of information you need to know is that many of China's foreigner visitors don't like to be called "foreigners." It's OK to call us international visitors, or better yet, just "Germans," Canadians," Australians," and so on.
        Another word you may hear us international visitors use to describe each other is "expat." This word, however, is used by one international visitor to describe another international visitor.

      EXPATS IN CHINA

ARTICLES

          One of the easiest ways to learn about the lives of international visitors in China is to read some of the articles they have written.  To read some of these articles, click here.
       If you would like to see the perspective of cross-cultural couples, from the viewpoint of an American living in China, click here.  
Or, click here to read read some articles written from the perspective of a "foreigner" in China.
       Perhaps you want to read about an American's view on raising kids. We have two articles for you. You can click here or here.
       Today China, perhaps due to foreign influence, is enjoying the coffee culture. You can read to improve your English, and learn about the coffee culture in China. Just click here.

SO, WHAT IS A FOREIGNER?
                 When you think of "foreigners" in China, what do you mean? Germans? Canadians? How about Asians? Yes, Asians from Korea and Japan, as pictured above, are also "foreigners."
               I was a guest speaker at the 2013 4th Asian Leadership Network, hosted in Beijing. Although people from all over the world are welcome in the network, attendees are primarily from China, Korea and Japan, it is still a real INTERNATIONAL event.
               So, when you are looking for a "foreigner" so you can imitate their English, you'd better not say, "I need a foreign teacher." Foreigner doesn't mean western, it means someone from another country, even if they look like you.