How to make friends with foreigners?
By charine
@charine (34)
China
February 27, 2008 11:30pm CST
I read a book yesterday about how to make friends with foreigners,which is wroten by a foreigner. He felt annoyed by the attitude from Chinese people. They treat them as a tool to improve their oral English.
What do you think about this? and how do you treat your foreigner friends?
7 responses
@mensab (4200)
• Philippines
28 Feb 08
if he sees it that way, then he will not be able to appreciate the culture of chinese. i don't think the chinese people see him as a tool. chinese would just like to learn the language. there is no better way to learn the language but from the native speakers. that is not using, that is making friends and making cultural exchange and contact.
1 person likes this
@madlees (1377)
• India
28 Feb 08
Yes mensab, I also accept what you are saying.. One can learn the tongue easily if they could converse with the native speakers, only then you get the pronunciation right. It is better than learningfrom CD's..
@charine (34)
• China
28 Feb 08
Maybe he doesn't understand Chinese culture.However,In his book, what i can see is that some Chinese people are crazy to learn English and he may make others feel uncomfortable,which we could say be in bad manner. We not only treat them friendly,but also remmber that we should be in manner.When we talk with foreigners,we represent all Chinese people and our nation.
@mattwilkie (278)
•
13 Jan 09
I have travelled a lot of the world and he should feel lucky that people want to speak English rather than them expecting him to speak Chinese. Then the complaint would be how ignorant people are that they didnt accept him as a friend and would chat without him understanding.
I find in every country i have visited that people will naturally try to speak what english they do know not just for language improvement but also out of respect the same way you would welcome someone into your home. Im currently learning Cebuano (in the Philippines) and we have a Cebuish coversation most of the time as my language improves. It allows people to learn from my English and also allows me to learn the correct sounds of the words.
@theanh19752004 (1)
• Vietnam
14 May 09
I want to speak as well as writing Englsih well so I try to make a freind with a foreigner if he is Englsih it would be a great because he can correct my pronunciation or grammar.
@madlees (1377)
• India
28 Feb 08
There are many foreigners (that is to us, Indians), who come to India. They try to speak hindi or someother tongue which will make it easier for them while spending their time here. I have seen many of them talking nicely in Tamil, Hindi etc. They learn the language quickly when they speak to the natives. It will be easier that way. When the English goes to China, he expects them to talk in English but would not let them learn English. Is that right? I went to Calcutta without basic knowledge of either Hindi or Bengali. I learnt to speak Bengali very easily because I could converse with the other bengalis..
@UntrueLife (503)
• China
28 Feb 08
I'm from Chinese.Absolutely,I don't think so!Yes,I want to improve my english,and i find it is a right rank.Is there a problem? The answer is no,If somebody think their just like a tool for us,I just say maybe he is...
@charine (34)
• China
28 Feb 08
You misunderstand me.In his eyes,he can not understand the way we learn English from foreigners , the way we treat them and our manner. They consider friends as companies.However, we always make the relationship between people complex in China. We are utilitarian someway.
@Kemnxiao (11)
• China
11 Oct 08
Yeah,I think that it is unfair.English is a universal language,everyone wants to make good use of it to communicate with more and more friends,including foreign friends.I am Chinese,if you want to improve your oral chinese,I will be glad to teach you(my E_mail:xiaoqiping010@gmail.com),I never think you as a tool forever..we just would like to learn English,it is convenient to talk with you~!!This is our wish!!
@yannycui (376)
• China
28 Feb 08
I studied MBA in US for two years and made lots of good friends there. We hung out together, tasted resturant together, went on a trip together and even more I lived in one of my American friend's house for a long time. It is very easy to make friends with Americans. Most of them are open-minded, warm-hearted and responsible. They like to take care to others and help others who are in trouble. One of my friends, Patty, is my sister now. I enjoyed playing with them and talking with them. I learnt a lot from them, not only languange but also culture. They learnt Chinese history and culture from me at the time.
