I got an e-mail the other day that really made me laugh. It was an invitation to a “Chinese Corner” held on the last Saturday of every month, giving a chance to us Mandarin learners to interact with some bonafide native speakers. Immediately, memories of countless “English Corners” in China came to mind, along with memories of myself digging more than a few cross-cultural holes. Oh, those were the days.
So am I going to attend? Damned straight. In preparation, I’m working on some tough questions and statements to stimulate discussion.
1. How do you like British food?
2. Can you use cutlery?
3. Do you like the UK? (or alternatively: What do you think of the UK?”)
4. What do you do in your spare time?
5. What do you do in your spare time in China?
6. If you could vote, would it be for Mao?
7. How will you spend your Spring Festival day?
8. We all know that the UK is a developed country. Discuss.
9. Is China still part of the Soviet Union?
10. Do you think London is a beautiful and modern city?
11. Communism for fun and profit? Discuss.
12. Do you play CS?
13. Do you like British men/women?
14. Do you want to marry a British citizen?
15. Can you ride a bike?
16. Why aren’t you wearing a Mao suit?
17. Why don’t you look Chinese?
18. How do I improve my spoken Chinese?
19. Why is Japan cooler than China? (warning: potential fight starter)
20. Have you ever heard of Da Shan?
21. Given the enormous difficulties facing China in the social, economic and environmental spheres, do you think the CCP will manage to maintain employment growth and thus social stability through a continuation of their support for reckless economic growth, or will the negative effects of the resulting rising inequality become so pronounced as to cause major disruptions among the vast rural population?
(Welcome to LSE.)