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Q: Do Chinese people ever ask you for "advice"? If yes, about what?

I have discovered in the last year that some Chinese people use me for their own personal marketing surveys but do not ask directly for advice.  For example they will show me some product and ask me to try it out (the last was a pen that had a LED light in the barrel that you use to write in the dark) and then ask me "Do you think university students in America would buy this pen? How much do you think they would pay?"  Only my close Chinese friends of 2 years or more will ask me for my opinion or advice on personal relationships or problems they have at work.  How about you?

9 years 47 weeks ago in  General  - China

 
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Posts: 3837

Emperor

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I am up-front about what i will/won't give advice on, especially if it is outside my area of expertise

 

but i am constantly asked for English advice on:

how to improve English - both students and random strangers

Exams such as TOEFL, IELTS.

Speaking competitions - speeches and practice

Personal statements - this is a grey area for me as i don't want to end up rewriting the whole thing for them (it is supposed to be theirs)

marketing advice from former students who now work in International Trade - i make it very clear this is outside my area of expertise

 

Personal relationship advice:

i am one of the few foreign female teachers on campus and we are asked all the time.

But i am careful about this area when dealing with anyone under the age of 25 and avoid discussing this topic with anyone connected to the university. 

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9 years 47 weeks ago
 
Posts: 4935

Emperor

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Business advice, all the time... "should I quit my job and go to another company instead?", "should I start my own business?"

 

Chinese are more business-oriented than I am, lol...

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9 years 47 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1838

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Yes, in many ways but most commonly:

 

- How can I improve my English?

- What country is the best or safest to send my child for study?

- How can I develop the foreign market or find new customers abroad?

- How can I make my skin as white as yours?

Hulk:

Yup...

9 years 47 weeks ago
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Scandinavian:

except of course they ask Hulk how to make the skin green, which I don't know why would be a problem, isn't it just a dip in the right river ?

9 years 47 weeks ago
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Hulk:

The real secret is merging with chlorophyll. This gives me the ability to gain energy from the sun.

9 years 47 weeks ago
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9 years 47 weeks ago
 
Posts: 7715

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Rarely, and like the above, usually in relation to 'improving' their English. Why with ' '? Cos, once I tell them, they just ignore me - cos it means they won't get the IELTS/TOEFL score of their dreams just by doing almost nothing other than hearing one little suggestion!

 

I've had a couple of others ask my 'advice' on something, but it usually goes against what they've wanted/expected/thought about... and so it takes a while to sink in that they way they think about a problem is quite different to how I think about it.

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9 years 47 weeks ago
 
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I've been asked how to put the line on a fishing rod by some total stranger.... and that is it in 3 years. Most people tell me what I should do, so I never need to ask for advice, or at least I will always have some extra advice around even though I don't need it because I am a normal thinking person. 

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9 years 47 weeks ago
 
Posts: 149

Governor

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How come you take a bath everyday? 

Isn't that wasting water?

Why do you wear perfume, it stinks?

 

...and many more stupid questions!!

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9 years 47 weeks ago
 
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I normally get advice:

 

Don't drink so much !

 

Don't smoke so much !

 

Eat this, don't eat that !

 

Go to bed early !

 

Yeah right. What a joyful life I would have  wink

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9 years 47 weeks ago
 
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I encourage everyone I meet in China to ask me any question they can think of.  About anything.  To not be afraid at all.  If a question were to pop into their head then not to have any qualms about asking it.  Any topic.  I encourage them not to feel self conscious about any perceived weakness with English.  I try to convey my genuine interest in listening to, and if I'm able, answering  their questions.

And so to the questions I'm asked...every day...

1)  Do you like Chinese food?

2)  How old are you?

3)  What's your telephone number?

4)  Ummm......Hmmmm...... Nup.  Never been asked another question by a Chinese person and I'm at 4 years and counting.

Isn't it incredible how Chinese are so lacking in any sense of curiosity!

Just when you think you've met a smart one, it turns out you haven't.

 

Sinobear:

How many money do you have/make?

Are you married? Why aren't you married?

Can I be your friend?

Can you use chopsticks?

How much did that cost?

Do you like China?

Do you like Chinese girls?

Why are you so fat?

Do you have a gun?

Can you read/write/speak Chinese?

How orfen do you go to McDonals? KFC? Pizza Hut?

Why are you slapping me across the face? Shenme is "twit"?

Ad nauseum

9 years 47 weeks ago
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9 years 47 weeks ago
 
Posts: 204

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I got 'Which cheese is the best if I want to make pizza?' while buying cheese in the local Metro.

royceH:

What was your answer?

9 years 47 weeks ago
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Vyborg:

I said: 'I don't know, I'm Italian'.

9 years 47 weeks ago
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royceH:

Hahahahaha.....  Reminds me of the time long ago when i was having a beer in a pub with a mate of mine and some bloke with a thick foreign accent,  Asian if I remember correctly, politely asks "Excuse me, do you know the time?"  To which my mate quickly responds "Sorry mate, I can't speak a word of English."

 

Upon reflection this seems quite a poor response, perhaps even smacking of racism.  But it was very funny at the time.

 


 

9 years 46 weeks ago
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In public, I am asked about business practices and managing employees so production is maintained. 

 

In private, I am asked about different lifestyles around the world. Polygamy, homosexual lifestyles, having children by different women, dating multiple boyfriends, etc. 

 

I admittedly have an open door policy to my students and co-workers. And they take full advantage of it. Also I have a psychology degree, so I guess it carries a few stereotypes with it. 

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9 years 47 weeks ago
 
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In public, I am asked about business practices and managing employees so production is maintained. 

 

In private, I am asked about different lifestyles around the world. Polygamy, homosexual lifestyles, having children by different women, dating multiple boyfriends, etc. 

 

I admittedly have an open door policy to my students and co-workers. And they take full advantage of it. Also I have a psychology degree, so I guess it carries a few stereotypes with it. 

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9 years 47 weeks ago
 
Posts: 124

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Well, according to my experiences when people asking for "advice" or something like that, they're just looking for a validation or some sort from you, but it doesn't really matter. If your opinion is similar with his/her he/she will be happy, if your opinion is different they will ignore and forget the things that you said.

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9 years 47 weeks ago
 
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All the time:"Do you know how I can leave China and go to another country?"

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9 years 47 weeks ago
 
Posts: 691

Shifu

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How can I pass TOEFL and CET4? 

How can I improve my English ?

Can you speak Chinese?

Money, GF, Age and so on...

 

The only advice I got so far is, ' Drink hot water' even if you are going nut because of  summer, flu, headache and so on... 

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9 years 47 weeks ago
 
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