A new problem

While I was cooking the other day, Kaitlyn wants to watch TV. Noggin was playing Dora at the time. She told me she doesn’t like Dora anymore, the only reason she will watch is she likes learning Spanish.

That night, I mentioned about a new girl in her classroom. She is Chinese who can barely speak any English. I asked Kaitlyn if they’re friends. Kaitlyn told me no, she doesn’t want to speak Chinese at school, and that girl always bug her when she is doing her work. (well, that’s a different issue we talked about later about helping others). I asked her why she doesn’t like Chinese. She said she does’t know, but she likes Spanish better, it’s more fun. Then I realize we have a bigger problem.

It wasn’t long ago, she told Ms. Anny she “doesn’t speak English” (in English). Which I know it’s probably 70% correct. Now, she speaks English everyday, everywhere, to everybody, unless you ask her to speak Chinese. Sometimes, she even forgets about the Chinese words. She prefers to talk to grandpa better than grandpa, probably because grandma speaks better English ;-) Amazing how fast kids pick up a foreign language at this age! Part of this is our fault, we respond to her in English more and more nowadays, simply because it’s easier. We need to change that habit – pretend we don’t understand what’s her talking about if she speaks English at home! Or I need to practice my Chinese here more...

Secondly, there is no good Chinese program teaching kids overseas at all! I only hope she could read and speak when she grows up, forget about writing part, unless I send her back to China for some time. One reason I’m hesitated to take her to a Chinese School on the weekend is because 1)all kids speaks English there, 2)teachers use textbook from China that doesn’t make sense for kids here, 3) there are no training on teachers themselves! Why should I waste money and time? We could do a better job at home if we have time.

Why can’t anyone create learning tools like “Dora the Explorer” allowing kids enjoy learning a different language? Learning should be fun for kids, not as punishment. I have to admit this is part of the culture/education system difference. Under current education system in China, kids are taught to study for exams, not to think and ask, of course not to have fun. I’m always so amazed about all kinds of creative materials used by schools here. They are not complicated, but kids enjoy it. The kids in China are taught to copy good things better/faster but not create themselves. Well, even if these material were given to a Chinese teacher, the outcomes are still different, we’re more focused on academics than socially/creative skills. If someone could develop a good program promoting learning Chinese, they might make good profit in business, haha...

Does this mean western culture has stronger influence in today’s world (of course) than Asian cultures that may gradually faded out? How many influential scientists/philosopher/artists were Chinese in the past hundred years? How many students in China know much traditions/literature at school? In China, how much of today’s lifestyles are influence by western technology rather than traditional culture? I may be one of those who don’t know much of either, and I’m sure I’m not alone out there. So what should I tell my daughter, to learn a culture/language she doesn’t use it much, doesn’t know much about it, only because of her ancestor, or she should go forward with what she likes?