GuestBob

Mar 06, 2015 16:02

Around China : GuestBob commented on news French Man’s Organs Save 4 Lives in China

The picture used in this article is from another story about organ donation which was recently reported. Images of this nature should not be treated as clipart. Full Comment>>

GuestBob

Sep 04, 2014 08:03

Around China : GuestBob commented on news CCTV Investigates Illegal English Teaching Industry in China

Although I do agree that the employers should bear the brunt of fines when an institution is busted, I don't agree that those working illegally are always passive victims. Ignorance is no defense, nor is stupidity: if you are going to take the word of an employer over information that is clearly displayed on ... Full Comment>>

GuestBob

Mar 15, 2014 22:03

Around China : GuestBob commented on news 60 Math Teachers From Shanghai To Lead Workshop in England to Improve National Level

The teachers from China are going to the UK as advisers to a number of "centers of excellence" which Gove/Truss want to set up to help develop maths teaching in the UK. The spur for the initial ridiculous idea (why yes, another pointless initiative rather than a revision of school funding based on real need) was ... Full Comment>>

GuestBob

Mar 15, 2014 10:27

Around China : GuestBob commented on news 60 Math Teachers From Shanghai To Lead Workshop in England to Improve National Level

Coming from Michael Gove's Ministry, does this surprise you? Startling headline grabbing policy with absolutley nothing of practical substance behind it. "Free Schools" comes to mind... Full Comment>>

GuestBob

Mar 15, 2014 07:53

Around China : GuestBob commented on news 60 Math Teachers From Shanghai To Lead Workshop in England to Improve National Level

Michael Gove is an idiot and Elizabeth Truss is his prophet. The reasons Shanghai schools perform well in maths is because they are well resourced (teachers in Shanghai spend a huge amount of time doing in-service training and are very well paid compared to other places in China), have a positive demographic bias in ... Full Comment>>

GuestBob

Feb 26, 2014 19:07

Around China : GuestBob commented on news After Malfunctions of China MA60, Manufacturer Applying for Suspension of Flights

I have a thing for aircraft so I took a sniff at some past incident reports involving this aircraft and good lord is it awful: the accident repeatedly involve the undercarriage. Again and again. And they have become more frequent over time. That shows scent regard for safety and I can see why NZ banned this aircraft ... Full Comment>>

GuestBob

Feb 25, 2014 09:07

Around China : GuestBob commented on news China is Third Most Popular Country with International Students

It's a little dated but the "Education Statistics Yearbook of China 2005-2008" notes that in 2008 there were a little over 50,000 overseas students studying at undergraduate level in China and a bit over 10,000 at postgraduate level. 45,000 students studying non-degree language courses. This is up from 30,000 and ... Full Comment>>

GuestBob

Feb 19, 2014 12:02

Around China : GuestBob commented on news Real Estate Company ‘Makes it Rain’, About 100,000 RMB Worth

Google translate bu hao. Wo ting bu dong. :( Full Comment>>

GuestBob

Feb 19, 2014 09:22

Around China : GuestBob commented on news Real Estate Company ‘Makes it Rain’, About 100,000 RMB Worth

This is the second "silly money" story regarding real estate companies in Henan which has hit the news in recent weeks. Another firm in Zhengzhou held a press conference to show off how much it was giving its staff in bonuses - which in some cases topped two million a time. Call me crazy, but I don't think it's a ... Full Comment>>

GuestBob

Feb 17, 2014 16:59

Blogs : GuestBob commented on hadleyj09 's blog Why do you wanna live in China? (Because I love China)

Five years might look rutted but it's handy if you want to do a longitudinal study of undergraduate language learners. That's the kind of thing that ensures your time in China is useful and looks good on a CV. Full Comment>>

GuestBob

Feb 17, 2014 16:46

Blogs : GuestBob commented on hadleyj09 's blog Why do you wanna live in China? (Because I love China)

No I won't have to explain myself on those terms because I don't do that and I'd never do that. Again though, why would you work in a kindie if you don't want to have a career in early years education? Sure, experience doesn't readily transfer to unrelated areas but it's your problem if you're not working in your ... Full Comment>>

GuestBob

Feb 17, 2014 12:17

Articles : GuestBob commented on news Expats in China: What Lessons Do They Take Away?

If this is a sample of "Whichoffshore's" expert advice then I certainly wouldn't pay for it. Full Comment>>

GuestBob

Feb 17, 2014 12:12

Blogs : GuestBob commented on hadleyj09 's blog Why do you wanna live in China? (Because I love China)

EFL experience in China isn't useless if you want to be a pre-sessional EAP tutor. EFL experience in China isn't useless if you want to work in International Student Recruitment. EFL experience in China isn't useless if you want to work in specialist educational language support in places like London. EFL experience ... Full Comment>>

GuestBob

Feb 13, 2014 08:23

Around China : GuestBob commented on news Saipan, Chinese Women’s New Destination for “Birth Tourism”

If they can afford to fly to Saipan to give birth then they're not exactly down at heel: give me your smooth, your moneyed, your middle classes yearning to by designer handbags. The internationally mobile engine of a global economy. Full Comment>>

GuestBob

Feb 12, 2014 11:36

Blogs : GuestBob commented on hadleyj09 's blog Why do you wanna live in China? (Because I love China)

Studying or publishing is important but I don't agree that experience in China is time wasted when it comes to working in education. I am sure we could toss anecdotes back and forth and not come to a objective conclusion on this point though. Full Comment>>

GuestBob

Feb 12, 2014 09:44

Articles : GuestBob commented on news Ailments in the East: Looking at Traditional Chinese Medicine Today

A ten year audit of the TCM related research publish in the "Chinese Medical Journal" concluded that: "The majority of the research reports described preliminary findings and very few controlled clinical trials in human subjects were reported. Further applied studies will be required to demonstrate the clinical ... Full Comment>>

GuestBob

Feb 12, 2014 09:13

Blogs : GuestBob commented on hadleyj09 's blog Why do you wanna live in China? (Because I love China)

Staying in a nice place is good advice but it's not always possible. People can want something different for a range of reasons and sometimes better opportunities do come up elsewhere. I have moved twice and am still batting three for three with decent jobs. I would say that going to an in-person interview is ... Full Comment>>

GuestBob

Feb 11, 2014 19:00

Blogs : GuestBob commented on hadleyj09 's blog Why do you wanna live in China? (Because I love China)

JayKnox is the Byron of the expat world: a new Romantic hero, only he has the strength and sensibility to look directly into the darkness that lies within every laowai's soul. Maddened by a lack of protein, he wanders a bleak and ashy wilderness, forever cursed to search for an ever elusive beauty. His voice, a ... Full Comment>>

GuestBob

Feb 10, 2014 20:20

Blogs : GuestBob commented on hadleyj09 's blog Why do you wanna live in China? (Because I love China)

There's nothing wrong with being positive about one's life and work, or even about China - I am guilty of that crime myself, with aggravation - but could we at least pretend that punctuation is more than just a means of decorating tweets? I know this is a blog post but come along now: "he talked about [how] racism ... Full Comment>>

GuestBob

Feb 10, 2014 19:51

Blogs : GuestBob commented on hadleyj09 's blog Why do you wanna live in China? (Because I love China)

"I am young and dumb compared to what I will one day become." This statement shines like the accidental quarter in a washing machine's lint filter. Full Comment>>

GuestBob

Feb 10, 2014 19:00

Articles : GuestBob commented on news A Step Up: Do International Schools Really Give Children an Edge?

International schools are so varied (from set-up-yesterday by the local Bo Daguanxi to internationally accredited IB hothouses) that I think this article is facetious. Full Comment>>

GuestBob

Feb 10, 2014 18:41

Articles : GuestBob commented on news The Stigma of Mental Illness in China: Past, Present and Future

Law is one thing, practice is another. Although the gap between legislation and reality is narrowing, and I like the direction of the new legislation, I feel obliged to point out that homosexuality was classified as a mental illness in China until 2003. Despite the fact that it has been removed from the official ... Full Comment>>

GuestBob

Feb 10, 2014 18:34

Around China : GuestBob commented on news British Girl Working as an Aupair in China is Shocked by Wealth

I skimmed her article - I have no intention of actually reading such bloggy tripe properly - and the only thing which struck me was that she has developed an antipathy towards recruiters and employment agents as well. No surprise given that she also doesn't meet the published requirements for a work visa, but it is ... Full Comment>>

GuestBob

Feb 10, 2014 18:26

Around China : GuestBob commented on news 6,525 Police Officers in Dongguan Conduct Citywide Raid on Illicit Businesses

6525 / 42 = 155. That's alot of police for a single business. I know there was a meth village in Guangdong which was shut down with hundreds of riot police the other month - and that seemed pretty justified - but if the numbers are correct then this is just headline grabbing. Full Comment>>

GuestBob

Feb 10, 2014 18:21

(Beijing) Features : GuestBob commented on news The Expat’s Guide to Living in Beijing’s Hutongs

No hutong house in Beijing is 700 years old and the city doesn't experience much of a summer "Monsoon". If you want a "real China" experience then come and live in a small city in Anhui or Henan - it's real because it's brash, concrete, has more money than culture and although you might be able to take a dump ... Full Comment>>