News Forum - How China’s private tutoring regulations are affecting online teachers

[Thaiger]

Online teachers in Thailand and elsewhere are struggling to grapple with China’s changes to its private tutoring regulations. And, the outcome is not good, as thousands of digital nomad educators are finding themselves jobless. In the past few months, big name tutoring companies that employ thousands of English teachers have announced their main clientele, chinese students, are leaving. Such big name companies as VIPKid and DaDaABC have made announcements that they would stop selling online classes taught by foreign-based tutors to comply with a series of measures that were released by China’s central government back in July. The measures essentially […]

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[DiJoDavO]

"As globalisation is on the rise, it seems China is taking a large step backwards in its efforts to help its youth be successful on the international stage." 

As if the west wants that Chinese people be successful any country the west looks down upon, will always fail on the world stage in their eyes. Always Russia bad/China bad. And if they do something well, they will get slapped with some regulations. 

Sad for those teachers of course, but could you really do this as your main job? Not just on the side? And is there no way to share contacts with those students so they can still get around the company and tutor on their own? I guess if they saw it coming a month before, they would be smart to at least share to keep in contact and see what will happen. 

You can say what you want about China though, but many of the points raised by them are actually very reasonable. The west will call it that they are taking peoples freedom away, but handing over a phone to young kids, so they can access literally anything, is really a terrible idea. Children nowadays are just hypnotized by a phone showing 20 videos with the same background music but different people doing the same dance. I have hobbies that others might not understand but really, I can't imagine that this is how some people spend almost their whole day. 

What they are doing is what every parent should have done a long time ago, but on bigger scale. This is mostly concentrated on kids and I think these rules are actually good to teach some discipline in life which nowadays a lot of children lack. 

[Rob2010]

@DiJoDavO

This is not about protecting children, this is about protecting the future CCP from too much free-thought amongst the young (I think the Junta in Thailand would love to take a similar take a similar line if they had the choice) . Economic / political Implications of this fundamental decision to bring down shutters on external influences ( if that is what it really is and Hong Kong provides all the clues ) are huge if CCP still expect to play the role of the world's number one manufacturer:  feels like East and West moving in completely opposite directions going forward.

[NCC1701A]

there are many supporters of communism and communist China on this forum. They will be along soon to explain how this is a good thing. 

 

[billywillyjones]

3 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

there are many supporters of communism and communist China on this forum. They will be along soon to explain how this is a good thing. 

Looks like Hunter sold enough paintings to make it a non issue for Dementia Joe.  The usa and others should be seriously questiong this but are silent.

[Metaluna]

6 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

there are many supporters of communism and communist China on this forum. They will be along soon to explain how this is a good thing. 

I have taught many, many Chinese graduate students from the PRC here in Thailand. I like them. They're disciplined, they prepare, they read, and they do not feel or act entitled. I also found more freedom from them to challenge orthodoxies and ask questions than I ever did with American university students. None ever asked for a safe space. And quite simply, they're smarter than the American students I taught. That is, they were more capable at learning and producing quality work.

It does not make anyone a supporter of communism to realize this and understand that America has willingly and thoughtlessly thrown away its economic, scientific, and cultural advantages since the 1980s. All so the one percent could chase profits on Wall Street. I don't think the Chinese will ever be as stupid as America in this regard. And I doubt they will ever apologize for being Chinese or let up in their financial domination. So, don't blame the Chinese. It's America's leaders that have created these conditions.

Edited November 20, 2021 by Metaluna

[NCC1701A]

9 minutes ago, Metaluna said:

I have taught many, many Chinese graduate students from the PRC here in Thailand. I like them. They're disciplined, they prepare, they read, and they do not feel or act entitled. I also found more freedom from them to challenge orthodoxies and ask questions than I ever did with American university students. None ever asked for a safe space. And quite simply, they're smarter than the American students I taught. That is, they were more capable at learning and producing quality work.

It does not make anyone a supporter of communism to realize this and understand that America has willingly and thoughtlessly thrown away its economic, scientific, and cultural advantages since the 1980s. All so the one percent could chase profits on Wall Street. I don't think the Chinese will ever be as stupid as America in this regard. And I doubt they will ever apologize for being Chinese or let up in their financial domination. So, don't blame the Chinese. It's America's leaders that have created these conditions.

like i said, they will be along soon. 

[DiJoDavO]

9 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

there are many supporters of communism and communist China on this forum. They will be along soon to explain how this is a good thing. 

 

18 hours ago, Rob2010 said:

@DiJoDavO

This is not about protecting children, this is about protecting the future CCP from too much free-thought amongst the young (I think the Junta in Thailand would love to take a similar take a similar line if they had the choice) . Economic / political Implications of this fundamental decision to bring down shutters on external influences ( if that is what it really is and Hong Kong provides all the clues ) are huge if CCP still expect to play the role of the world's number one manufacturer:  feels like East and West moving in completely opposite directions going forward.

How is less internet and less pressure on children bad? 

Ok, who knows, maybe they'll use it in their favor, but I'm talking about these rules made for these kids. 

Not all that China does is immediately bad. 

I guess some people will even blame China if they have found the cure for cancer and solve all the world problems.

[HolyCowCm]

There was an article in a newspaper I read today stating that XI is an absolute terrible leader and is doing more harm to China the country than any possible good. Can’t deny that one! 

[Convert54]

My take on this restrictions on access to western teachers and teaching material is purely to eliminate western perspectives or content that contradict CCP ideology. Or even adequate English language capacity to communicate with the global community for other than a designated minority.

Is it reactionary or is it comparable to the level of education in many western countries where it seems wealth is the key to better quality access whereas the state free but compulsory facilities are more like  containment tanks or   ?

 

[Pinetree]

On 11/19/2021 at 8:33 PM, Thaiger said:

digital nomad educators are finding themselves jobless.

There are 7.9 billion people in the world and only 1.4 billion of them are in China.  So why jobless if their teaching is digital? I do some specialist ( physics and aeronautics) teaching online, none of my students are in China. 

[Stonker]

36 minutes ago, Pinetree said:

There are 7.9 billion people in the world and only 1.4 billion of them are in China.  So why jobless if their teaching is digital? I do some specialist ( physics and aeronautics) teaching online, none of my students are in China. 

"jobless" because no-one else would employ the unqualified and largely unmonitored dross that was providing these services.

[Pinetree]

18 minutes ago, Stonker said:

"jobless" because no-one else would employ the unqualified and largely unmonitored dross that was providing these services.

haha like it, wish I had the courage to make that post. 

[Stonker]

5 hours ago, Pinetree said:

haha like it, wish I had the courage to make that post. 

To be fair, there are plenty of excellent on-line teachers around, and some are outstanding - these just aren't them.

[meiguolaohu]

Many online English teachers are not native English speakers.

Foreign teachers in mainland China classrooms are required to be native speakers.

The Ministry of Education only wants Chinese students exposed to native English speakers for quality.

Especially teachers from the USA and Great Britain.

[EdwardV]

“Now, as the China’s population is aging, the government is pushing for families to have more children. The new regulations are thought to focus on lessening the mental and financial stress on parents.” - the second point might be valid. However I think many Chinese parents will find ways around that to advance their child. The first point won’t make much if any difference. The Chinese demography is already terminal. They lack enough women of child baring age to rebuild their population base. That’s even if they wanted to have children which they don’t. The WHO projects there will be half as many Chinese in 2300 as there are now. Problem is that was based on data prior to 2020 census. The new data points to the half date being closer to 2070. There is even speculation from Chinese academics and demographers the government over counted their under 35 population by over 100M. If true, the half date could be as early as 2050. China is now the fastest aging population in world history. This isn’t just a China problem, most advanced countries are in the same boat. Just like with many things the Chinese are better at it then everyone else. The one child policy worked too well. 

[Stonker]

13 hours ago, meiguolaohu said:

Many online English teachers are not native English speakers.

Foreign teachers in mainland China classrooms are required to be native speakers.

The Ministry of Education only wants Chinese students exposed to native English speakers for quality.

Especially teachers from the USA and Great Britain.

That makes sense, but it relies on two assumptions to work:

i) that all native English speakers, especially from the USA and Great Britain, speak the best English.

ii) that native English speakers make the best English language teachers.

Unfortunately both assumptions are badly wrong.