Response to the Liu’s experience

I compare my American experience with Liu’s when I am reading the article. Recently, living with American students or Chinese students is also becoming a dilemma to me. In my opinion, I would suggest Liu to live in campus. First, living in McKnight’s house is not a smart decision if Liu feels uncomfortable. In addition, spending too much time with Chinese people is not useful for speaking English and knowing the American culture; as a result, studying in America becomes nonsensical if Liu staying in a Chinese speaking environment. Living in the dorm can be a best choice because dorm is not only good English environment but also a place that Chinese students can know American people and get friends. Now I live in a triple room in the dorm, my two roommates are very friendly and helpful. As all the students are all freshman who don’t know each other, so we may easy to get together and hang out with the people who live on the same floor.
Recently, I am also facing the similar question like Liu had. As I had already studied in UD for English last year, and at that time I knew a lot of Chinese friends. However, most of them do not live in campus this semester. Recently, I found my relationships with my Chinese friends are not as good as they were before. When I am trying to join the American group, I do not have many chances to hangout with my Chinese friends. On the other side, although my English progresses fast but now I still can not understand part of the American conversation and some ideas are different caused by culture differences. I am wondering whether I should live in the dorm or renting a apartment with my Chinese friends. I got the answer when I told the difficulty to my roommate, Will, ‘do not move, we will miss you’. I decided to stay for next semester. I cherish the first year college experience with my American friends.

Nonverbal Communication between China and America

Nonverbal Communication between China and America

Nonverbal communication is essential in the communication, like gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, and space. Most of them are familiar in both America and China. However, because of the culture differences, some nonverbal communications are different. For example, kissing which is normal in American greetings can be rarely seen in China; even for affection, people won’t kiss in public places. In China, hugging is also not used as common as it used in America. Especially for different sex people, they may not hug though they are close friends. In America, people like embracing for greeting. Once when I saw an American girl I met in the party in the dinning hall, she was so happy to see me and gave a hug to me. In Chinese tradition, people should control their emotions in conversations and greetings. Especially for woman, they cannot talk aloud in public place in the old time.
On the other hand, the young generation in China began to learn American greeting ways because of the globalization. Many Chinese children love Hollywood movies and American sports matches. As a result, more and more children learn western greeting ways. In my high school, students hit each others’ hands like professional NBA players do in the match.
In conclusion, most greeting ways in China are familiar with American ways; but Chinese people do not kiss and embrace a lot for greetings.

Response to “The First Four Minutes”

After reading “The First Four Minutes,” I cannot agree with the author anymore. The first several minutes of conversations between strangers are essential in their relationship development. In China, people always pay a lot attention on the first couple minutes of the conversation, because it represents the first expressions of them. In addition, everyone has their public selves and private selves. However, there are lots of differences between Chinese conversations and American conversations, like hiding many emotions and the private things in public conversations, being modest in the conversation, and avoiding showing their affection for others in public.
Hiding emotions does not mean Chinese people do not show their emotions during conversations, it means people in China do not show their emotions as much as people do in America. For example, Chinese president HU may not say he will give two puppies to his daughter as American president Obama did in his speech. In China, president’s speeches are always slow and less emotional.
Western people may get confused about Chinese people’s modesty in the conversation. For example, when I just came to America and an American student said my shoes are nice; however when I replied like ‘no, my shoes are bad’, the guy looked at me and didn’t know what to say. As in China, people always say their things are bad when the others praise their things. This is a common communication ways in China.
In China, people do not kiss with each other or hug in public places even they fall in love. People should control their emotions in public places; and if some people kiss in public places, they may get all the attention of the people around.
All in all, hiding emotions, being modest, and avoiding showing their affection are Chinese communication ways.

Myself

My name is Chenli Li, from China. I am 19 now. I live in a small town near Shanghai. Studying in America is always a dream for me, that’s why I come to UD for my college study. I like fishing, watching movies, and cooking. I am good at cooking traditional Chinese food. Like most Chinese family, I am the only child in my family. My father likes travelling very much, and he had been to many countries all around the world. My major is finance because I am good at math. Now I live in Rodney Hall A, and I have two friendly roommates, Will and Justin. In addition, I like American party. It is unbelievable that hundreds of people dance and talk in a house, so it is easy to know each other. Last week, some American guys taught me how to play football; now I know how to throw it. I love my American school life.

“Languages” in Our Lives

After I read the article “Mother Tongue” written by Amy Tan, I thought more about the language we use everyday. People use different words, different speaking ways, and different tongues when they are in different generations and situations. This feeling is growing when I try to talk with some American guys in the dorm. They have their own “words” and use slang which I never learned in Chinese English classes.
In China, the young generation also has their own “languages” which come from movies, pop songs, internet and etc. The young generation likes using some exaggerated words; for example, “super” is an adjective word being used frequently in conversations among young people. Once my mother asked me to take the trash to the trash can, I said “The distance is super far, the trash is super heavy, and I am super tired.” My mother was astonished that I use the word “super” three times in a sentence. Sometimes, people use some cusswords in the conversation; most of them are dirty words, but people can express their emotion deeply when they use these words. However, the young people avoid saying the cusswords in front seniors because this can be considered as disrespectful.
In addition, people change their speaking ways when the situation changes. In most part of China, many areas have their own dialects; even in the same area, the accent problem also exists. However, in formal situations people usually use the mandarin which every Chinese can understand. When I listen to my close friend talk to his mother, I cannot understand a word; but when he gives a speech in front of the class using mandarin, everyone can understand his words.
All in all, people have many different speaking ways, and it depends on their different ages, different situations, and the different areas they come from.