Comments on: Naive Or Dumb? MSNBC Tries To Make A Thing Out Of China’s English-Teacher-Hiring Practices

By: Ajarn Dan

Ajarn Dan — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 06:04:32 +0000

Pat Kelly is bitter because he is over 60 and will probably not be hired as an English teacher where he lives in Hua Hin, Thailand due to his age.

By: Jay

Jay — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 03:00:20 +0000

Hey Tao, I think it’s quite obvious that you just don’t like white people.

I say that with no research, no statistic, and knowing nothing about who you are, but your whole blog seems to be just as unsubstantiated so who cares.

By: mike hunt

mike hunt — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 11:36:19 +0000

then why do you have a problem with the title ‘in china, english teaching is a whites only club’

By: Frank White

Frank White — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 09:36:11 +0000

Its great to know this reporter thinks Mike Lee should feel gratitude for being openly racially discriminated against in a country where racism is completely against government policy. Shows how little respect he has for his governments laws.

By: pat kelly

pat kelly — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 09:30:53 +0000

why don’t you actually state it then?

By: The Tao

The Tao — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 09:13:37 +0000

It is apparent you have no idea what I’m implying.

By: pat kelly

pat kelly — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 09:02:15 +0000

I am not sure if I understand what you are implying – are you saying that because you have tutored three students and worked in a school briefly it qualifies you to say WITH certainty that “Actually, they’re well aware that non-white people can be native speakers.”?

Why are you bringing up the fact that Asians PREFER white teachers? That wasn’t the point you were trying to make in this article right? What you wanted to say was that the journalist misrepresented the reality, used no credible research, and wrote a poor article in general? Well your article violates all three of the points I listed. I didn’t imply or say that Asians PREFER white teachers is wrong – what I am saying is your article is so bad that you should take a moment to read over it again and see what kind of mistakes you made.

By: Logical?

Logical? — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 08:44:40 +0000

I take your point that Evans was probably paraphrased poorly. But still, I don’t think the argument that Chinese parents aren’t ignorant, they’re just irrationally biased, is going to do much to improve the “narrative”.

By: The Tao

The Tao — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 08:36:18 +0000

I have taught tutored three different Asian students of varying ages and worked at a school, though very briefly, in Beijing.

I absolutely hate using anecdotes to counter generalizations though (cause it’s too easy), and — as I’ve said twice now already — the fact that Asians PREFER white teachers was never a point of contention.

By: pat kelly

pat kelly — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 08:35:55 +0000

how do you know this? How many people have you talked to? Where is your research?

By: The Tao

The Tao — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 08:33:58 +0000

“goes on to argue that chinese people have no objections to non-whites as english teachers”

Work on reading comprehension, Mike. I did not say that. I’m well aware Asians prefer white teachers.

By: pat kelly

pat kelly — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 08:31:05 +0000

So what exactly is the reality? Where is YOUR research? All you did was insult people in this “article” by writing generalizations and have absolutely NO evidence other than your OPINION. What a joke.

By: mike hunt

mike hunt — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 08:30:29 +0000

The writer has admitted that mike lee was given an ‘honest reason’ (his skin colour) as to why he did not get the job yet then goes on to argue that chinese people have no objections to non-whites as english teachers. This whole article contradicts itself. Anthony Tao should consider a career change as journalism obviously isn’t cut out for him.

By: The Tao

The Tao — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 08:11:59 +0000

I don’t think you read this sentence correctly:

“Actually, they’re well aware that non-white people can be native speakers.”

Whether parents prefer white people or native-speaking Asians wasn’t my point. I was illustrating how the MSNBC journalist’s decision to make it seem like Evans said “Chinese parents ‘do not believe a non-white person can possibly be a native speaker’” makes Evans look stupid, and that is further evidence that this MSNBC article is stupid.

By: Logical?

Logical? — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 08:06:56 +0000

It’s funny how Tao acknowledges that Lee was given an “honest reason,” but then goes on to imply that Chinese parents have no problem with non-whites as English teachers.

So if I understand his point: they did him a favour by telling him they weren’t hiring him because their clients won’t like the colour of his skin, but in fact the clients won’t have a problem with the colour of his skin…