The beginning of any new academic semester is fraught with inevitable required adjustments. The post-graduate students (pgs) are no exception. They are required to take one semester of oral English with a foreign teacher. Most pgs have had prior undergraduate experiences with this inconsequential course where the grade does not count and more often than not, the foreign teacher has a guitar and only knows how to teach English songs. The pgs have a very strong preconceived idea of what to expect from their oral English class.
As the pgs approach their 4th floor oral English classroom they are confronted by a 200 cm x 200 cm banner.
They have no idea what “Chingland” means and “Chinglish Spoken Here” goes directly against and is directly opposed to their prior teaching that Chinglish is no good. This is the pgs first indication that something may be different.
As they approach the classroom door they look puzzled and double check the room number.
As the pgs open the door, their jaws drop, they freeze in position and get a “deer in the headlights” look. Again, they double check the assigned classroom number.
As they slowly enter the room there is a Chinese buzz. The foreign teacher actually looks like a real professor. The professor loudly announces, “This is an English class and this is an English classroom. Why am I hearing Chinese? If you want to practice your Chinese leave.”
A hush falls over the room. The pgs ask permission to be seated. The professor advises that those pgs who have brought their books and a writing utensil may be seated. All others must leave and never return unprepared again. Those who did not bring their books or writing utensils are told to leave but they remain frozen in time and space. The professor explains that coming to a pg class at China’s #8 most famous university is intolerable kindergarten behavior and the guilty students are ordered to leave.
Sometimes an entire first class must be cancelled and rescheduled at a punitive time.
On the very first day of the semester the professor draws the line in the sand and demands that the pgs act like mature, responsible, serious students or get out. They have never had such an experience in their prior 16 years of education. They are in shock!
Fortunately, the professor knows how to bring the pgs out of shock and within minutes the classroom is filled with laughter as everyone settles down to begin their semester of fun with English acquisition.
Read the download page article First Day Student Culture Shock
The students in this university are so lucky,they have got the first class English education all over China,this kind of environment is like living abroad,maybe better than abroad,because it is more friendly.
Yes, the revolution has begun,gradually.
Try to prompt our English mental lexicon.
Yes, that is perfect,a perfect environment.
Perfect practise makes perfect.
This morning, I had a special experience with Pro. Martin and all other 16 new classmates. It was my first time to be with a foreigner for so long time and listen to him speaking English constantly for nearly 2 hours. It was a start of “learn English” instead of “study English” as we Chinese students would always do in English course during our last 16 years. As Pro. Martin says, we certainly will have a lot of fun on the way of “learn English”. I really look forward to it.
Mr. Wolff is my first foreign teache and also the first foreigner I have ever talked to face to face. I had no idea about how an America should be，neither a lesson of holistic English ——— but Mr. Wolff brought these to me ——— in the manner of America. It is something all new I have never heard.
One of my classmates said： foreign teacher is a terrorist. Maybe she was greatly shocked and found something unacceptable. But in my mind，I can not wait to see what will be shown by Mr. Wolff next，I believe it is funny and useful for my advancement of English study. I am ready to enjoy.
When I came to the 4th floor, I was so shock that the students all had a red hat. I was told to buy a book otherwise I can’t enter the class in the morning, I was so curious about the teacher. Yes, everything was so different. We have a very strict, interesting and responsible teacher, there are so many assignments that we hadn’t experienced before. In a word, I look forward to this special oral English course.
My first reaction to the distinctive classroom and the strict professor was that students in this class would not easily survive if they don’t learn by heart. It was really a bit terrible. Later on, we found that what you said was intriguing. Under the direction of the teacher, the atmosphere of English speaking was formed gradually. We listened to the teacher seriously, and spoke English in a small voice at times. Seriously, this kind of teaching is exactly what we need.
The first class of oral English course was impressive. The professor is a foreign teacher, he is an old man with a beard, very humorous, but strict. He showed us an unheard-of oral English class. His humor made us laugh loudly, but we fear of his strict more or less. Fortunately, we have realized that our environment in English learning was terrible in past years, and now we have an opportunity to learn the real English through the professor’s help. Let’s join in the revolution and throw off the “Chinglish”.
When I knocked the door nervously and then came into the door, oh, what I saw was Santa Claus !I was told to show him the workbook before I realized that he was not Santa Claus actually.
After being permited to be seated, I found professor was really strict because any one broke the rules would be punished.
I had to say that Professor Martin Wolff was the first foreign English teacher I had ever met. and was shocked not for his striction because it was reasonable but for his humor in English lessons and totally different style of teaching! I never saw a Chinese teacher say “I like teaching and speaking with student even though I had retired .” I have to say that I just like him though my English is just so so.
I could use supercalifragilisticexpialadocious to describe professor and enjoyable to the post-graduate students .
Chinglish？ What is Chinglish? Looking at the words in a remarkable red banner, I was puzzled.
With doubts I knocked the door. A man looked like Santa Claus queried me: “Where is your yellow book , no book, no come!”. Oh, I was rather taken aback, it took me back into the real world “He is not Santa Claus but my rigorous oral English teacher!”
With beating hearts and some nervousness, we began the class.
Wow, so different, so funny and so unexpected. Professor Martin brought us a friendly entertainment atmosphere instead of a rigorous academic education. I was greatly fascinated by this “art work”.
During the class, I got that the aim of “holistic English ” was to facilitate us self-study, increase our knowledge or expand our world view, and also to embolden us in developing an ethical standard , increase confidence in oral communication..
Now, I was little nervous but much confidence.
What an impressive and different English class I had undergone last Monday morning. Professor Martin is so strict for us which is good to me, because I used to be idle on English learning. We will learn not only how to improve our oral English level, but also how to cultivate a right attitude and spirit for our study and work on his class. I believe that I will change my CHINGLISH into real ENGLISH someday with Professor Martin’s way. I expect to approach the actual English palace！
When I stood outside room 416, I hesitated, for the room’s furnishings are not like a classroom, but I went in, and just sat down. Then, an amiable foreigner came in and I considered he must be my spoken language teacher. What I have not anticipated was he asked me to go out because I did not buy the English book. Oh, my god! I was out of the classroom. I thought he was a strict man. However, his class was full of laugh and his humors impressed me. I hope I can have a good time with teacher and classmates.
Oh, God! So many mottos on the wall! This was the best shock when I came in and sat down nervously. Every one of us had a red had, and we wore it, so,it looked like a tour team. I was so excited that I made a mistake when I wrote my English name on a piece of white paper.
I had to say Professor Martin wolff was not the first foreign English teacher I had ever met, but he was the most interesting and strictest one. He told us his family, his teaching experience, and his rule-something about “P” and “F”.
I believe in him, I’m sure if I follow his concept – Holisitic English,which needs us drinking, eating, talking and dreaming English, my English would be very well. So interesting, just have a fun!
The first day I was told to be get out for I didn’t take the workbook when I entered the class, I was really shocked and felt very shame for that. And I was very grateful for the teacher becuase he let me return to the class when I got the book. In that class, we will speek English and think about English all the time. I think this is a good chance for us to practice our spoken English. Practise makes perfect. We have a very strict but also very interesting foreign teacher. He told us that we will be completely different if follow the way he teaches us. I really look forward to that.
What a harsh man my teacher is! This was my first feeling when the class just began. The old man who looked like Father Christmas asked us to make an English name, to note some messages on the blackboard. He gave us a red hat each and told us to wear it on the campus. I have not met a teacher like him during my undergraduate life.
Gradually, I found that the humorous old man was very interesting. He made jokes with us, called one of my friends “Police” and told some stories. I looked around and found the place where I studied was just like a café. After the end of the class, I felt in love with the course and the teacher who I found a word,“amusing”, to describe.
That first oral English class here was deeply impressive in my life! When I arrived at the classroom, I was surprised by the way in which students were seated. Six classmates were form into a group, face to face, all of us confusing. Besides, there was a red cap on the desk, which we asked each other what the use of. I was nervous in the first class because professor Martine only speak English from the beginning to the end, and I can not quite follow him. But, I know this way of learning English would actually improve my spoken English. Thus, I am much obliged to you for making up such wonderful atmosphere of learning English.
I entered a strange classroom for oral English and had a special experience there last Monday afternoon. All the seats were surounded in circles next to desks and many colorized banners were pasted on walls in the classroom. A dumpy oldster with white hair and a red hat，who was pretty much the same as the KFC but looked so strict，was walking up and down. It was my first time to near a foreigner for such a long time. I was a little nervous and perplexed，but sometimes the oldster was humorous and the classroom was filled with laughter. Maybe my mute English will be improved here, I look forward to it.
Our first English class was cancelled and rescheduled at the night because we did not bring our books. We began to know this was a first class that different to all the class I have acquired. When we had prepared our English book and come back to 4th floor oral English classroom, we felt shock and within minutes the classroom is filled with laughter, and teacher is very strict, interesting and responsible. I really hope we can have a enjoyable time together.
I’ve been studying English for about 16 years. During these years, I’ve been taught in approximate ways so the fun of English learning fades day after day. But the first day of this new semester, something changed. I met my first foreign teach, Doctor Wolff, kind of strict. But he’s one of the most responsible English teacher I’ve ever seen. Honestly, I did shock at the beginning. However, when I looked around the room, everything attracted me, colorful phases on walls, smart red hats neatly placed on clean desks…Doctor Wolff treats us like his child and I always believe that every father loves his kids. Holisitc English is a new approch for me to experince, I do wanna to follow our teacher and enjoy the new jouney.
I was nervous before I went to attend the oral English class because I am very,very poor in oral English.And I am also nervous when speaking to an English speaker.In that time,I can’t help speaking “Chinglish”.When I came to the “Chingland”,I was puzzled first but soon I put my heart at rest,because I could speak Chinglish here and no one would laugh at me for my poor English.Well,in my first class,I was really nervous and tired anyway,because I was afraid of missing something and had to pay all my attention to listen to Pro. Martin,a kind but strict proffessor.However,I wish that I will have a good time and a great progress in my English on this happy “Chingland”.
The first glance of the HEL is very impressive; it is more like a café than a traditional teaching lab. And what is more impressive me is that, because of some misunderstanding, there are 30 students fail to bring their textbook, and unlike the other teacher, martin strictly insist us to get our book before we enter class room. This is the fist time that I know the power of principle, because students learned that they should do well preparation before they start. This is the most precious thing that I got from martin on my first class day.
When I approached the 4th floor, I shocked by the scene that many classmates were kept out of the classroom. “No book,you get out.” the only words I could hear at that time. I thought that the teacher means business. And the subsequent class confirmed what I thought.
“I’m not Father Christmas,and I’m not KFC man.” He’s so strict and harsh with his students. In addition, his class is quite distinctive.Not only the phase “I’m supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”,but the tongue twister.
There’s no doubt that the first day is confused. I think the different cultures make the outcome.But I do trust that Pro. Matin will give us another distinctive English acquisition.
I’ve never talked with foreign teacher, so there’s a little tense before I walked in the room., this lesson would be more and more difficult?! But I found I was wrong when Pro. Wolff began to speak, it’s so surprised that I can hear more from professor. Suddenly, I found more confidence that I can speak English ,I can use English as my mother language. I get more fun from this lesson, which I’ve never accepted in other English class. The fun will take me to touch the goal and make me interested in English .Enjoy english and enjoy the lesson, it’s my aim.
Yes, yes, I must say that the things written in this article is actually true. Yes, I am in shock. I had several foreign teachers before, but none of them like Prof. Martin. Prof. Martin is really a special teacher. Did your English teacher tell you a password in the first class before? Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Did your oral English teacher tell you the questions of your final exam in the first class? And one of the questions is a tongue twister? I know that I will have special English classes I never imagined before. It may bring me a new attitude about learning English. I really look forward to my oral English classes.
To be short, what made me shock was the strict foreign teacher who had a strong personality. In his class, no Chinese but English, every time you come to this class you must take your textbook along with you and put the red hat with”SPEAK ENGLISH” printed on. If you don’t obey to the rules you will no doubt be asked to leave.It make me feel rather fear and nervous for I don’t know when I will forget to take my textbook or blurt out some Chinese words during the class. On the other hand, we will have a lot of assignments to handle, if you don’t want to get an “f”,you must be care to deal with them.
I was taught by foreign teachers during my middle school time. But I don’t like to be taught by them. They often asked us to sing songs and to play games, which were so boring. I felt that they treated us as babies and the class looked like a kindergarten.
On the first day of Holistic English, I changed my thought. Mr. Wolff is not a young boy. All the foreign teachers I have met before are also students learning in China. Mr. Wolff is a real old teacher teaching in china. I am looking forward to a new experience with foreign teacher.
In the first class ,I felt terribly excited for which is the first time for me to interact with a foreign teacher.
But one thing that I couldn’t follow the teacher very well puzzled me.So I have determined to practise my spoken English just from now.
One more thing I want to declare is that our foreign teacher is like the the old man who is the begainer of KFC.Aha！
A red hat? The Martin’s class each person must wear a red hat? Ah, it would not be any organization or political party? This is my first reaction. But after listening to Martin, some passionate speech, I feel that this lesson is quite interesting. For example, there is no textbook can not enter my classroom; in the classroom, said Chinese please go. Around in the classroom, covered with the famous statement that makes me feel excited, full of energy, just like to eat spinach like Popeye the Sailor.
But the post-graduate courses so heavy, I have so much time and effort to learn English? Not so professional I need to use these, I need are those professional English vocabulary
Our new oral English teacher Professor Martin Wolff is very different from the foreign teacher I have met in my undergraduate courses. He is a very interesting man and a very strict teacher. He taught us not only about how to improve our English, especially spoken English, but also told us how to be a good employee when we work for a foreign company or a joint venture company. I think that is very good for us.
By the way, we are all very surprised and happy to get a lovely red hat as a gift from Mr. Wolff.
I had not been taught by a foreign teacher until I studied in Sun Yat-Sen University.I am curious about what and how a foreign professor teach us. In my impression, the atmosphere of the class is comfortable, funny and free. However, when I got in classroom, the word “strict” break out in my heart. We listened the teacher one and half an hour, different with the class taught by an Chinese teacher, who may let us talk in group about the topic he gave to. As a whole, the first class is exciting for me.I am look forward to Martin’s class.
On the first day of the new semester, I found my learning experiences for 16 years past wasn’t applicable here. Chinglish wasn’t allowed before but here is just a Chingland. Classes were begun in conventional classrooms before but here is just a tearoom, and you can help yourself with tea and biscuit if you like. And most important, Pro. Martin is terribly strick, even if he looks like Santa Claus. Distinct with other oral English teachers, he told us he would just teach right English and want us to be succeed. I think I have to adjust to this new situation as soon as possible, and keep high alert to his calls and assignments at any time.
How about my feeling when I knocked at the door and was queried by a foreigner “Lady , have you got your yellow book?No book, no entry!” Oh ,my god! I was really shocked and heightening tension in that moment. Turth to tell, I thought the old man looking like Santa Claus was so strict that I was afraid to meet his eye and face the fact. But my mind was changed for his humor , responsibility and the style of teaching after his class.I think we are lucky dogs to receive so distinctive and holistic English studying methods.Just as Martin has said,our post graduate students should be act like mature, responsible, serious students.Hence,come on! Join in the group and face our strict but kind teacher boldly.I think our confidence in oral communication must be increased.
It was my first oral English class which is taught by a forgein prefessor and was the first time that I talked to a forgein friend although even a little words.I was soon atracted by the empressive class where I experienced the interest of speaking English for the first time.
Professor Martin Wolff is a strict,careful and responsible teacher.From him,I knew the strange word Chinglish ,and the most important thing is just to try ,no matter how many mistakes you make,just say it,its okay actually!
Regretfully,I made some mistakes to the assignments which taught me a lesson that you must follow the instrutions.That is my lose but also my gain.
Mr. Wolff is not my first foreign teacher, but he impressed me deeply. Maybe he is harsh, but I think it’s good for us to learn English, and more important, to form a good attitude.
When I first went into the classroom, I did get shocked. It was a so different classroom that I never had classes in before. And the process of the class was different too. But it was interesting.,at least I thought.
Actually I prepare to go to America for a PHD. A good oral English is the most important thing that I need. And Martin is the exactly English tascher that I need. I believe if only I follow his instructions,I certainly can improve my oral English.
When I came into the classroom, I was surprised. On the walls there are many sentences which encourage us speaking English out bravely. But when I heard what Pro.Martin said, I was shocked deeply. In his class, you can make mistakes. If you do not make mistakes and corret, you will never learn the oral English and you maybe miss a high-pay job. As Martin said, do it when you can. Do not regret when you can not.
I just arrived in the classroom on time. But when I came into the door, the vision before my eyes had shocked me deeply. The red caps, the slogans all over the walls, the strange locations of the decks and chairs, all the things gave me a feel that our oral English teacher this semester must be different from others. Predictably, Mr. Wolff told us something new and many instructions, from which I can see he is a strict but kindness teacher. I look forward to the next class.
Mr. Wolff is my first foreign teacher. But the more important thing is, he is the first teacher who has shocked and changed me so much in the first class. “I’ll not teach you any English; you’re here not to study English, but to acquire English.” He said quite seriously after some brief introductions in the first class. Well, to acquire English! That means, we will learn English without lots of forced memorizing, and gradually be able to use it through casual talks! I got excited at once and I knew I would like the course.
Pro.Martin is the best teacher i have ever seen since i started my English learning .
As the article said aboved ，i was confused ,just like a deer in the headlights. the decoration of the classroom was so particular,and the manner the teacher talking to us shocked us .I knew the teacher meant to change our preconceived idea to the oral English course,it’s so great.As Martin said ,all of these were for our future career,so i believe that we would have a wonderful experience with the harsh English teacher ,it’s just a joke，he is an excellent teacher.
I felt awfully nervous for such a word “holistic” before the class. As soon as I saw these words “Chinglish Spoken Here” on a huge banner, a strong thought rise up that there’s no one would laugh at me because of this friendly word “Chinglish”.
The first impression which shocks me too much is a great quantity of red hat. I was curious what role cute hats plays. Then I saw Mr. Wolff with a Santa Claus-appearance. During after 100 minutes long lesson, Mr. Wolff is a strict teacher, a humorous friend，also a professional guide.
What a surprise that I can almost understand what Mr. Wolff was saying. Maybe it is a very opportunity to improve my terrible English and enjoy learning English.
Our oral English teacher is an American old man- Professor Martin. In the first class, he left a deep impression on me. He is a kind old man. He told us about his family, he has ten children and each one is very excellent. Treated us as his children, he shared his knowledge and experience with us, and helped us to learned English well. However, he is also strict. He asked us to do things strictly in accordance with his instructions, otherwise must leave the classroom. He also requires us to complete each task carefully, If you failed the assignment, you will get a small“f”。 Nevertheless, I like this teacher; I am looking forward to his future course and hope to learn more useful knowledge.
Martin is an impressive foreign teacher, contrast to him, all the foreign teachers I have seen before were so “soft”, like Martin said, they only know playing guitar and singing songs to lovely but simple Chinese girls.
After my first Holistic English class, I can only remember 4 things, list as following:
1, no Chinese words or everything about Chinese words can appear in the CHINGLAND;
2, the red cap can not leave your head, if you want to get your final marks.
3, your cell phone must be changed to English language.
4, if you see a strange phone number give a call, you would answer it in English, which is your only choice.
I can’t help saying that the first Chinglish course shocked me a lot. Because I have never been in a foreign teacher’s class. So I was very nervous. But as in a place which seems to be a tea party room other than the original classroom,I felt a kind of relaxing atmosphere at the first sight. I must say Pro. Martin’s appearance overthrows my thought of oral English.That is to say, no matter how poor your spoken language is,you may can give yourself a try. Your life can filled with English everyday.Such as answering the telephone,greeting people,sending E-mail and so on.As long as you insist on,you can make great progess. In addition,he enlightened us to be a serious and timekeeping man .In short, I look forward to be a brave girl who can speak English loudly and freely in front of others.
The oral English class is my first class with foreign teacher. It’s full of surprising. All is different.
First of all, the ornaments of the classroom is unusual such as the table and the red hat. Second, each of us was required to give a English name to oneself. This is out of my expectation so I get Jean with casual. Last but the most important is our teacher, he is a real foreigner who has the typical characteristics of westerners. He is a quite rigorous teacher. He is so humour and like body language that the atmosphere of the class is very good.
Through the first class , I realised my audition is too bad. For I could understand only a little. I decide to learn English try my best.
I was impressed by the first class of spoken English, which I will never forget. At first, I thought we met a strict spoken English teacher, as the aura was very tense. But few minutes later, everything was changed and the classroom was filled with laughter, which is magic. Our professor did this just by his humor. It is quite different from the previous English class. In the past, we studied just for the test. However, this class is planned to improve our oral English proficiency. Sometimes, I can not understand everything what the professor said. But, I still enjoy it.
As we have heard about the details of the oral English class from other friends before , most of us got ready for the class and we looked forward to it . However , I still was shocked by Professor Martin . The saying was right , Professor Martin was very srticted to us . But he was a nice man and I could understand that all things he did were good for us . Then we were supposed to finish several assignments , such as sending an e-mail to him and registering on the website . What impressed me most was writing down our English names . It made me be aware of the importance of English names . If we want to work and communicate with foreingers , we should use English names as they do . What’s more , there are a lot of study resources for us .
On the whole , I felt comfortable and happy during the class time . Also it is time for me to promote my spoken English , just right now .
I was convinced that the experience of my first oral English class on the very first day of this semester would absolutely be unforgettable in all my life.I have never gone to a foreign teacher’s class before, and the first one turned out to be shock exactly.To be honest, the professor somewhat like a nightmare for me bacause he is so serious and rigorous that we always have to be afraid of having a small “f” and I was even ordered to leave the classroom on his first class. However, I like his seriousness and rigorousness that is what we pgs need toward lives and science ,and I expect to become another successful one under the influence of him.
What an impressive English class I had last Monday morning. It’s totally different from my preconceived idea of the oral English class. We always study English instead of using English in our life, but on the first class Pro. Martin changed the situation. He is a responsible teacher, he taught us not only about how to improve our oral English, but also told us other things such as how to be a good employee when we work for a foreign company.It’s really useful to all of us. Thanks to Pro. Martin, i am looking forward to the next class.
At the time I first entered this “Holistic English Lab”I was shocked.Is it a classroom? An old man with white beard ordered us to sit where there’s a red hat. “Unbelievable!Do you think you are in a kindergarden?You are not told to do this!” Oh ,what a serious guy.
Soon I find this old man-our Professor Martin wolff ,is very humorous and kind-hearted,but he is much more strict.If you are late,out;If your phone rings in the class,give it to him without returning ,otherwise,out;and something like that. Jesus! “Precept upon precept,line upon line,here a little, and there a little”. Aren’t we Chinese crazy? We will never obey these rules for learning our own language.However, I shall do all my best to obey the instructions from this strict and respectable (I say respectable because he spend his weekend on giving lessons to the students who are late or absent) man,and try to enjoy the fun he promised to bring us.
When I walked into the classroom, wow~, unique atmosphere. When pro. Martin started school, I suddenly realized that this is definitely a high level course which we can learn a lot of English. I really did not expect us to meet this kind of English classes in university. Martin not only full filled with passion but also couple with humor for the course that making everyone very quickly integrated into the curriculum.
Generally speaking, this lesson is very shocking, it makes us look forward.
When I enter to the English classroom, the feeling of first saw Mr. Wolff was surprise because he keep the attractive white beard .Mr. Wolff is my first foreigne teacher, and my english is very poor ,I hope that he can help me in English study, Especially in spoken language aspect.He is very severe, even somewhat harsh, he required that the schoolmates who has not led book can not enter to the classroom.Several times, I hear him to shout “out!out !” Our were feared , we worried that we maybe expelled the classroom by him because of our mistakes. In fact, I discovered slowly that he is a very humorous teacher, he always make us smile, lets the entire classroom fill the pleasure of the study. I like him very much, I hope that we are happy with him
Well ,the first day of my experience during the English speaking class is so difficult that I will never forget it .I feel that I could not catch up with the teacher ,I did not understand what is his words meaning, I feel sad ,I have no new friends in this school ,even in this class ,and my English name is not suitable .Then I think I can not learn my English well .But Doctor Martin ‘s smile makes me to believe myself, and I became to enjoy English again.
My first oral English class was unforgettable, what shocked me most is the rigorous atmosphere, which made me realized that oral English class is not just play English game or sing a English song like before, it requires us to do our utmost to practice our oral English.
Of all the past 10 years, we’ve learned English on the purpose to pass the exam, which made me ignored the practice of oral English.but this class provides us a precious chance for us to practice, especially with professor Wolff’s strict requirements, which not only taught us how to practice English, but also taught us the attitude toward life, how to experience it, and how to face it.