Everyone Needs Good Friends!

Everyone needs and deserves good friends. People who stand up for you, who encourage you, and who cheer you on when times are tough.

Katie will need good friends when she first arrives. She may be quite overwhelmed with the new language, new family, new school, new foods, sights, sounds, smells....everything! Her mannerisms may be different...the way she holds a fork, or says hello, or walks down the hall. Changes will eventually come, when she is ready and able to make them. For now, please enjoy her for who she is, and get to know this wonderful new student at your school! We feel fortunate that there are so many kind kids here, and we know she will do well.

Eating in China

Foods are different all over the world. Here in the United States, Chinese restaurants are easy to find. However, many of them serve Americanized foods. In China, much of what is eaten is different than what we see here.

Some of the foods that are eaten may seem strange to you. They are not things we are used to eating here! However, if you take a good look at our food labels, you will see that we eat some pretty unusual things too!

Katie will probably want a lot of traditional foods when she is first home. Soups are eaten a lot in China, and rice or noodles is part of almost every meal. Food is also a great comfort, especially when you are in a new or unfamiliar environment. Katie might want to eat "comfort foods" from China when she is first home. Mr. G. loves to cook (and he's GOOD at it!), so don't be surprised if you see a few new things coming in with her for lunch! Eventually and when she's ready, she will try our foods.

Links from other adoptive families

A few adoptive families have given me permission to share their links to their blogs. (Teachers, content is most likely fine but you may want to review first before giving students free reign.) I'll keep adding links here as people share them with me. Sometimes it's fun to read how others have built their families!

www.ouradoptionblessings.com
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/micahquirie

Chinese Customs and Cultural Differences

If you want to read the detailed version, go here: http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/china-country-profile.html

Here are some interesting things about Chinese customs:

*In Chinese culture, it is very important to not lose 'face', or honor. People will endure major punishments before apologizing, as to do so would be to lose honor. Sometimes, younger children will smile in response to a reprimand. This is sometimes a response to avoid losing face or because they don't want to disappoint an elder.

*There is a high respect for elders, whether they be parents, teachers, or senior citizens. The younger generation has an obligation to respect the older ones.

*Because the Chinese society emphasizes the need for group affiliation, they will not publicly embarrass another individual. This is often observed by the use of silence in very structured meetings. If someone disagrees with what another person says, rather than disagree publicly, the person will remain quiet. This gives face to the other person, while speaking up would make both parties lose face.

Non-Verbal Communication

. The Chinese' Non-verbal communication speaks volumes.
. Since the Chinese strive for harmony and are group dependent, they rely on facial expression, tone of voice and posture to tell them what someone feels.
. Frowning while someone is speaking is interpreted as a sign of disagreement. Therefore, most Chinese maintain an impassive expression when speaking.
. It is considered disrespectful to stare into another person's eyes. In crowded situations the Chinese avoid eye contact to give themselves privacy.


Chinese Etiquette and Customs
Meeting Etiquette

. Greetings are formal and the oldest person is always greeted first.
. Handshakes are the most common form of greeting with foreigners.
. Many Chinese will look towards the ground when greeting someone.
. The Chinese have a terrific sense of humor. They can laugh at themselves most readily if they have a comfortable relationship with the other person. Be ready to laugh at yourself given the proper circumstances.

Gift Giving Etiquette

. In general, gifts are given at Chinese New Year, weddings, births and more recently (because of marketing), birthdays.
. The Chinese like food and a nice food basket will make a great gift.
. Do not give scissors, knives or other cutting utensils as they indicate the severing of the relationship.
. Do not give clocks, handkerchiefs or straw sandals as they are associated with funerals and death.
. Do not give flowers, as many Chinese associate these with funerals (hmmm...and these are given on National Teachers Day....).
. Do not wrap gifts in white, blue or black paper.
. Four is an unlucky number so do not give four of anything. Eight is the luckiest number, so giving eight of something brings luck to the recipient.
. Always present gifts with two hands.
. Gifts are not opened when received.
. Gifts may be refused three times before they are accepted.

Dining Etiquette

. The Chinese prefer to entertain in public places rather than in their homes, especially when entertaining foreigners.
. If you are invited to their house, consider it a great honour. If you must turn down such an honour, it is considered polite to explain the conflict in your schedule so that your actions are not taken as a slight.
. Arrive on time.
. Remove your shoes before entering the house.
. Bring a small gift to the hostess.
. Eat well to demonstrate that you are enjoying the food!
Table manners:
. Learn to use chopsticks.
. Wait to be told where to sit. The guest of honour will be given a seat facing the door.
. The host begins eating first.
. You should try everything that is offered to you.
. Never eat the last piece from the serving tray.
. Be observant to other peoples' needs.
. Chopsticks should be returned to the chopstick rest after every few bites and when you drink or stop to speak.
. The host offers the first toast.
. Do not put bones in your bowl. Place them on the table or in a special bowl for that purpose.
. Hold the rice bowl close to your mouth while eating.
. Do not be offended if a Chinese person makes slurping or belching sounds; it merely indicates that they are enjoying their food.
. There are no strict rules about finishing all the food in your bowl.

Language Info for Teachers

More brain power needed for Mandarin than English
July 1 2003


Mandarin speakers use more areas of their brains than people who speak English, scientists said, in a finding that provides new insight into how the brain processes language.

Unlike English speakers, who use one side of their brain to understand the language, scientists at the Wellcome Trust research charity in Britain discovered that, in Mandarin, both sides of the brain are used to interpret variations in sounds.

"We were very surprised to discover that people who speak different sorts of languages use their brains to decode speech in different ways; it overturned some long-held theories," said Sophie Scott, a psychologist at the charity.

Using brain scans on volunteers, Dr Scott discovered that different areas of the brain are used to interpret words and intonation.

The left temporal lobe of the brain is active when English speakers hear the language but Mandarin speakers use the left and right lobe, which is normally used to process melody in music and speech.

Intonation is important in Mandarin because it gives different meanings to the same word. The word "ma" for example can mean mother, scold, horse or hemp, depending on the tone.

"We think Mandarin speakers interpret intonation and melody in the right temporal lobe to give the correct meaning to the spoken word," Dr Scott said in a statement.

She believes the research could provide insights into what happens when people are forced to relearn speech comprehension following a stroke.

"It seems that the structure of the language you learn as a child affects how the structure of your brain develops to decode speech. Native English speakers, for example, find it extraordinarily difficult to learn Mandarin," Dr Scott said.

The findings will be presented at a science exhibition this week at the Royal Society, Britain's academy of leading scientists, in London.

Reuters

How in the world will she learn to speak English? Tips for kids and teachers.

Good question! It has to be incredibly hard to learn a new language after 13 years!

In the past few years, researchers have been looking at how older children who are adopted learn to speak their new language. Most of the time, when people move to America and have to learn English, the entire family speaks a different language. But with children adopted from other countries, lots of times all they hear is English. Whether they are at home or at school, all they hear is English.

We are just beginning to figure out how kids learn a new language when they no longer hear their old one every day. In some ways it is harder for them, because they can't go home and talk with anyone like they used to. Everything takes so much work! On the other hand, they learn faster because they hear English all the time.

Here is what we know sometimes happens when someone is just trying to learn English, and they are not using their first language in their new home:

*They get tired out quickly! It is a LOT of work to concentrate on the words and the meaning. (You can help Katie with this by speaking slowly and clearly. Repeat what you said, or even explain something two different ways. Use pictures to help explain whenever you can.)

*Sometimes people learning a new language will pretend they understand when they really don't. They don't want to appear dumb, so they pretend they understood you. Put yourself in their shoes, and you'll have an idea of how it must feel.

*When someone is first learning the sounds of the letters and the words, they sometimes are very hard to understand. They need to practice awhile and then they will be easier to understand. You can help by being patient with them, and please don't laugh when they make mistakes. They are trying hard to say it right!

*Sometimes a new English learner will say one word when they mean another. It can be a little funny sometimes! If this happens, make sure the person knows that you are not laughing AT them. Help them to use the right word.

*Early research is showing that there is a short period of time where a child loses his native language but still hasn't acquired enough English to be "solid" in either. This will pass!

*People usually understand what people are saying before they can speak it back.

*You can help an English language learner understand by using pictures, maps, and visual supports as much as possible.

*Katie will have a little "translator" with her. It looks like a large calculator, and she or the teacher will be able to type things into it in English or Mandarin. It will translate to the other language, so that everyone can communicate.

*People learn conversational English pretty quickly; the academic language takes years to develop.



Teachers, here are some resources just for you:

http://www.ncela.gwu.edu/pubs/pigs/pig19.htm (excellent article!)

http://www.everythingesl.net

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/ (good upper grade resource; may be too hard for Katie for awhile though. These might also be good with other kids struggling with language processing issues.)


http://www.wjh.harvard.edu/~lds/adoption/Snedeker_Geren_Shafto_2007.pdf