Jackhammers are not fair competition for young students and their teacher, so without much deliberation the jackhammer was stopped and I was left to the task of teaching. My students were of TAFE age and their English was of varying standards. For many it was their first interaction with a foreigner-a huge novelty to them. I learned, by talking with them, that an Australian education is almost the promised land , a way to gain more money, a different experience and perhaps a green card . The conditions for Chinese students at home are those of strong competition, lack of promise and little room to move.
Most jobs are in Shanghai or larger cities, and parents are aware of that.
They also know the big money jobs are with foreign companies and that foreign companies need English. China to so many people is that place , that huge country that no one can manage and everybody ignores. Sometimes I think you could describe China as that big pink elephant sitting in the lounge room -nobody talks about it, but you know it is there. China is a communist country set free onto the open market. Well, that is exactly what this country is to me.