The more relaxed and open style of Western education can be confusing for some Chinese students, often leading to a situation where the boundaries between them and their foreign teacher are blurred. This uprooting of social norms can lead to all sorts of complications for Western teachers in China. Here are five tips for effectively managing student-teacher dynamics in China.

It could be said that in China a teacher is not only an educator but also a mentor. Perhaps because the great sage Confucius was a spiritual and moral guide as much as he was a teacher, the position seems to embody much more here than it does in Western societies.

The enhanced role of the teacher is perhaps most apparent in Chinese high schools in the lead up to the dreaded gaokao exam. During this time, a Chinese teacher’s job is as much about providing emotional support to their highly stressed students as it is about academic preparation.

It can be tough for a Western teacher in China to navigate this change in role and expectation. To compound matters further, teaching styles and methodologies differ greatly from what Chinese students experience with native teachers. This difference in styles can lead to them treating their Western teachers more like friends than authority figures. Examples I have personally experienced include late night text messages, requests for “help” (often a euphemism for re-write) with a 20-page thesis, and invitations to attend social engagements on precious weekends.

Of course, some teachers may be more than happy to provide extra help outside of the classroom and to see their students in a social setting from time to time. But what happens when these demands become excessive or make you feel uncomfortable? Here are some tips for navigating student-teacher dynamics in China.

Lay down the law with students and parents

Lay down the rules of engagement with your students and their parents from the start. Some teachers are only willing to interact and help their students during classroom hours. If this is the case for you, politely make this clear in your very first lesson. If you’re willing to give up some of your free time outside of contracted hours, I advise scheduling a slot and sticking to it. Often 10 minutes after a class finishes is enough.

Being strict about your time can be particularly useful when dealing with parents, who are often not shy about accosting you as you leave the school or inviting you round for “tea” so they can discuss their child’s performance at length. Decide early on what your stance is on this and stick to it.

Know what the school expects

Especially if you’re teaching in a private school where enrollment is the most important thing, being a successful teacher may be more about being popular than anything else. Schools will often hint at or actively encourage teachers to provide their students with out-of-hours attention in order to keep them happy.

If you’re not up for this, be sure you check the terms of your contract before signing and make sure you’re clear about your on-paper obligations. If it’s not in your contract, you don’t have to do it, but you probably won’t make any friends in management.

Decide on your mode of outside communication

At some stage, a student is undoubtedly going to break what is a cultural taboo in Western schools and ask for your phone number or WeChat. Decide from the beginning whether or not you’re happy to give them out.

If it’s a no, a good way of circumnavigating the face-losing awkwardness of a direct refusal is to offer your email address instead. Receiving questions via email is much less intrusive on your social life.

Be prepared to do the same for everyone

It goes without saying that you must be consistent and treat all your students the same. Be aware that if you agree to provide extra help to one student, other students and their parents will inevitably find out and demand similar consideration. This can quickly snowball, so only do for one what you’re willing to do for all.

Be prepared for emotional students

While under great pressure, some students in China can begin to see teachers a the key to their problems. This, teamed with the confusing blurring of lines mentioned above, can lead to students offloading emotionally on their foreign teachers or even developing crushes.

If you feel a student is behaving inappropriately towards you, let your employer know immediately, rather than trying to deal with it by yourself. Your Chinese colleagues will no doubt be much more able to deal with the issue without causing drama than you are.

In conclusion, be clear and fair when dealing with your Chinese students but don’t expect your relationship to follow the traditional blueprint you know from home. Above all, have fun and enjoy the job for the rich and rewarding experience it is!

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Keywords: student-teacher dynamics in China