Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!daemon
Date: Tue, 12 Dec 89 22:20:29 EST
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From: xgu@alchemy.chem.utoronto.ca (Xijia Gu)
Message-ID: <8912130320.AA02504@alchemy.chem.utoronto.ca>
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Dear Netters:

    Do you know how professors at Univ. of Toronto comment on us? Good,
fair, or poor?
         
    The following is a letter from Li Xiaoping to NEWS UTC. Please spend
some time reading it. It carries to us a strong warning signal.

***************************************************************************

Dec. 12, 1989
    Recently, University of Toronto held a meeting to discuss the trouble-
some problems about Chinese students from mainland China. In the meeting, many
professors complained that most Chinese students have difficulty to adapt 
the environment in Canada. Some departments have decided not take any more
students from P.R.C.. Others will be cautiously consider the applications
from Chinese students.

    In this meeting, the Chinese students were put into a stereotype of that:
(1) After spending several years in Canada, still many of them can not speak
and write well in English.

(2) Many of them can not get along with their supervisers very well because
they act the way they did before. They persist to do the work they prefer
instead of following the superviser's direction.

(3) They always stick together.

(4) Many of them are not qualified TAs. So many complains from undergraduates
about their Chinese graduate TAs. 

    There was no solution given in that meeting yet. However, their conclusion
of restricting the Chinese students from P.R.C. is really shame. We must
respond to this situation. I think LYH should contact the UT administration
as soon as possible and pass the message of U of T to all members quickly.

                                                              Li Xiaoping
****************************************************************************

Comments:

    We have checked with an executive professor, Prof. R, at the University of
Toronto. The main points of Xiaoping's letter are accurate.  

    Professor R pointed out that this problem has long been there. 
Many professors, either directing Chinese students' graduate work or
having Chinese students as teaching assistants, are quite upset
about the behaviors of those students. One professor was quoted as
saying that:" The Chinese students came to UT for one thing, but the
university expected another."  It is frustrating.

     Remarks from many professors in different departments can be
summarized as follows:

    (1) In general, Chinese students have POOR skills of communications. They
are just as happy staying at a very basic language level. Only few tried hard 
to improve it. Most of them will never pay money to learn even they can afford.
They believe that it is not worthwhile investing time and money on language.
Others think that their degree thesis will be AUTOMATICALLY corrected by
their supervisers. 

    (2) Many Chinese students and scholars DO NOT know how to get along
with their supervisors and colleagues. They even do not know the names
of the people in the same office or lab. They often are reluctant to 
discuss with other professors or students.

    (3) Chinese students are INACTIVE at all levels except the political
protest against June 4 event. They are unwilling to merge into other communities.
They rarely participate in either Faculty or Campus activities. 

    (4) They have a BAD reputation in teaching jobs. Many of them do not
realize that it is their responsibility or obligation to provide a quality
teaching service to students. Some of them just do not take it seriously.

    (5) Some of them are good or excellent in their research. But a large
number of them are just fair or poor. It is generally never true that Chinese
students are of high quality.

    The direct consequency of these is that many departments have posted ban 
on taking new Chinese students. Although many professors are happy with  
their Chinese students, but as is pointed out by an executive at SGS 
(School of Graduate Studies), the image of the Chinese students is eroding
away by more and more such complaints.

     What is the solution? We hope all of us can think about these problems,
and express our points of views.



                                                  Editorial Board, NEWS UTC