Tips for teaching English in Asia.

English Teacher X has compiled some important cultural information foreigners should bear in mind as they work on a teaching career in Asia. A couple excerpts:

There are also some important rules of conduct in the classroom. The first and most important rule of Asian culture is that you must never ask a person a question that they don't already know the answer to. Otherwise you will be making them lose face, a very offensive and serious matter in Asian culture. It's equally important not to ask someone a question that they DO know the answer to, as you will then also be making them lose face as well as boring them, and establishing yourself as inferior to them.

This is equally true with writing activities, exams, homework, listening activities, grammar activities, role plays, pair work speaking exercises, and group projects. They must all be avoided as potential causes of loss of face.

. . .

Speaking the local language is a sure way to cause loss of face: by this you are implying that the person you speak with is incapable of understanding English. Failing to speak the language will however cause immense offense to your students---why would you come to their country without learning the language? Getting drunk while in the presence of students will certainly offend them, and cause you to lose face, while failing to be as drunk as the students will cause them great loss of face. Drinking exactly the same amount as the students, however, is likely to cause you to lose face, and will offend students when they realize they are drinking with someone who has lost face.