Confessions of a foreigner
Scratch beneath the surface...
I am a person who engages only in matters of substance and matters which the British generally don't like to talk about or feel uncomfortable when they hear them. It disturbs their faith. Here are two examples:
1. I made a mistake the other day and has a chat with an English. A woman openly said to me: "a language teacher must not express his/her political/cultural views in class. "What about freedom of speech," I asked. She went silent then she said: "but you are a language teacher, why should you talk about other things?" I asked whether what she said had anything to do with the fact that students are considered customers and my views might annoy/upset them, unlike in other countries where students do not pay £9,000+ for their higher education. She agreed, but still opposed me expressing my views in class.
This is not an isolated case in my life in London. A couple of years agao I upset a student and never saw her again because I said some disturbing facts about Winston Churchill (who is considred a hero by most Brits and therefore almost a taboo).
A line manager had ordered me a few years not speak politics in class, and another one initially asked me not to express my opinions in class, but she later gave up.
2. I have recently commented on the film Zulu (on youtube), mentioning what the film left out. I also included a passage from Caroline Elkins' book, depicting some of the actions the British used against the Mau Mau in Kenya (this is not directly related to the film), and asked for people's opinion. Someone hurled the following at me:
"you are full of shit ... If you hate Europeans, why don't you f*** off back to Africa."
You want to integrate? Just follow the mainstream, be a conformist and speak about pleasant things.
Note: Is this exclusive to many Brits? No. But I live in the British society and experience racism and oppression from people.
Scratch beneath the surface...
I am a person who engages only in matters of substance and matters which the British generally don't like to talk about or feel uncomfortable when they hear them. It disturbs their faith. Here are two examples:
1. I made a mistake the other day and has a chat with an English. A woman openly said to me: "a language teacher must not express his/her political/cultural views in class. "What about freedom of speech," I asked. She went silent then she said: "but you are a language teacher, why should you talk about other things?" I asked whether what she said had anything to do with the fact that students are considered customers and my views might annoy/upset them, unlike in other countries where students do not pay £9,000+ for their higher education. She agreed, but still opposed me expressing my views in class.
This is not an isolated case in my life in London. A couple of years agao I upset a student and never saw her again because I said some disturbing facts about Winston Churchill (who is considred a hero by most Brits and therefore almost a taboo).
A line manager had ordered me a few years not speak politics in class, and another one initially asked me not to express my opinions in class, but she later gave up.
2. I have recently commented on the film Zulu (on youtube), mentioning what the film left out. I also included a passage from Caroline Elkins' book, depicting some of the actions the British used against the Mau Mau in Kenya (this is not directly related to the film), and asked for people's opinion. Someone hurled the following at me:
"you are full of shit ... If you hate Europeans, why don't you f*** off back to Africa."
You want to integrate? Just follow the mainstream, be a conformist and speak about pleasant things.
Note: Is this exclusive to many Brits? No. But I live in the British society and experience racism and oppression from people.
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