[GrahamR]

Hi everyone,
I am moving to HK in mid-May to be a Program Director of an educational nonprofit serving low-income kids, located in HK island. From what I've heard about HK, it seems like a pretty business-oriented place. Am I going to be the only bleeding heart out there ?
I'm into alot of the same things your protypical businessman is (staying fit, going out, etc.), but I fear my values are in a different place than the average HK expat. Am I buying into a false stereotype?

Also, I was wondering how much Cantonese I could learn in 3 years (the minimum amount of time I will be in HK) if I take a couple of classes/tutoring sessions a week? Have any expats had success learning Cantonese from scratch? Any advice?

[littleblom]

GrahamR, I'm neither a business person nor an expat.. but I appreciate your will to "serve" lower-income kids. As an educator, I'd say we definitely need more people with kind hearts and international insight to help the educational sector here in HK..

For Cantonese, I heard that the courses offered in CUHK are quite good, you may take a look at the link: http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/clc/

Good luck!
Blom

[ayukobaby]

hi grahamR
im working as a social worker, and i serve both low income kids and some well-off kids. if u wanna learn some local phrase on top of the more formal cantonese, i can always help haha so that u know when the kids are cursing u or saying bad words abt u haha i also teach japanese.

[sky2000]

Originally Posted by GrahamR

Hi everyone,
I am moving to HK in mid-May to be a Program Director of an educational nonprofit serving low-income kids, located in HK island. From what I've heard about HK, it seems like a pretty business-oriented place. Am I going ...

Can I know you how to serve low-income kids?

[Marcus]

From day 1 , i want to help people do not have chance to be educated, u are doing what i will do in the future, so we may be good fd, i am sure.

And , compare with learning a language in school, it will be much better than learning from me( )
I am a f.7 student, and i am a winner in some public competition about writing( Chinese), so, I can be a professional teacher now.

But , those days, i am looking forward a tutor to improve my English level, as i am facing a public in the coming future, so i may a little bit busy. u may learn from me later.
I am sure 1 year later, u can speak with cantonese. : ]
and 2 years,u can be a Cantonese( as I have the experience ^^0

my e-mail: marcusmason1@hotmail.com
of course, if u can help me in English, it will be better.

[goleoboy]

It's absolutely refreshing to see / hear that there are indeed 'care-givers' to society here in HK - especially as an 'expat'. HK people (local or expat) is very much of a business-oriented / money-making mindset - i think more so % wise than where I came back from (the u.S.) art/culture/social work/volunteerism is somewhat lacking - this also means that creativity and innovation is lacking as well from what i've seen. If you want to educate / contribute, I think part of that education is to bring some of the 'western' philosophy of open-mindedness and independent-thinking over here during your teachings / community work. That would truly benefit the HK society, at whatever income level, in the long term and make us stand out against the Shanghai's and Bejing's in China.

[lilongyue]

Originally Posted by GrahamR

Also, I was wondering how much Cantonese I could learn in 3 years (the minimum amount of time I will be in HK) if I take a couple of classes/tutoring sessions a week? Have any expats had success learning Cantonese from scratch? Any advice?

I'm in the Mainland, and a learning Mandarin not Cantonese, but as far as learning Chinese my experience is relevant. If you're serious about learning Cantonese, and apply yourself, you can be fluent in 3 years. The problem with Hong Kong is that a lot of people speak English, so this will hinder your learning. Also, if you spend all your time with other English speaking ex-pats you won't learn anything. I've met foreigners in HK and the Mainland who have been here for years and still can't speak Chinese.

The best way to learn a language as difficult as Cantonese (or Mandarin) is to find a good, reputable school. You can pick up things through friends or girlfriends, but it will be very limited. I know an American living in Hong Kong whose wife is a local, and he was fluent. He learned to speak first, but couldn't read or write much. He was taking classes to fix that problem, though. I think he started learning informally, but worked very hard to get to the level he as at when I met him. He was planning to take the Cantonese proficiency test. If you score high enough on that test you can find work that requires fluency in Cantonese. There were many, many doors open to him that weren't open to other foreigners because he could speak Cantonese. By open doors I mean employment opportunities.

Good luck.