Cantonese is a language from southern China that is spoken by roughly 70 million people worldwide. It is the language of Hong Kong cinema and has traditionally been the most prominent language spoken in Chinatowns around the world. People choose to learn Cantonese for a variety of social and economic reasons: because it is a heritage language that one’s relatives speak; because it is the language of one’s partner and monolingual in-laws; because it is necessary for living and working in Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou, or other Cantonese-speaking communities; because it is the bridge to fully appreciating and understanding Cantonese culture; or simply because it is an irresistible challenge. Whatever the motivation, more and more people are choosing to learn Cantonese as an additional language. This book discusses many issues related to both acquiring and teaching Cantonese. If you are a learner of Cantonese, this long overdue volume is essential to understanding both the grammatical and the social issues involved with learning this notoriously difficult language. If you are a teacher, this book will be invaluable to gaining insight into your students’ motivations and needs. And finally, if you are an applied linguist, the unique aspects related to the acquisition of Cantonese offer a fascinating contribution to the literature.

This text provides teachers of English to Chinese students with information on the linguistic, cultural and pedagogical backgrounds of these students. It analyses the importance of this background, and offers information on successful classroom teaching methods and student learning strategies.

Come with us now to the first day of class to teach English in China. Both students and teacher's hearts pound with anticipation as students file into the room, chatting and pretending not to notice the foreign teacher standing behind his desk. But they can't help glancing at him anyway for a first look. Laughter mingles with the sound of books and chairs clanking together. A buzzer sounds in the hall, and Bill Burkett, affectionately known in China by his students as "Mr. Bill," begins. A Manual for Teaching English in China takes us from the first day's buzzer through the first weeks, months, and semesters of teaching English in China, sharing numerous stories, laughs, interesting facts, and many effective ways of teaching ESL. A Manual for Teaching English in China is packed with Bill Burkett's practical ideas, methods, and teaching techniques that can actually be used to teach ESL anywhere. Bill Burkett recently returned from a seven year stint of teaching English in the universities and training schools of Henan, China. An internationally renowned public speaker, Burkett has lived in 46 nations in the last 43 years. He developed a strong interest in linguistics which was fueled by his close association with interpreters. In Chinese classrooms where he taught English, he conducted active research, experimenting and taking student polls. He concentrated on eliminating speech impediments and strong accents. His education, experiences, and research shaped his philosophy of teaching English as a Second Language and formed the basis of his first ESL book, A Manual for Teaching English in China. Following the manual is Secrets to Better English which reveals a proven method of teaching ESL without accent. Although Burkett's doctorate is in philosophy, his love is making a difference in his students' lives by teaching diction and the skills of speech.