My Mandarin isn't good by any stretch of the imagination, but ultimately its probably no worse and no less extensive than many Chinese peoples knowledge of English. However, on a visit to Beijing, very few people would actually speak to me Mandarin, even though they seemingly understand what I'd asked them.
For example, asking directions, if I asked a person under 35 where someone was in Mandarin, usually the reply would come in very broken English. I went to the China Aviation Museum, which turned out to be closed, and I asked if it was open in Mandarin and the military official there just replied to me in once again poor English.
This one really annoyed me, I went into Beijing Railway Station, had been queing up for quite a while, got to the counter and phrased in Mandarin I want to buy a ticket to Beidaihe, instead of carrying out my request, she just wrote Beidaihe down in Chinese, handed it to me and pointed to the English counter. She clearly understand what I said, but for some reason didn't want to speak Mandarin to me.
Despite this I had a few successes, but mainly it was only older people who were prepared to address in in Mandarin, mainly because they probably don't know a word of English. But anyone who knew the slightest bit of English didn't seem intereted in speaking Mandarin to me.
Is the assumption that a white wouldn't be able to speak Mandarin a pretty typical assumption in China? Was my Mandarin just shocking beyond acceptable levels or do Chinese just want to practice English at any available opportunity?
Cheers
For example, asking directions, if I asked a person under 35 where someone was in Mandarin, usually the reply would come in very broken English. I went to the China Aviation Museum, which turned out to be closed, and I asked if it was open in Mandarin and the military official there just replied to me in once again poor English.
This one really annoyed me, I went into Beijing Railway Station, had been queing up for quite a while, got to the counter and phrased in Mandarin I want to buy a ticket to Beidaihe, instead of carrying out my request, she just wrote Beidaihe down in Chinese, handed it to me and pointed to the English counter. She clearly understand what I said, but for some reason didn't want to speak Mandarin to me.
Despite this I had a few successes, but mainly it was only older people who were prepared to address in in Mandarin, mainly because they probably don't know a word of English. But anyone who knew the slightest bit of English didn't seem intereted in speaking Mandarin to me.
Is the assumption that a white wouldn't be able to speak Mandarin a pretty typical assumption in China? Was my Mandarin just shocking beyond acceptable levels or do Chinese just want to practice English at any available opportunity?
Cheers