What restrictions are there on free speech?
For the most part, China is a country where people carefully guard what they say in public forums but are eager to share their honest opinions around the dinner table. It can be difficult for foreigners to get a feel for how best to address sensitive topics; until you have developed a nuanced feel for how to speak delicately about such issues, it is best to avoid discussion of Falun Gong, Taiwan, Tibet, and the Tiananmen Square Massacre, as well as criticism of the Chinese government. More detailed information about how to approach such issues will be dealt with in orientation. It is important to remember however, that as teachers, we are not there to civilize our Chinese students, nor to teach them morals and values. While teachers are encouraged to share alternative viewpoints on relevant topics, they should generally refrain from expressing their personal opinions in class. Evidence that a teacher has been using his or her position for the purposes of political or religious indoctri
