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Mark Levine blends Western, Chinese culture

By Wendy Lu, Guo Xiaohong and Yan Xiaoqing: 0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, June 12, 2014

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Music band In Side Out fuses American country and Chinese folk music, joining the cross-cultural talents of American country music singer Mark Levine and Chinese folk musician Fu Han.

An Educational Stand

Ultimately, this is what made Mark decide to stay in China after his first year in Hai'an was over. Since Huaiyin Teachers College allows foreign teachers to stay for two years at most, Mark reapplied for teaching jobs. After receiving 18 offers, he chose to move to Beijing in April 2007 and become an English professor at Minzu University. He's been there ever since.

It was at this university, where 70 percent of the students are non-Han and all 56 Chinese ethnic groups are represented, that Mark came to understand the multiculturalism of China.

"It's been a very educational experience for me because I get to learn not just about Chinese culture, but about the diversity of Chinese cultures," says Mark, who has lectured at 16 universities and taught at various private training centers as well as Renmin University.

From his teaching and traveling experiences, Mark has not only been able to share his ideals with students and friends but also learn about the belief system of Chinese people as a whole.

Through his eyes, Chinese people are taught to expect a more peaceful world than people in the United States do. There are certain fundamental values, such as determination and hard work, they integrate in their everyday life.

When he asked his students if they thought they were given too much homework, nine out of 10 students said no.

"They weren't complaining about it. It's what they expect. They understand that – and when I was young, my parents taught me this – if there's something that's of value, you have to work hard for it. I think that's what they're doing," Mark says.

He added that American students have more free time and less adult supervision than Chinese students, which may contribute to various social problems such as drugs and alcohol – problems that aren't as prevalent in China.

The best thing that Chinese parents, teachers and government leaders can do for their children's schooling, Mark says, is keep them in China to study and then provide them with the best education possible – here.

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