The challenge of academic writing for Chinese students within ...

the fame of Foshan‘s china industry is no longer a pride for the local government or the
citizens, because the pollution of this industry has become a big issue that cannot be ignored.
Moreover, traditional industries like china and the clothing industry are not welcomed any
more due to its low economic benefits. As far as I know, the city government of Foshan has
determined to move these traditional industries to other undeveloped cities and aimed to
develop a series of new and modern industries, such as financial industry, E- commerce, and
software industry and so on. But personally I doubt if it is practical for Foshan to set its
goals in these fields. It seems to me that Foshan‘s ambitions, or the ambitions of the city
government is not based on the facts and true situation of the city. It is more like a slogan
that can also be heard from any other city nowadays in China. Hundreds of cities set their
goals to become ―International financial, economic and business centers‖. But I think most
of these cities are too arrogant and will end up with a failure if they do not change their
directions. As I understand it, the number of the cities today in the world that are recognized
as a real ‗international financial and business center‘ is no more than five. These are New
York, London, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Shanghai. I do not think any of the cities those have set
itself the goal of becoming a financial center can be a potential competitor of these five cities.
However, today I am not surprised any more when I heard more and more cities in China
have set this kind of unpractical goals, just as I am not surprised with the phenomenon that
among all the students studying aboard, the Chinese students are the highest proportion to
pursue a degree in top business schools worldwide. Is that because the Chinese students are
good at business Is that because the fast growth of China‘s economy and the increasing
opportunities in business today in China promote the confidence of these students In my
opinion, these are part of the reasons, but it is far from the truth. Some of these students do
not even know what exactly a financial analyst does when they apply for an MS in Finance.
Some of them have no idea in what kind of industry and company actuaries are needed when
they accept the offer for this major in top business schools. Why Personally I think the
reason cannot be more similar to the case of the city of Foshan which I discussed above.
Some of these students just follow the path that was set by their parents, just as the cities in
China follow the order of the central government. Some of them are largely affected by their
friends when they make their choices, just as Foshan follows the fashionable trend to develop
modern industries as other cities do. Few students have analyzed themselves in terms of
interest, weakness and ascendency. Few students have questioned themselves if they really fit
the major they are going to study. Few students think about the exact job these majors will
lead them to and if it is their ideal job. Unfortunately, I used to be among these students I am
now criticizing.
When I was 10 years old, a year before the middle school entrance exam, my father sent me
to a foreign language school in Guangzhou, because the local middle school had a very bad
reputation. Since then, I have never been able to get rid of learning language, mainly
English. I studied in this school for 7 years, including the sixth grade in the primary school,
three years in the middle school, and another three years in the high school. My experience
in this school was not uncommon, compared to other teenagers of the same age as me. ‗An
average good student with a mature mind‘ is the comment of most my teachers. Partly
because I talk little but often reveal an uncommon mind when writing a composition, partly
because I started a relationship with a girl in the sixth grade in primary school. She became
my girl friend and we are still in love. This is my school experience before stepping into the
university.
283