When speaking Chinese in US can hurt you

Megan Neely, a professor at Duke University, was asked to step down after sending an email telling students not to speak Chinese. She subsequently expressed deep regret for the hurt caused by her email.

Neely was the director of graduate studies for the Master of Biostatistics program until last Saturday. Neely said two faculty members had advised her that they wanted to identify biostatistics graduate students who spoke Chinese very loudly in the student lounge and study areas.

Professor Neely then sent the email as a “reminder” to international students to be aware of the consequences if they choose to speak Chinese in the building.

It is surprising to see how this trivial matter of Chinese international students speaking their mother tongue in school building escalated into a wide debate on discrimination and finally led to this professor being removed from her position.

Perhaps, before Professor Neely sent this email, she should have considered whether the problem was speaking Chinese, or speaking loudly in study areas. If students spoke loudly in English would it be a problem? If students conversed in other foreign languages would it be the same issue? In Neely’s email, she wrote to “international students,” but she specifically referred to the foreign language being “Chinese.”

Chinese people are too loud in public, particularly when they are in a group. The habit could create misunderstandings when they are in a foreign country as has happened several times. Public mannerisms are a topic Chinese constantly debate.

Professor Neely, as she claimed in her email, intended to encourage Chinese students to take the opportunity of being at a US university to improve their English.

First, speaking native languages to friends of the same nationality does not mean their English is not good. It should not be the criteria to judge their English proficiency.

Second, those students are in the Master of Biostatistics program, not a language associated field. English has no bearing on their academic performance.

What did truly annoy the two faculty members? Was it the Chinese language or the students’ manner? If it was a mat- ter of etiquette, Neely could have sent an email asking students to pay attention to the volume of their conversations, rather than language. Otherwise, is speaking in Chinese impolite?

In Neely’s email, she warned international students to “keep these unintended consequences in mind when you choose to speak in Chinese in the building.” Previously, two unnamed faculty members tried to identify the students in case the students sought to work with them in the future.

It worries many international students that there could be “consequences.” They wonder why would speak their native language on campus make faculty hesitate to hire or work with them in the future. It is such an unfair judgment of their proficiency and ability. If a Chinese university doesn’t allow international students to speak English, what it would be like? More importantly, how many directors or faculties are involved in excluding international students in this way?

Given the circumstances, perhaps Neely sent the email with the purpose of protecting international students from “potential future effects” of not getting opportunities in the program. However, she became the target instead of other unnamed faculty members who would “punish” Chinese students in the future.

According to the Institute of International Education, more than 363,000 Chinese students were enrolled in colleges and universities across the US between 2017 and 2018 academic year.

Indeed, international students should communicate in English in the class, or any professional setting, especially when working or studying with multiple nationalities. However, they are not obliged to speak English with their compatriots in private conversations.

As a country built on immigrants, the US is known for freedom and diverse cultures. Considering the current tension between China and the US, it might be a hidden trigger for this dispute. Seriously, it was just two students talking loudly in Chinese on a US campus. It was never an issue in the past. Since it unnecessarily escalated into a political and racial debate, it somehow indicates the growth of division and mistrust in US society.