Refer China: Foreign Teacher Shocked by Chinese Students Classroom Discipline

But online opinions differ

Foreign Teacher Shocked by Chinese Students' Classroom Discipline

When you think about teaching abroad, there are always certain expectations. For one foreign teacher, stepping into a Chinese classroom for the first time in September 2024 was a moment packed with nerves. Having previously taught in public schools in Vietnam—where sensory overload was a daily thing—this teacher braced for another wild ride. Especially with 50 students at once? Yikes.

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But then... the unexpected happened.

In a video that quickly went viral, you can hear the typical first-day chaos. Students chatting, basically being kids. The teacher, calm but firm, made a simple gesture: sit up straight, be quiet. And just like that—five seconds later—the room fell silent.

The teacher's reaction? Pure shock. "Wow, that's quick," she muttered, visibly amazed at how fast everything changed.

Of course, the internet had thoughts. Lots of them.

Some commenters weren't exactly impressed. "I'm shocked too. The teacher's been standing there for ages, and they're still noisy. No awareness at all," one user said. Another joked, "Honestly, that's the slowest I've ever seen a class go quiet."

Others weren't feeling very patriotic about it either. "Nothing to be proud about," someone shrugged. A few even got a little snarky: "Sure, they're quiet now. Are they this quiet when you start asking questions?"

But hey, every classroom is different, and every teacher's experience is unique.

How about you? Have you taught or studied in China—or somewhere else abroad? How did you deal with classroom dynamics that surprised you?

We'd love to hear your stories and tips!