If you look at a big enough sample, you’re bound to find plenty of outliers. :)

Obviously non-Chinese speaking foreigners have contributed and continue to contribute much to China. I don’t think that will last. Not that they won’t still have things to contribute, but rather Chinese speakers (be them native or foreign CSL speakers) will muscle them out of the market.

think of Soljenitsin, how long did he live in the US? he never learned english. Or Billy Wilder. He knew no english upon arrival, but Hollywood was eager to translate his scripts from german. There must be countless examples. Sweden was once (rather well) ruled by one of Napoleon’s generals, who never learned their language. Voltaire lived in Frederick II court, he never stoped complaining about the consonants of the german language.

What do you think of foreigners that live and work in China and dont [sic] speak Chinese? What value could they possible [sic] add to modern China?

Imagine yourself asking a similar question of non-English speaking immigrants and guest-workers in your native U.S.

Full disclosure: I speak (and read and write) Chinese, but am nonetheless able to imagine many fruitful ways in which non-speakers of their host’s language can add value to society at large and to their chosen professions in particular.

I really enjoy every ChinesePOD podcast that includes Jenny because it almost always causes me to laugh or have a quick chuckle. I have noticed over the last 6 months or so that her English pronunciation has developed to new heights. I’m not sure why this is, may be it’s just that I am now used to her voice and accent after listening to easily over 200 podcasts.

Jenny is not the only ChinesePOD staff member that I “stalk”.. but she is definitely one of the more interesting ones, with many facets to explore. And if I haven’t worn out my welcome by March 2009, I will have a chance to catch up with them in Shanghai. :)