Asia Volume 17; Journal of the American Asiatic Association (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1918 Excerpt: ...Standard Oil Company under the directorship of Mr. E. W. S. Moffett. Here the young men--all college men--are taught the oil business--the Standard Oil business. After three months of instruction there is an examination and those who pass get jobs and those who do not pass go into some other line of business. All through this course the students have it pounded into them that they should learn the language. After he arrives in China each man is supplied with a copy of the standard text book used and is instructed as to the employment of a teacher and how to begin his studies. Then at stated intervals he is examined and graded. Finally he is given a last examination, and if proficient is given a certificate to that effect. Since the Mandarin dialect is used by two-thirds of the population of China, the Standard Oil Company encourages its men to learn this as a basis. After it is mastered it is not so difficult to learn the dialect of Shanghai or Canton, in case the man is to be stationed at these or other places where different dialects prevail. The advantage of this policy is shown in the ease with which the Company has been able to transfer men from one district to another. It is often necessary during vacation time to move a dozen men in order to give one a leave of absence. Another element in the extension of American business in the Orient is the American consular service in China and Japan. For several years the members of this service have been compelled to study Chinese and Japanese. A special school for this purpose is maintained in connection with the American Embassy at Peking for the study of Chinese. Every man spends an average of two years at this place before he is assigned to his duties at one of the treaty ports. Recently it has been suggest...