The class of fine dining (3)

Commercial hype

The commercial hype built up by some restaurants, the Chinese mindset of "face" issues and consumers' conformity are among the reasons that have fueled this teacher appreciation banquet fad, Chen said.

"Since this sort of thank-you dinner is organized on a voluntary basis by students or their parents as a kind gesture, teachers usually find it hard not to accept the invitation. And that's part of the reason why these banquets are becoming more common in China these days."

However, despite the good intentions of students and parents, most teachers spoken to would prefer to be appreciated in ways other than sumptuous meals or generous gifts.

"From a teacher's point of view, one of the most rewarding aspects of the job is seeing how their students achieve excellence and success in their later life after receiving help, care and guidance from them. Teachers love to be kept posted and hear the current news about their students, no matter how long they have left school," Chen added.

His thoughts were echoed by a teacher surnamed Wu from the Shanghai International Studies University. Wu has more than 10 years of teaching experience and she told the Global Times that recent years have seen more and more students inviting teachers out for banquets, parties or karaoke sessions.

"A decade ago when I first started teaching, the lavish banquet phenomenon was rarely seen. At that time, the relationship between students and teachers was much simpler than it is now. After the annual graduation ceremony, we would have a casual meal or a get-together to celebrate. The occasion was way less formal yet the atmosphere was good," Wu recalled.

She believed the growth of teacher appreciation banquets was largely the result of business promotions and the Chinese fear of losing face.

"In recent years, some businesses have launched marketing campaigns which really affected the way students thought about things and the way they behaved. These advertisements put students into dilemmas. They found it difficult to decide whether or not to treat their teachers because these commercials constantly pushed confusing messages. Many of them in the end blindly followed the trend because they feared losing face."

We recommend:
Xiapu: China's most beautiful mudflat	Homepage of websites of Chinese universities	Top Gaokao scorers in 2013
Amazing sceneries in China	Top 10 World Heritage in China	Look!Angry birds in the real life!
Cos girls shining at Kafu Comic-Con	Miss Tourism International in Nanjing	Camacho's embarrassing records in China