Does anyone know "If I were a boy again"?

[footfootfoot]

Originally Posted by laywong

However, here I am just taking a relatively static point of view to this very piece of writing. It is recommended to the Chinese students as "classic English writing worth reading and reciting". I just worry about the consequence of their memorizing Chinglish. I am very eager to find out its origin and remove it from the recommendation list because they need real, authentic English, at the English beginner stage.

What is interesting is the phrase "classic English writing worth reading and reciting." Given the moral and ethical differences and values between the East and West I wonder if such a text exists that is both, "classic English writing" AND "worth reading and reciting."

I think that explains some of the unusual quality to the writing. The content seems to me to be more aligned with Chinese values and wholly irrelevant to Westerners, while the writing style has a distinctly Western, if not outdated, ring to it. (I realize I am painting with a broad brush)

As for real, authentic English, why not try real authentic English writing authors. Start with E.B. White, he was a very skilled writer. The potential problem is that along with the baby, you get the bathwater, i.e. Proper written English with content that may not be in alignment with your values.