Expectations that Chinese college and university staff and students have concerning English-speaking western educators who are recruited to teach in China were studied. The role that the western educator expects to play in China was also assessed. Attention was focused on the perceptions held by eight Chinese scholars studying in the United States and six U.S. instructurs who have taught in Chinese universities. Chinese students and teachers agreed that the primary role of the foreign (western) teacher in China was to impart knowledge of a particular discipline (in most cases English) and information about culture. Several of the Chinese respondents stated that the more contact with foreigners outside the classrom the better to promote informal learning. Most Chinese interviewed said that foreigners have no role to play in their educational administration. However, the role of foreign advisor exists in China's colleges. Western educators also perceived their role in China as that of teacher. They agreed with the Chinese that teaching rarely stops just because the class ends, since extra time spent with their students continued the process of educating and being educated. Most of the western teachers felt this primary role as teacher was unlikely to change in the near future. (SW)