I teach English in Hong Kong and have a couple questions about possible influence of British English in the former colony.
First of all, does the word “outlook” ever mean “appearance” to you, or is this an all-too-common usage mistake in Hong Kong English based on it’s similarity to a Chinese word that DOES mean appearance?
Second, my teaching materials are a real mess of regional usages. As an American, sometimes it’s difficult to say if a sentence I’ve been given is wrong, British usage, or just something that nobody but a 60-year-old British royal would say. Honestly speaking, I think it makes more sense to lean towards American English as a standard now that the British don’t govern, because there are more Americans than British in the first place (and here too, if the census info I remember is right) and, thanks to the spread of American popular culture, American English is less likely to confuse non-Americans than the other way around. Would you say that’s more or less true or American chauvinism?
I don’t use outlook and appearance as synonyms and can’t recollect anyone else doing so.
As for British English vs American English: I fail to see the need to standardise on one or the other. Languages that are spoken in geographically diverse locations will have variations (Euro-Spanish vs Latino Spanish, for example). They remain similar enough to be understood by speakers of both variants.
Teach as you feel comfortable (or as your employers instruct). However, I would guess native Hong Kong Chinese are going to be more familiar with British English, so I’d be suprised if your claim they are less likely to be confused by American English holds water. Remeber the differences in the language as spoken will be less obvious to an EFL student than to native speakers. For written English, I think it’s reasonable to be relaxed about spelling, etc.
The only “American chauvinism” that has piqued me is Microsoft’s insistence on English vs British English 
Small world! I just finished my high school in Hong Kong. Throughout my life here in HK I’ve been going to ESF (English Schools Foundation) schools, so thereby I’ve been educated and influences by a British curriculum and brought up amongst mostly British friends and teachers.
Strangely enough, though, I have an American accent but I use mostly English phrases and have an English way of expressing myself 
I personally don’t use the word ** outlook ** to mean “appearance” in the sense of personal presence, semblance or coming into view or anything like that. I haven’t really heard anyone else doing so either. I solely use ‘outlook’ as a word to express an attitude or when talking about the future.
Regarding your second point, I’m not Chinese so I can’t speak on anyone’s behalf here but I see your point. I have talked to a few Chinese friends about this and they’ve said that feel more comfortable with American-English since American influence is so strong here. But then again, as ** Sir Doris ** pointed out, there really isn’t a need to standardise either. To generalise a bit, British-English will always be prevalent in schools with a typically British Curriculum, like most ESF schools in Hong Kong and likewise with a school with an American curriculum, like Hong Kong Internatioal School.
Pleased to meet you, by the way, ** Space Vampire **
:smack: :smack: Influenced