Education difference between East Asian and American
One of the phenomenon I experienced and observed a lot is East Asian students, comparingly, speak less in class than American students. More precisely, the students impacted by western education is more talkative (in a class discussion) than the students learned under East Asian education system. Besides the language issue, I am more interested in the foundation of different that drove behind this phenomenon. And I believe this is a good example of how culture affects our mind, further, our behavior.
To explore this question, I will discuss the differences between East Asian and Western education system in several aspects: First, the major cultural difference existing in two cultures.
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Contrary, students have a more passive role in a lecture, professor being the only role that deliver the knowledge. Students take everything from and only from the instructor and usually not question it even if they doubt it.
In East Asian education system, teacher is the center of knowledge (Whang, 2002). Which is not the idea of the Western education system. This can be traced back to ancient China and Confucius culture, which advocated students to respect the teacher. And students were educated to trust everything a teacher gives and should see it as the only truth. Thus, the role of teacher is also a huge factor that affects two education systems. As described, the role of the teacher in East Asian education is majestic, teacher has absolute authority, and students revere their teacher. Because students believe everything the teacher taught, any concepts that different from the teacher is considered to be wrong, making East Asian students tend not to talk in class unless he/she is sure about the things he/she is going to say is right or meaningful to class. What do students expect in the class? In a research done by a foreign language teacher in China, she pointed that “students expected to be provided with a detailed systematic plan pertaining to the course provision and delivery to enhance mutual understanding between teachers and students.”, and “Students show great respect to teachers, but they also expect teachers to have
Finally, in China and Saudi Arabia, the teacher often speaks the entire class period and interaction is at a minimum. In the US, we encourage students to direct their own learning. Teachers often include group activities or projects and encourage partner shares during class time. Students are required to come up with their own ideas and share them to peers or to the class.
Cultural differences are apparent from one group of people to another. Culture is based on many things that are passed on from one generation to the next. Most of the time people take for granted their language, beliefs, and values. When it comes the cultural differences of people there is no right or wrong. People should be aware of others culture and respect the differences that are between them. The United States and China are two very large countries that have cultures that are well known through out the world. There are many differences between the United States and China, but there are many contributing factors that shape the cultures of these two countries.
Cultural differences pose several barriers for students and may impair their opportunity to learn. These barriers are created by differences in language expression, communication style, preferred learning style, gender-role customs and behaviors, and limited parental involvement due to these cultural or socioeconomic barriers
One complaint I have heard from numerous teachers in my school is that they must teach a simplified version of the subject matter to create a passable course for the largest number of students. Based on what I have read in the article, Asian teachers present information that is slightly too difficult so that their students have something to work for. This may seem like an insignificant detail, but I believe it highlights a vast cultural difference. Sometimes in the US we focus so much on wanting everyone to succeed that we make it too simple for them to do so. Everyone should have the opportunity to succeed, but that does not mean spoon-feeding people throughout their
Although Asian Americans comprise only about 5% of the U.S. population, this group is the fastest growing segment of American society. Despite such rapid expansion, Asian Americans are widely underrepresented throughout media, whether in television, cinema, or literature. Moreover, there are different stereotypes associated with Asian Americans. One of the most pervasive stereotypes details how Asian Americans are a “model minority”. In essence, this myth describes how anyone who is Asian American will become a successful individual able to achieve the “American dream”.
Asians are one of fastest growing minority groups in America today. During this century, various factors at home and abroad have caused people from Asia to immigrate to the United States for better or for worse. Due to these factors, Americans and American teachers, in particular, need to educate themselves and become aware of the Asian American students’ needs in terms of success and happiness. Before beginning my research, I felt I had an easy subject: studying Asian Americans in relation to their education in public schools. How simple! Everyone knows they are smart, hard working, driven to succeed in spite of their nerdish, geeky, non-athletic, broken-English stereotype. Of course they are
Cultural tendencies have a huge impact on the way children tend to participate in educational activities. The ethnicity of a child may change the way that teacher view a child. Suppose you had an Asian child in previous years who was quiet and reserved. You get a new child, you expect this one to be the same way, but he is not. We as teachers have to learn that each child is their own individual self, and they do not act the same way, no matter what race, gender, or social status they are.
The air would always be humid and stuffy while riding the bus to school, and the slightest bump in the road would result in tossing up the kids like salad. The backseat would provide carriage for all the popular and tough kids shouting out at pedestrians on the street or flipping off a middle finger to the bus driver that would shout for them to calm down. I despised those kids in the back. They were the same people that made my life a living hell, while growing up and attending an American school.
Asian-American students are often assumed to be the ones who finish on top academically. Due to the amount of high-ranking Asian-American students in schools throughout the United States, a cliché stereotype has been developed claiming all Asian students are “whiz kids.” The culture which Asian individuals practice differs by region however, majority of Asian individuals celebrate a different culture than mainstream Americans. I interviewed Susan, an Asian-American female who was born to an Asian mother, and an American father.
Each country has its own kind of education, and education always plays an important role in affecting students’ life and study on many aspects. Having received ten years of education in China and two years of education in the U.S. I would like to compare and contrast a few significant aspects of these two different kinds of educations. Knowing that no two education systems are the same, the differences between American education and Chinese education allow countries to take the essence and discard the dross through learning from each other so as to improve their own current education systems.
With the focus on academics, “More than 90% of all students also graduate from high school and 40% form university or junior college” (“Education In Japan”). The success rate is influenced also by the teachers. The student have one teacher and some might argue that the teacher doesn’t master everything she teaches because “70% of teachers teach all subjects as specialist” (“Education In Japan”), she create student teacher relationship with is the key to the success of many students. The student behave differently because of the cultural influence.
In contrast, the North American education system stresses the ideals of individualism. The aim of the North American system is to socialize the children to become independent individuals, who have relationships with whom they choose (Cole & Cole, 2001, p.541). This ideal of individualism influences the way educators approach learning. Children are encouraged to strive and pursue individual potential and needs (Hoffman, 2000, p.302). Children spend a lot of time pursuing individual activities alone during class time. The classroom is teacher centered in terms of its direction and authority. Whereas the Japanese teacher relies on the social structure and peers, North American teachers have authority to direct the class (Hoffman, 2000, p.304). This adult control is an external standard placed on the child (Hoffman, 2000, p.306). The Japanese teacher relies on the inner standards within the child and their fellow classmates to control the child (Hoffman, 2000, p.307). In situations, such as a child acting out in class, North American teachers assert authority where as Japanese teacher's look to group pressure to conform and control the child.
A 500 years old country – United States. The term “Western culture” has come to define the culture of European countries as well as those that have been heavily influenced by European immigration, such as the United States. In American school teachers are respect to the students and are very patience, teachers are friendly to their students, they teaches students knowledge and also give them confidence to study, they will not blame the students who is stupid or speak mean words to hurt students feeling, but tell them how to correct the mistakes and fix the problems. The best thing to study in American is even although we got many assignments to do but we will still have our free time to do what we like to do and have the time to spend with
Final thoughts: Students behavior can be influenced by many things such as their cultural influences, living situation, and what they are exposed to. Ms. Rollison needs to be aware of the cultural influence that affects the student’s behavior. Every culture is different and it influences how a student will interact and respond to authority. Culture can influence the way they talk with their peers, views on sharing, and the way they act all around. Having many students with different culture background leads to a diverse class with different views on how they act toward their peers.
Imagine you are dreaming being a teacher, you must accept that there are no doubt that knowledge is the first quality of a good teacher. A good teacher need to enlarge his/her general knowledge on culture, society, biology, geography… to provide students what they want to know. Beside, a good teacher must be a person who are open to change. He/she must know “the only real constant in life is change”. There is a place not only for tradition but also for new ways,