The Differences Of U.s. And South Korean Educational Systems

Education is closely tied to socioeconomic status, and effective education for children and lifelong learning for adults are key contributors to health and prosperity for individuals, and for the country. Education contributes to health and prosperity by equipping people with knowledge and skills for problem solving, and helps provide a sense of control and mastery over life circumstances. It increases

A little more than three years ago, I was in Korea. I was a normal middle schooler, and a daughter of a middle class reporter father. Everyday was a competition for students, trying to get the best score to go to the best college possible. As a result, I spent every single minute of my free time in after school academies. I was seeking change in this frustrating life, perhaps a more enjoyable life where rather than just

South Korea and the United States have different ideas on a lot of things. Looking into South Korea’s way of life puts a different perspective on how someone across the world lives their life a little differently than me, even though they could be in the same financial state. My research will look at the comparison of their family and social life, Government, Religion, education, economy and health care,and how it differs from the U.S. The U.S. Population is 318.9 million and South Korea’s 50.22 million. The life expectancy in South Korea is 81.37 years old, and The US doesn’t differ much with it being 78.74 years old. There is a lot less free time in South Korea with people working an average of 2071 hours and here an average of 1788 hours. The unemployment rate there is also a lot smaller than here with there being all kinds of jobs for any level of work experience. South Korea has gone through a great economic rise in the last 50 years going from one of the poorest countries to the fifteenth largest economies.

The United States of America gained its independence from Great Britain and was founded on July 4th 1776. Likewise modern day Republic of Korea, more commonly referred to as South Korea, separated from the north and became an independent nation on July 27th 1953. South Korea and the United States both fought for freedom and defeated their aggressors. The two counties differ in many ways which include, cultural and spiritual differences, as well as variances in the types of food consumed in both countries. While the differences between the two countries can be obvious at times, there are many similarities that stand out as well. Much of the culture in South Korea is preserved from its long history, however these two countries share striking resemblances. During the Korean War from 1950 to 1953, the United States

South Korea and America are two pressing and influential countries in the world, both with an expressible different history back grounds and present day cultural life style. While most of South Korea is notably similar to America in architect and popular culture, there are some huge divergences in our education system such as classroom atmosphere and student conduct, what a prototypical school day looks like and how many hours we study, and our college placement assessments.

The role of education in society has proven to service the people through the spreading of information, teaching of lessons and simply giving the gift of knowledge. With the gift of knowledge, we ultimately give the other the right and the ability, more importantly, to make their own informed choices. An educated mind can go beyond the limits set out by society and can make wise decisions regarding their health, success and general well being by simply using rationale. The level of education one obtains is directly related to the health of that individual, whereby it determines the person’s quality of life and life expectancy. Further more, one may be lead to believe that education is the most

“Each household pays 288.000 Won (about 250 USD monthly), which is about 8 percent of household income, for their children’s private tutoring. As a whole, Korea spends about 2.2 percent of GDP on private tutoring.” (Nakamura 43). The aspiring universities are usually located in the capital and big cities, which are the center of business trading and academic training. It is not surprised when lots of parents want their children to study and achieve academically in there. For instance, in South Korea, the capital Seoul has been a place for people who wanted to work in academia or government. “Many parents in rural areas or small cities have been sending their children to schools in bigger towns or large cities. As people, especially younger generations, move to Seoul to study or work and then settle in/near Seoul metropolitan area, rural areas are becoming “empty nests.” Schools in rural parts of Korea are now being closed in rural parts of Korea due to an extremely low number (or none) of school-age students; meanwhile, many schools in Seoul and vicinity are overcrowded.” (Nakamura 33). After graduating, students will also face with a tight contest of getting a good job with the limited number of positions. One of the qualifications required by most employers is English proficiency, which is evaluated through some exams such as TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS (International English Language Testing System), TOEIC (Test of English for

Education plays a major role in the modern life to all individuals in society. It has allowed societies to prosper both socially and economically by enabling them to develop common values and culture. Our world is constantly changing and it requires a prepared society that is well prepared in understanding the problems deriving from culture differences and tolerance of one another’s beliefs and perceptions. We are dealing with systemic problems in education, economic, government, religion and culture differences.

America’s education system has recently been a concern for many people. A recent international test “shows the U.S. trailing behind educational powerhouses like Korea and Finland.” (The Atlantic) In addition, the U.S. was 26th out of the 34 countries who took the International Student Exam; considering the U.S. has the world’s largest economy, this rank is abysmal. If the U.S. wants to improve their education rankings, they are going to have to look at countries who are currently seeking success. Two of those countries, Finland and Korea, approach education quite differently than the U.S; nevertheless, their methods seem to be working for them.

Throughout the world, there have been continuous attempts to reform education at all levels. With different causes that are deeply rooted in history, society, and culture, this inequality is difficult to eradicate. Although difficult, education is vital to society’s movement forward. It promotes “citizenship, identity, equality of opportunity and social inclusion, social cohesion as well as economic growth and employment” and for these reasons, equality should be promoted (Shrivastava,67).

Education opens your mind to the world around you. It gives you knowledge about how things actually work and help you find a job that will support you and your future. A proper education reduces poverty, boosts economic growth, increases income and promote peace according to the Global Partnership for Education. Sadly, only 77% of students graduate from high school and 24 other countries beat the U.S Rate of Educational Improvement according to Harvard’s Program on Educational Policy and Governance. While students are overly focused on extracurricular activities like sports, they aren’t learning enough to succeed to their full

Upon her arrival to America, Suki Kim realize early on the difference in culture. Unlike South Korea, students did not bow to teachers in America. Students did

“Education leads to a brighter future.” Quite a clichéd phrase, actually. So popular, that people tend to forget the true significance of it. It is known that Latin America faces numerous problems that makes looking into the future a discouraging view; but we fail to realize the lack of education may be the root of these issues, including violence, unemployment and poverty. Even though education is widely available in Latin America, people are not yet engrained with the idea that education can be a facilitator for a superior life. Economic issues that stem from unemployment and poverty have led to the notion that education is wasted time that could be better spent

The figure shows how many children are currently diagnosed with ADHD in the US. Korea does not view ADHD as a disability unlike the US. Teachers in Korea are worried about students with ADHD not paying attention to what's being taught, moving a lot, ignoring rules, and not listening to instructions. The teachers felt shame and worry over the fact that they couldn't control the students and fulfill their responsibilities as an educator. Another worry was that students would see that the teacher couldn’t handle the behavior of the students with ADHD. It was shown that US parents cared more about the behavior of their children, while the Korean parents were bothered by academic performance. Also, US parents were more likely to use medication to help their children, while Korean parents were against the medication because it doesn’t help the children academically. Confucianism plays a large role because Korean parents focus on their child’s and feel that behavior issues reflect negatively on them. Some treatments that the US use in schools is bringing in interventions, like aides to help the students with ADHD. Korean teachers take it upon themselves to be in charge of disciplining the students and maintaining their authority in the classroom. Most people in Korea don’t know that much about ADHD and there is a negative stigma against children with the learning disability. Schools aren’t equipped to deal

After the cruel civil war, South Korea faced a new phase of history full of new adoptions into both government and society. Under constant supervision of the U.S. and U.N. of which