East Asian and American Education Essay

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. Why western education values discussion and why does east asian education value lecture? The difference in professor-student relation, Students’ expectation in learning, and finally, the benefit in each education system. For the major cultural difference between East Asian and Western education system, we can look at the core difference of two culture. That East Asian culture values homogeneous and society as a whole while Western culture emphasizes dynamic and individual. So what does this apply to learning? Amy and Jin, both writers in cross-cultural education field, pointed out that East Asian education values self to be perfect morally and socially while Western education emphasizes creativity and critical thinking. (Chua, 2011, Li, 2012) The purpose of learning shaped education so differently from east to west, that it reflects on every aspect of learning. Teaching method, for instance, American school usually has seminar and East Asian school has mostly lecture. In a seminar, it is the students who are the presenters, so one can hear others opinion and the professor has only a limited role for leading the discussion. It forces students to participate and think about what he/she is learning, and helps students to reform the new learned knowledge with the old ones. It perfectly fits the purpose of western education: think critically and absorb dynamic thoughts. 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 abso lute 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 â€Å"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 â€Å"Students show great respect to teachers, but they also expect teachers to have thorough knowledge of the subjects they teach.† (Xiao, 2006), showing that students is prepared to be taught instead of participate in the teaching process. In other hand, in Western education system, student is the central and is required to participate. Learning happens while teaching. When in a class, teacher hope students can integrate into the teaching-learning environment. There’s no absolute right and wrong in a seminar, students speak to express their thought, this is the most important thing in a class. Teacher’s role, more like an introducer of learning, is to lead students into the topic, and students are the decision maker of what he/she wants to take out from the class. Finally, discussing about the benefit of each education system. Teachers have more control in a lecture and in East Asian education, can better delivering ideas. Students can get instant answer and more details for the subject they’re learning. Learners usually develop an independent personality under this kind of education system, are used to know and absorb the answer and theory itself than to understand the reason of the theory. People like to explore and solve the problem by themselves before asking for help. In the Western education system, seminar helps to broaden the subject of learning, student learns not only from the teacher but also the classmates and are exposed to ideas come from different background of aspects. This helps a person to develop creative, confidence and the ability to cooperate with others. Learners under this kind of educating system also care about the reason and principle of a theory than just knowing the theory itself. Reference 1. Chua, A (2011). Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. United States: Penguin Group . 2. Xiao L (2006). Bridging the Gap Between Teaching Styles and Learning Styles: A Cross-Cultural Perspective. Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language. 10, . 3. Li, J (2012). Cultural Foundations of Learning. Rhode Island: Brown University. 4. Whang, Y (2002). Research in Applied Psychology. Taiwan: Wu-Nan Culture.