In a society such as the United states or Canada, which has many national, religious, and cultural differences, people highly value individualism—the differences among people. Teachers place a lot of importance on the qualities that make each student special. The educational systems in these countries show these values. Students do not memorize information. Instead, they work individually and find answers themselves. There is often discussion in the classroom. At an early age, students learn to form their own ideas and opinions.
In most Asian societies, by contrast, the people have the same language, history, and culture. Perhaps for this reason, the educational system in much of the Orient reflects society’s belief in group goals and purposed rather than individualism. Children in China, Japan, and Korea often work together and help one another on assignments. In the classroom, the teaching methods are often very formal. The teacher lectures, and the students listen. There is not much discussion. Instead, the students recite rules or information that they have memorized.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both of these systems of education. For example, one advantage to the system in Japan is that students there learn much more math and science than American students learn by the end of high school. They also study more hours each day and more days each year than North Americans do. The system is difficult, but it prepares students for a society that values discipline and self-control. There is, however, a disadvantage. Memorization is an important learning method in Japanese schools, yet many students say that after an exam, they forget much of the information that they have memorized.
The advantage of the educational system in North American, on the other hand, is that students learn to think for themselves. The system prepares them for a society that values creative ideas. There is , however, a disadvantage. When students graduate from high school, they haven’t memorized as many basic rules and facts as students in other countries have..
| Students in the US and 【小题1】
| Students in China, Japan and Korean
|
What do they value?
| 【小题2】
| 【小题3】 goals and purposes
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Ways of study
| working individually
| listen to the teachers
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forming their own ideas and opinions
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memorizing and 【小题4】
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a lot of discussion in the classroom
| not much discussion
|
【小题5】
| Learning to think for themselves
| learning much more math and 【小题6】 by the end of high 【小题7】
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studying more hours each day and more days each year
|
good for a society that values 【小题8】 ideas.
| good for a society valuing 【小题9】 and self-control
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disadvantages
| students haven’t memorized many basic rules and facts when before 【小题10】
| Information is forgotten easily
|
