differences_between_Chinese_and_American_education

DifferencesBetweenChineseandAmericanEducationSystemDifference#1AmericanstudentshavemorechoicesForeigneducationisnotthepreparationforearningtheirliving,butforsurvival.“Thelearnededucation”hasthevalueofmoldingone’smind,onekindofvaluewhichhasnothingtodowiththeutilityortheoccupationconsideration.TheChineseparentscareaboutthereputationineducatingthechild.Educatingthechildtobecomeausefulpersonistheirachievement,butifnot,theparentsfeelshameful.Theeducation'sgoalisforearningtheirliving,forhonor.TheWesternchildrenchoosethecollegeaccordingtotheirownlikes,insteadoftaking“famousortopcollege”asthedecisionfactor.WhentheChinesechildgoestocollege,hiscomparisonismoreintense.IfhestudiesinQinghua,BeijingUniversity,orotherfamousuniversities,hisparentswilltakeaprideinhim;ifhehasnotbeenmatriculatedinafamousuniversity,hewillfeelsadandashamedoffacingrelatives.Aboveall,wecanknowChineseputtheirfacesinthefirstplace.InAmerica,highschoolstudentsmakepersonaldecisionsaboutwhatcoursestotake.About50%ofclassesaremandatory.Everyonehastotakebasicmath,science,English,etc.Studentschoosetheother50%oftheirclassesbasedonwhatthey'reinterestedin.Astudentwhoisverygoodatmathcouldtakemanyadvancedmathclasses,andonlybasicEnglishandhistorySteveJobs(picturedtotheright,age17)tookmanycomputerclasses,butfewEnglishones.AdvantagesofStudentChoiceStudentsdevelopspecialties.Takemoreclassesinasubject→becomeanexpertinit.Canchooseamajorincollegeandfindajobmoreeasilywithaspecializedskill.AdvantagesofStudentChoiceStudentslearndecision-making.Theycontroltheirfutures.Practiceforthe“realworld”:makegooddecisions→successmakebaddecisions→failureAdvantagesofStudentChoiceVerytalentedstudentsaren'theldbackbylesstalentedpeers.Giftedstudentscantakecollege-levelcoursesattheirhighschool.DisadvantagesofStudentChoiceUnbalancededucation.Canbecomeexpertinsomesubjectsbutdeficientinothers.Difference#2FocusoncreativityandinnovationCriticalThinkingUSeducationsystemplacesmorepriorityoncriticalthinkingandcreativitythanonmemorizingfacts.Americancaremoreabouthowstudentsuseknowledgeinsociety.Itletsstudentchallengetheknowledge,animadvertideas,andfocuson,exploitorcreateknowledge.Chineseeducationfocusesontheknowledgetoaccumulateandindoctrinate,onhowstudentsuseandmanagetheknowledgetheylearnedinschool,andonhowtounderstandtheknowledgesystemandstructure.中国教育侧重于知识的积累和灌输，对学生如何使用和管理他们在学校学到的知识，以及如何理解的知识体系和结构。Muchlessrepetition,memorizingfacts,andhomeworkthanChineseschool.Manymoregroupprojects,self-expression,role-playing,experiments,debates,etc.AmericanScienceClass“Sciencefair”:studentsmaketheirowninventionsathomeandbringthemtoschool.Exampleprojects:computerprogram,modelofavolcano,electricconductor,home-maderocket,etc.AmericanEnglishClassStudentsreadbooks,andwriteoriginalessaysaboutwhattheythink.“Creativewriting”:writefictionstories,poems,etc.Havedebatesaboutdifferenttopics.AmericanMathClassLearnlessadvancedconceptsthanChinesestudents.But,practiceusingtheminreallife.Examplemathproject:studentspretendtoopenabusinessandhavetodoalltheaccounting.AdvantagesofCriticalThinkingDevelopsstudents'problem-solvingandcriticalthinkingskillsAnimportantreasonwhyAmericaissoinnovativeinscience,technology,moviesandbooks,etc.DisadvantagesofCriticalThinkingLackofknowledgeofthebasics.Creativityisgood,butstillneedtoknowfacts.Americanstudentsscorepoorlyonstandardizedtests:lowerthanChinese,Japanese,manyEuropeancountries,etc.VeryhottopicinAmerica:dowestresscreativitytoomuch?Difference#3DifferentTeachingMethodsLessHomework,MoreExtracurricularAmericanstudentsdomuch,much,muchlesshomeworkthanChinesestudents.2-3hoursanight,maximum.But,theyareexpectedtodomanyextra-curriculars(school-sponsoredactivitiesoutsideofnormalschoolhours.)DramaClubStudentsmeetafterschooltomakecostumesandperformplays.SportsAmericanhighschoolshavestudentsportteamsforbasketball,football,etc.Theypracticeafterschoolandcompeteagainststudentsfromdifferentschools.Band/OrchestraMusicallygiftedstudentsmakebands,writetheirownsongs,perform.DebateTeamStudentspracticehowtoargueapointeffectively.Competeagainststudentsfromotherschoolsincompetitions.Morecommonextra-curricularsForeignlanguageclubsSocialactionclubs(doprojectstohelpthecommunity.Example:makefoodforpoorpeople).Filmclub(learntomakemovies).ModelUnitedNations(studentslearnaboutpoliticsindifferentforeigncountries.)AdvantagesLetstudentsdeveloppassionforanactivity.Theydoextra-curricularbecausetheywantto,notbecausetheyhaveto.Americansbelieveina“well-rounded”person:shouldhavemanydifferenthobbiesandinterests.AdvantagesStudentscanbecomemastersoftheirfield.BillClintonwasonaschoolDebateTeam.MichaelJacksonlearnedtosinginMusicClub.DisadvantagesAmericansareusuallyworsethanChineseatmath,science,etc.becausewedon'tdoasmuchhomeworkandpractice.Studentsoftendon'tlearnto“eatbitter”吃苦,becausetheydomostlyactivitiestheywantto.DisadvantagesStudentssometimestakeextra-curriculartooseriously,comparedtoschoolwork.Example:someschoolsinAmericaareverybadatacademics,butamazingatsports.ConclusionAmericaneducati