Japanese learning style
I've read and heard a lot about the Japanese educational system emphasizing rote memorization, versus the "western" educational system emphasizing "thinking for one's self." I never thought my high school experience particularly emphasized being a real analytical thinker, but I wonder ...
I have a private student, and in most of my lessons I try to work on analyzing the readings we do and understanding the meaning, rather than pure memorization and regurgitation. Thus far, in almost a year of teaching, he seems rather incapable of analytical thinking. My regular high school students seem to exhibit similar patterns. Is it the age? The education system? Hmm ...
Comments
It's the water. There's something in it. I'm convinced.
Posted by: Ibadairon | October 27, 2005 9:17 PM
it's not like the majority of US high schools are any better. I think a better comparison would be with universities... Japan has a university entrance exam like Korea right?
Posted by: won | October 28, 2005 7:51 AM
Yeah the entrance exam is huge here. I guess that's why memorization is emphasized ... preparation for the entrance exam. Basically from the second grade (10th grade) in high school, students are prepped for the exam.
My own high school experience was pretty craptacular, but I made the best of it. I do believe from experience that the idea that Japanese kids are so much smarter and schools here are so much better is a myth. Certainly in the disciplinary control area the Japanese education system could learn a great deal from other countries.
Posted by: Justin | October 28, 2005 9:07 AM
It makes sense doesn't it from a cultural standpoint, considering that the Japanese culture stresses cooperation and uniformity as opposed to independent behavior, right?
Posted by: ma & pa | October 28, 2005 10:32 AM