East Meets West

[William M Tweedie]

The underlying philosophies of education in Asian contexts, in my limited experience, are fundamentaly different from those of Western countries. The attached article draws out some of the culture based differences in each general context in a comparison of Confucian and Socratic approaches to learning.

Many of the new methods teachers in Asia are adopting or trying to adapt, at least, are western and these rely on student participation in classrooms in contrasting ways. From my own experience as a product of the western education system and now a teacher trainer in Asia, the most visible and perhaps the most important contrast is in the dynamics of student questioning in class. In the west, students' exploratory and clarifying questions are encouraged by most teachers and this reflects the fundamental principle of the Socratic approach but most teachers in Asia I have observed in class limit questioning to their own and it is often simply: "Do you understand?" Is what I observe the common reality or does the fact I'm a foreigner influence the dynamics and skew reality as a result? Is the picture of the Confusian approach drawn in the article a true one in your context? Do you encourage students' questions in your context? Do you think that such questioning is necessary or positive? Which approach do you think better prepares students for the future in a world of cultures and societies becoming more and more connected?

[Rasid Harun]

Please log in to this web site, I think it will show if not the whole picture ( considering Malaysia representing Asia) something to ponder

http://www.bakrimusa.com/archives/category/an-education-system-wort...

[William M Tweedie]

It's so amazing that such constructive critical opinions are being voiced! Though they seem to fall on deaf ears sometimes, we cannot, must not, give up trying to improve the situation for the kids, for the future! Thanks for this Rasid. I really hope we get opinions from others educators in Asia.

[William M Tweedie]

Welcome Kristie,
Very forward thinking person obviously. The Dragon is awake! If I were twenty years younger there is no other place I would be. My experience in Suzhou with the kids and teachers in the public schools was wonderful but my old bones just need the sunshine we have here in Malaysia! (ex-Canuk)
Your insight into the issues we hope to have lively debates about will be very useful I'm sure.

I received an email from one of my former middle school students in Suzhou this week (now in first year high) and he mentioned he and his classmates were freely asking questions of their teachers and they in turn were doing the job of clarifying and expanding. (I taught them in the first lesson that without questions being in their minds or on their lips they would get no information and without information there would be no learning. It became a fun chant for the rest of the year and helped keep them on track.)
It would appear from this information that the Confucian tradition is learning to live with the Socratic. My argument has been that it makes for better and more encompassing learning (MI and learning styles considerations, etc.) What's your experience with this given four years in the system?

[William M Tweedie]

At 10:28pm on November 10th, 2007, kristie williamson said…
My experience thus far has only been in private language schools, which is really a different teaching / learning environment altogether, in some ways for the better, some for the worse. I do agree however, that there is definitely change afoot in China's classrooms. New teachers moving into the system generally have better English and teaching skills and are attempting to address some of the current problems in EFL classes in Chinese schools.
There is still far too much focus on exams and scores (which teacher salaries are sometimes pegged to)and this will take time to change, as will the changes in methodology - for classrooms and teacher training.