Different Education Methods: Korea vs. America - Essay Example

Different Education Methods: Korea vs. America Education is an important issue for all individuals and societies because good education opens up opportunities and the best chances to succeed in life. Certainly, each country and culture has its own different perspective in regard to the best approach and strategies in educating their students. For this essay, I would like to talk about the Korean education system in comparison with the American education system through the experience of the Koreans who preferred to go to the United States to study. Just like other Asians, many South Koreans do this in recent years. In Korea, the classroom must accommodate a large number of students. This makes it hard for students to be involved in class discussions. Most of the time students merely listen and take notes of the school instruction; buy reference books; and, study take home assignments. In addition, there is not much question and answer activities in classroom setting because the Korean approach is very traditional, with the teacher dominating the class discussion. It is a very one-way approach, perhaps because it is convenient due to the number of students in the class and also because it is what is mandated by the South Korean curriculum. Out of the harsh and strict education they have had back home, American education is a breath of fresh air for Koreans. As a result, they find themselves rigid side by side American students who they think have very bright attitudes and relaxed outlook because of comfortable environments in school. The classroom sizes, in general, are not as large as Korean classrooms. Furthermore, the curricula in American schools encourage discussion, and require student participation as the better approach of learning for students. For Koreans in the US, this better gives them more confidence to express and explore ideas and more opportunities to integrate social interaction with learning. Here, students do not merely sit side by side and listen to what the teacher have to say. There are so many group projects given as assignments, so there are lots of opportunities for students to be trained in talking and expressing their ideas in front of other classmates and teacher. New Korean students often marvel and are fascinated with the way some classes just talk about one topic and everyone has to get involved in it. Also, a lot of teachers give out their extra hours at the office so students can come any time for any extra assistance needed. This definitely reduces the unnecessary spending on private lessons, which is one of the other positive things about the education here in America. In addition, because of their busy schedules with school and out-of-school tutorials, Korean students back home don’t have time to do some extra curricular activities such as playing sports, music and other recreational activities. In order to better equip their children with knowledge, parents would enroll their children to private institutes teaching specific subjects such as Science, Mathematics, Arts and English. Private tutors are also employed in instances wherein going to the institute becomes very inconvenient. From Elementary, Middle-School to High-School, students must go and study in the institutes or with tutors after school for at least two hours everyday. It sounds very harsh and strict, but the system is completely normal in Korea. In fact, some people say that students learn their materials from their tutors not from actual studying in school. The US case is way different in this aspect. American schools encourage students to join numerous extracurricular activities. The idea is that students needed time to relax and be within an environment that is enjoyable so that learning is easier and more interesting. Schools, hence, maintain several facilities and amenities that cater to extracurricular activities such as playing sports, music, joining different clubs and volunteering work. And so when Koreans back at home would mainly focus on studies, American students are busy with basketball, football, the Glee Club, the debating society, community outreach, among others as much as their academic work. As a result, students feel less pressured about school work. In addition, the students’ personalities are enhanced with all the social interaction involved. In my opinion, this kind of strategy – integrating extra-curricular activities to school life – is a more holistic way of learning. It does not only enrich the mind but rather it enriches the body, heart and soul of individuals. The requirement for such huge effort from students is driven by the need for students to qualify to the best universities, which many believe is the Korean ticket to success. Many students have to compete for limited slots in the best of Korean universities. A problem begins once students are accepted in colleges or universities. Perhaps because of the deprivation during the their elementary and secondary years in school, students are prone to finally becoming complacent and try to party every day and night. It is a definitely ironic because it hardly makes any sense. And so, it is interesting for Koreans to find that students are more serious in college in America. Once they get into college, they study even more and harder which is totally opposite in the Korean setting. Americans put a great amount of effort and look a lot more mature once they become college students. By comparing these two different methods of educating students in Korea and America, it is clear to see how the way America educates its students is better and more practical than in Korea. Students in America get less stressed about their studies and Korean students always find themselves looking forward to the next school day in America. However, in Korea, all they talk about before college is study and just study and nothing else. The students in Korea believe this is the only way they can be successful. It is important to know that there are other important things to be considered than studying alone for the college entrance test. The students’ school years before college and must be all about learning but not the kind that is purely academic. There are numerous things to be learned from people – classmates, teachers, the people in the community - and activities such as sports, joining student organizations or being involved in the community. These things provide students with experiences that allows them to be better prepared when they get out of school and face the real world. This has been demonstrated in the students’ attitude towards college in the two countries. Because of the holistic approach to education in the US, students are more matured in their outlook once they get to college. The one-dimensional educational in System in Korea produces the opposite result. Students wanted to have fun because they feel deprived out of all the years of studying hard. In conclusion, America has a far better way of educating students. America is more open and liberal about education because schools help students to learn not only academic subjects but also they foster personal growth in students. The American educational system is also in a better position to help students determine what they want in life because of the diverse activities available – most of them simulating real-world experiences. Students can even determine what their dreams are earlier because of the kind of environment they are in. Other countries should study the American way of education and its advantages and perhaps apply it in their own system in order for their students to be educated well and better equipped to succeed in life. Read More