Educational Process in the United States and in Japan - Essay Example

Nevertheless, societies all over the world may be guided by different assumptions, often contradicting one another. That is why it is essential to compare some ideas that people take for granted.

This shows that the students are not only passive listeners, but they are quite interested in the topic and are willing to clarify something. In addition to that, they show that a person is thinking about the material that is being taught and critically reflects on it. Finally, questions are irreplaceable when it comes to engaging the students in dialogue while teaching them. This way more knowledge can be conveyed.

On the other hand, in Japan students are, obviously, not discouraged to ask questions, but there is a tradition that they would not ask them, though they might have them. This can be explained by the following: it is generally thought that if a student asks a question, then the teacher was not good enough in explaining the material. In other words, if students do not understand something, it is the fault of the teacher who was not able to convey the knowledge in an easier manner. In addition to that, the students are often asked to remember the material and recite it instead of critically reflecting on it. In this case, questions become redundant, and, therefore, students do not ask them since this is not what is expected of them. Finally, the educational process in Japan does not focus on creating a dialogue between the teacher and the students. Of course, it is not regarded as a one-way street either, but there is little significance in this form of interaction.

As one can easily see, something that feels extremely natural in the West may not get the same reception in the East. There are several points that should be stressed in this regard. First of all, education, as well as behavior in the United States, is more oriented toward creativity: people are expected to make their unique contribution to the world and to society, while in Japan adhering to the traditional ways is more preferred. Secondly, one should keep in mind that the American culture is much more individualist than the Japanese one that features a lot of collectivism. Surprisingly enough, this is reflected in such small details as students asking questions which is, ultimately, another form of social interaction that is guided by the socially accepted rules and regulations.