Methods Of Education: East Versus West

Everycountry has different method of education. There is no one teaching method thatis best because students are very different from one another and so teachers.For a teaching method to work, it has to be appropriate for both the studentsand the teachers. Different students like to learn in different ways anddifferent teachers have different strengths. Education cannot be a 'one sizefits all' concept because teaching is a complex art.

Eastern'smethod of education will be different of Western's. The causes of thisdifference is that the culture of society. For example, Canada or USA which hasa variety of national, religion and culture. People respect the value of individualism. Teachers focus a lot of attention to the qualities that makeseach student special or unique. Students do not memorize information. Insteadthey work individually and answer themselves. Classroom discussion is always beused as a teaching technique which has a goal to make students learn how toshare their ideas and opinions. 

Meanwhile in most Asian countries, by contrast the people have the same language, historyand culture. People respect the value of group work or team work. Children inChina, Japan and Korea often do their assignment in group. They help oneanother. In the classroom the teaching activity is very formal. The teacherexplains and the students listen. There is no discussion between them. Instead,the student recites rules or information that they have memorized.

Everymethod of education has its own advantage and disadvantage. The advantage ofWestern method of education is that students are prepared to be creativethinkers in a society that value creative ideas. There is, however the disadvantageof this method of education. When they graduate from high school, they have nobasic rules and facts as students in other countries. Meanwhile the advantageof Eastern method of education is that Students' level of math and science ishigher than American students. They system prepares students to be disciplineand to have self-control. There is, however the disadvantage of method.Students said that after an exam, they forget all of the information that havebeen memorized.

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