Posted on 07/08/2004 4:14:39 AM PDT by wormsy
Chinese & Americans Differ As Students
Chinese students can be very analytic, literal and specific. Yet they have difficulty learning from other students, which is the American way in recent years.
By Diana Bloom, a BeBeyond Member June 3, 2002
In the 25+ years that I have taught college ESL and composition to native speakers, I find that, generally speaking--with exceptions, of course-- non-American (Asian, European, Middle Eastern, and African) students show much more respect for teachers and behave better in the classroom than Americans do.
Believe it or not, even in college some American students are disruptive and are not serious about learning. They talk when others (including the teacher) are speaking, call out answers, and do not always pay attention. They do not always do homework assignments, either.
In contrast, Chinese students, from PRC, Taiwan, or HK, or ethnic Chinese from elsewhere around the world, including ABC's (Americans Born in China), are diligent and respectful and take their work seriously, knowing education both costs money and will pay off in the future. They have excellent attendance, too.
On the other side, Chinese students can be very analytic, literal and specific, wanting to know the rules for every grammatical point (which I enjoy giving), and they take numerous notes in class, sometimes when listening might be more beneficial. They lack spontaneity, I think from the way they were taught in their native countries, and therefore have trouble speaking in class unless they are called on by the teacher. Freewriting and some pair and small-group exercises are harder for them than working individually and considering the teacher the only authority. They have difficulty learning from other students, which is the American way in recent years.
However, they work hard, learn almost everything, and ask individual questions after class if they have problems, which I like. They are grateful for a teacher's help.
I admire their efforts, because they come from a very different culture, whose language and writing system are very different, too, so that learning English is more difficult, say, than it is for a Spanish speaker.
According to my (chinese) wife, ABC = "American-born Chinese", not "American Born in China" (/nitpicking)
Gist of article: Students learn better when taught by teachers (Asian way) than they do when "taught" by other students (American way); and, students that listen in class, take notes, and ask questions (Asian students raised by their parents with strong work ethics) do better than students who slack off (American students that are raised by their parents to expect the world to do their work for them). In an old Fred Reed article, he referred to this, explaining that many Asian parents tell their kids not to come home with anything other than A's. We plan to have the same attitude about our kid's education, though we do plan to homeschool.
Hooda thunkit?
If I say that Chinese students are better behaved than American students -- that's OK: it's a compliment!
If I point out that Blacks dominate track and field events -- that's OK: it's a compliment!
If I say that a certain ethnic group consistently does well (or poorly) on Intelligence Tests -- BZZZZZZZZZ! Can't say it! Must not be true! It's the test! It's society! It's ... something! But a generalized statement about an ethnic group's Intelligence will NOT be allowed!!
I had two friends that went to the University of North Carolina Charlotte (UNCC) for intensive english language study. They were non-degree earning students for two years. Their goal was to learn American english better so they could return to Taiwan and earn more money.
They took many ESL classes. I was shocked to discover how anti-American these classes had become. The classes high-lighted the problems with America and did not discuss what made this country great.
They learned much about racism, sex, poverty and crime. Nothing was taught about liberty, freedom, and the US Constitution.
If I had not taught them and other ESL students about America, they would have returned to their home country with a disgust and/or hatred of the USA.
Ms. Bloom has inadvertently fingered the major cause of educational decline in America in recent years. The "American way in recent years" with respect to education is a national tragedy.
Perhaps the Chinese students know that if they need to learn physics, their questions about physics might be in the book (not a guarantee, but a better bet), rather than hearing Suzie describe how she "feels" about those itty-bitty things that can't be seen.
Your wife is correct. Is she an ABC?
I had a chaplain in the Army who mentioned that he wished Americans would act more like Chinese when it came to strong family values and educational standards. I replied, we do not have to be Chinese to do that. All we have to is to restore the values of our immigrant fathers who understood strong family, Godly morality, hard work and education.
Re: #5
You point hits the mark.
I recently attended an intensive TEFL training course in Boston, MA. and I noticed the very same thing about their curriculum and course books that you mentioned above. Thankfully though, there were many teachers that took it upon themselves to deviate from their course books. These teachers of course, were American. The others, who taught from the course books, were British and other nationalities.
Go to any restaurant the next day, MacDonalds, wherever, and watch the typical American white or black family in contrast. Sad.
I know it is an over generalization, but there is a lot of truth in this thread.
Nope, CBA(FC).
I'm not surprised. We have ESL at my university, as well as a faculty listserv where political arguments often break out. They guy who runs our ESL program is one of the most hard-core lefties on the listserv. There is a big "critical thinking" movement in American universities, and I have found that it too is dominated by the left.
Believe it or not, even in college some American students are disruptive and are not serious about learning. They talk when others (including the teacher) are speaking, call out answers, and do not always pay attention. They do not always do homework assignments, either.
All true. I teach a lot of foreign students in our MBA program. I get immensely respectful treatment from E. Asian, Middle Eastern and African students. OTOH, many of them never say a word in class. Some American students fit the above description, but some of them are very inquisitive, which I prefer. However, the preparation level of the foreign students in math is generally much better.
YMMV, of course.
>>explaining that many Asian parents tell their kids not to come home with anything other than A's.
In this country, you could expect a visit from the state child services department if you said that to a child.
Get rid of government schools and most of these problems go away.
Which is precisely why they are so miserable to work with in technical fields--book-smart, but unhelpful to the program...
I withdrew from a class once because the students were so rude and disruptive. The teacher was a Chinese graduate student, and I was really embarassed and even pulled her aside and said she shouldn't take such rude behavior from students. What could she do though? Nothing really.
WELL PUT.
Am keenly interested in collaborating on a publishable article in this broad field.
Would prefer it to be regarding some psychological aspects but happy to cooperate on any mutually agreeable topic for either normal journal or professional online publishing options.
Am hoping to return to Taiwan to teach at the univ I taught at for 10 years in Taipei.
Please let me know if you know of any such options as per above.
Exactly right. I might get flamed for this but immigrants aren't the threat to American values that some people think they are. Their families stay much closer together and they attend church much more regularly. Not too many of their kids are in those Gone Wild videos either. Their kids learn English even if the parents have trouble with it.
When I was in high school black kids and some Hispanic kids in the US have a lot of peer pressure NOT to succeed in school because it is seen as selling out. Contrast that to Asian kids where most will ostracize you as an idiot if you get any C's. Asian kids in the US are also much better about participating and taking an active part in their education than their counterparts in Asia. Kids in Asia are too obiedient and excel mostly in rote learning. They're too much into conforming with the group and take no initiative. Me and my 3 brothers were valedictorians of our respective high school graduating classes. My sister was the black sheep and only salutatorian.
When I was in China I sometimes heard ABC used as American Born in China and it wasn't complimentary. It was used describe hot shot returnees who were too anglo. In the US it does stand for American Born Chinese and it also can be derogatory. I've mostly heard it used to describe kids who could no longer speak Chinese.
And on top of that, you get some nutball cases like racist David Duke who think that White students on the whole are at the top of the pack...when he clearly does not have facts straight and he most assuredly would shy away from any challenge to pit 10 Singaporean students against 10 average American students (white? black?) in an "academic bowl" contest. School for school, pupil for pupil, the Asians would wipe the floor with the Americans. The truth hurts. We better wake up and demand more of our young people and perhaps doing away with public schools might be a good start in America.
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