Asian Education

Namaste,

A Chinese university student said, “It’s the old ones you have to watch out for. Some of them have no heart, let me tell you. I feel for them knowing many of them survived the ten year Cultural Revolution when intellectuals and teachers were killed or sent to the countryside for Re-education and Reform.

"It was more of a Giant Leap Backward if you ask me. Our history books gloss it over. What a terrible time that was for many of my teachers. My parents never talk about it but I know they suffered a great deal.

“This is why many of the Chinese teachers take bribes to pass students as a way to supplement their income or get things they want. They casually mention something they desire, like, ‘you know I really like such-and-such wine,’ or subtly mention money. Students know how the system works. Pay as you go. It’s an insidious problem from primary through university. Ha!

“In my opinion this university is an extension of high school and a retirement home for older Chinese teachers. Maybe you’d call it a nursing home in a rough translation. This system is about product, exams, not process, not how to learn. It’s about driving yourself into the ground to pass exams. It’s all about getting the marks so your parents won’t kill you. My social life is next to zero in this quasi-prison.

“The foreigner teachers, on the other hand, are friendly and outgoing. But, they are resented by the other teachers and many students. Why? Because they expect students to do the work, to learn or they fail them. And they get three times the Chinese teacher’s salary and teach fewer hours."

“What’s the standard?”

“We’ve become good at text and theory with our Chinese teachers doing the mechanical tedious book drilling, drilling, drilling, method but remain poor at analysis. It’s obvious when we have foreign teachers for business courses.

"Our textbook rote memorization conditioning is a real liability when it comes down to critical thinking, the foreigners say. Independent critical thinking may as well be an indecipherable alien cultural reality for the majority of students here."

“It’s fair to say the Chinese education system emphasis is on practice and mastery, whereas in the West it’s about self expression and curiosity.”

“I agree. It’s a double bind. How can personal desires and national demands be reconciled? Our generation faces huge problems, but, like I said, it’s a business school, so the International Trade, Marketing, Finance and Business classes give us new perspectives on global international development. It’s an opportunity but I’ll be more than ready to graduate this June.”

“What are your plans?”

“I will go to Shanghai and apply with multinational companies as an international translator and business negotiator using my English skills. Perhaps something in Sales and Marketing. I need work experience and know it’s going to be tough but I have the confidence. If I can survive in this place four years I know I can make it anywhere.”

“You struggle to survive in a dystopian environment. Save face.”

Metta.