Chinese Teachers Take Over
Being educated in a Chinese school is not something many foreigners have had the pleasure of experiencing—though most Chinese students would say that their education was anything but pleasurable.
A group of 50 students from a comprehensive school in the UK are trying out first-hand this Chinese style of education in a BBC documentary, Are Our Kids Tough Enough? Chinese School .
This, combined with the invasion soundtrack used, may be trying to suggest something
In the show, five Chinese teachers go to Bohunt School in Liphook, UK, to dish out a plate of Chinese education . From the tracksuit uniforms to the gregariously large classes, the lucky—or unlucky—students, aged 13 or 14, are spending almost a month under the tutelage of these Middle Kingdom educators. At the end of this very special program, they will be pitted against students who are learning the Blighty way in math, science, and Mandarin.
And we're off to a great start
Unsurprisingly, the physical changes made to their daily lives have been received with a smile and laughter. The morning exercises are enjoyable and misbehaving children sent to stand in the corner regard the punishment as a hilarious novelty. Learning-wise, some seem to relish the method of delivery—information seemingly force-fed to students, with the majority of class time occupied with note taking. Others are unable to comprehend the dictatorial rule that a Chinese teacher apparently wields.
There's always one
It is commonly known that Chinese schooling is much tougher than many of their western contemporaries. Students spend half the day at school and then go home to continue their homework. The university entrance exam, Gaokao (高考) , is famous for being one of the most stressful times in a student's life.
But the role teachers play in school may be one of the more unfamiliar aspects. They demand the utmost respect and pupils have no option other than to oblige. Standing to attention, showering them with gifts on special occasions , and not questioning orders are all normal happenings. There have been cases of teachers abusing their authority , and the more progressive ones have tried to implement new teaching ideas, but deviations from this norm have been few and far between.
At the end of this BBC documentary series, it will be interesting to see how the British students have progressed and whether they will show better improvements under Chinese teachers. On the other hand, this may all just be clever marketing ploy by the school and the [insert winning country here] education style.
Which method do you prefer?
Teachers are a big part of our lives and sometimes it is nice to show appreciation. For gift ideas, maybe take a leaf out of this student's book .
Cover image from 30edu.com
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