Chinese Educational Culture Vs. American Schools

1
Chinese Educational Culture Vs. American Schools

• This presentation will show you many differences
  between the Chinese school system vs. the
  American Schools system and then give you a lot
  of information about the Chinese schools!

2
(No Transcript)
3
History of Chinese Education

• Formal education has been traced back to the 16th
  century in the later Shang Dynasty (1523-1027 BC)
• In the beginning of the education, it was
  centered along the Six Arts Rites, music,
  Archery, Chariot-Riding, History, and math.
• Shortly after, during the teaching of Confucius,
  during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States,
  education gave way to the Four Books and The
  Five Classics These teachings outlined the
  principles of society and government, the codes
  for personal conduct, and collectively defined
  the Confucian philosophy.
• In 1949, the communist power began to take over
  China.

4
History of Chinese Education

• Following the Opium War, Western education began
  to take over Chinas educational system. This
  happened mostly by the help of Christian
  Missionaries. Many Chinese people saw this
  movement as humiliation, some liberalists saw the
  movement as an opportunity to form a balanced
  approach to education. Confucian ideas would
  continue to flourish with the help of Western
  Technology.
• In 1905, a series of reform measures were issued
  by the Qing Dynasty. This reform measure called
  for a modern system of primary, secondary, and
  tertiary levels of educations. These were based
  on Western systems.
• In 1911, the Qing dynasty was overthrown. A
  republican form of government was formed. There
  were already European, American, and Japanese
  models of education in China.

5
History of Chinese Education

• Between 1949-1966, the Soviet model was
  established into the Chinese educational system.
  This happened shortly after the liberation of the
  communists in China.
• In 1956, it was found that less than one-half of
  primary and secondary aged children were in
  school.
• Later on, regularization in the schools was
  re-established. Academic standards began to
  place and emphasis on the quality of education
  rather than the quantity at all levels. In most
  cases, the system of six years of primary
  education, three years junior secondary and three
  years secondary education was re-established.

6
Chinese vs. American Pre-schools

• Chinese Pre-schools
• Children ages 3-6 attend kindergarten in their
  neighborhoods
• Children learn the basics of the Chinese
  language, the Values of Truth, Beauty, and
  Kindness, they play games, act, sing, have P.E.,
  learn environment identification, drawing,
  handwriting, music, calculations and lessons in
  daily life.
• Many of these lessons are based on the childs
  age.

• American Pre-Schools
• There are pre-schools and nursery schools that
  children attend between birth and 4 years old.
• Children attend kindergarten around 5-6 years
  old.
• Children learn the alphabet, colors, and basic
  math such as counting and numbers.

7
Chinese Primary School vs. American Elementary
School

• Chinese Primary School
• Primary School usually lasts for six years
• Primary education includes English, Pottery,
  dance, drama, calligraphy,
• Some classrooms have the smell of incense and
  classical music playing to enhance a creative
  environment.

• Students usually learn Chinese language, math,
  and moral education.
• Foreign language is optional for primary students
  grades 4-6
• Students sometimes start the day with fifteen
  minutes of exercise on the playground.
• Some class sizes are up to 50 students.

8
Chinese Primary School vs. American Elementary
School

• American Primary schools
• Students do not choose a structure and often
  remain in one or two classrooms throughout the
  day with one teacher.
• Classroom sizes are between 20 and 30 students.
• The state decides what students learn in schools
  in America, but in China there is a National
  College Entrance Exam that dictates what children
  are to learn in China.
• In primary grades, students usually learn math,
  simple algebra, English grammar, spelling, and
  vocabulary. Science and Social Studies are taught
  too.
• Students also take P.E., art. And music.

9
Chinese Middle Schools

• Chinese middle schools consist of two parts Jr.
  middle school and Sr. middle School, each lasts
  three years
• Jr. Middle School is a continuation of Primary
  School and teaches sciences including
  chemistry, physics, and biology history,
  geography, foreign language and P.E.
• Sr. Middle school is like the American High
  School
• In Sr. Middle school, students choose a major
  of humanities or sciences. Students take classes
  according to which major that choose. They have
  to pass a National Exam at the end of Middle
  school.

• In China Students learn Chinese, math, foreign
  languages, political sciences, history including
  Chinas and other places, geography, sciences
  including physical, chemistry, and biology
  physical culture, music, fine arts, physiology,
  and work skills.
• Some students learn to be farmers or technicians
  in technical schools.

10
American Middle and High Schools

• Students usually change classrooms and teacher
  beginning in middle school.
• Students become more responsible for their own
  education.
• Middle school prepares students to go on to high
  school
• Students take science, math, social studies,
  reading and technology, P.E. is usually mandatory
  in primary through 9th grade
• Foreign languages offered in American Schools
  include French and Spanish (most popular) and
  German, Chinese, Latin, Greek, and Japanese (less
  common).

• In high school students choose electives which
  include
• Visual arts
• Performing arts
• Technology
• Computers
• Athletics
• Publishing
• And foreign languages

11
Chinese School Culture

• In the rest of this presentation you will learn
  of different Chinese school cultures including
  the length of day, the foods they eat, their
  dress code, the values students are taught in
  school, the languages spoken in China, and fun
  facts about the Chinese School System!

12
Length of School Day

• Chinese Middle School
• Classes start at 800 am
• There is usually a two hour lunch break because
  students go home for lunch
• They return at 200 and stay until 500
• They go home again at 500 and students return to
  school at 700
• Students stay at school until 800-830 pm but
  seniors stay until 900-930!

• American Middle-High School
• School usually lasts 6 hours starting around 800
  am and lasting until 200 pm
• Many students stay at school for extra curricular
  activates and tutoring
• Some students have JOBS!
• Many students go home and watch TV or play video
  games
• In primary school, many go to daycare.

• Why the difference in the length of day?
• Students usually stay at school longer to study!
• Schools accommodate students to help them study
  and do homework
• In America, most students have a quiet place to
  go and do homework, but China is densely
  populated and there are not a lot of quiet places
  for students to study, so schools stay open for
  them.
• Fun Facts
• Some schools stay open as late as 1100 pm!

13
Length of School Year

• Chinese Primary Schools have two semesters with
  one week in reserve sort of like winter break
  in America.
• There are 13 weeks throughout the year that are
  for vacations and holidays.
• The school year is 39 weeks long.

• Chinese Middle Schools are set up differently.
• Jr. Middle School has 39 weeks of school in two
  semester.
• Jr. Middle school has one week in reserve
• Sr. Middle school has 40 weeks in two semesters
  and two weeks in reserve.

• American Schools attend school six hours a day
  and usually have 175-185 days of school in a
  year. Most schools have summer break for 2 1/2
  months between June and August.

14
Food Served in China

• Traditional foods served in China include Rice,
  Fish, Chicken, Soup, Vegetables

• American lunches usually have a protein rich
  food, veggies, bread, milk, and fruit.

15
Chinese Dress Code

• Pants or skirts
• Plain khaki or black pants/skirts
• NO jeans, shorts, or cargo pants
• Pants and jeans fit at waistline
• Skirts must be two inches about knee or longer!
• Skirts cannot have any slits or opening
• Jewelry

• Shirts
• Plain white or school colored polo's
• Long or short sleeves
• School t-shirts, sweatshirts, or sweaters
• Plain white long-sleeved shirts or turtlenecks
  under shirts
• All shirts must be of appropriate size

• Jewelry
• Gold or silver jewelry
• NO dog tags!
• NO Pendants larger than a quarter
• Belts
• Plain brown, black or khaki belts with buckles no
  wider than belt
• No lettering, sayings, or pictures!

• Shoes and socks
• All shoes must have closed toes and heels
• Any colored tennis shoe with matching laces of
  appropriate size
• Dark soft soled shoes only! NO HEELS!
• Plain white socks with white shoes
• Dark socks with dark shoes

16
Chinese Values Taught to Children

• In China there is a value system that includes
  eight Honors and Disgraces
• Love the country do it no harm
• Serve the people never betray them
• Follow science discard superstition
• Be diligent not indolent
• Be united help each other make no gains at
  others expense
• Be honest and trustworthy do not sacrifice
  ethics for profit
• Be disciplined and law-abiding not chaotic and
  lawless
• Live plainly do not wallow in luxuries and
  pleasures

• There are five necessities in the Chinese
  Culture
• Food
• Clothing
• Housing
• Transportation
• Education

17
Languages spoken in China

• There are seven main languages in China!
• Mandrin
• Wu
• Cantonese
• Min
• Hakka
• Xiang
• Gan

• Fun Facts
• When you take in consideration different dialects
  there are between seven and seventeen languages
  spoken in China
• The English language is taught from the age of
  six in China. English can also be taken as a
  foreign language in Jr. Middle School!

18
Chinese Numbers

• Number Chinese Pronunciation
• 1 one yee
• 2 two uhr
• 3 three sahn
• 4 four suh
• 5 five woo
• 6 six lyo
• 7 seven chee
• 8 eight bah
• 9 nine jyo
• 10 ten shi

19
Chinese Stereotypes

• There are common false stereotypes and
  misconceptions about the Overseas Chinese that
  deserve to be corrected
• 1. They are one big family that extends from
  Mainland China across the world.
• 2. They are naturally business-minded.
• 3. They are cutthroat and unscrupulous in
  business.
• 4. They are clannish and communally closed to the
  outside world.
• 5. Their primary loyalties are to a foreign or
  native China.
• 6. They are all involved in secret societies that
  perpetuate the vices of gambling, drugs and
  prostitution.
• 7. They are a-political, only interested in
  making money.
• 8. They are all immersed in an intricate web of
  "networks" and connections by which they achieve
  unfair advantages in business.
• 9. Most Chinese achieve upward or downward
  mobility within a single generation.
• 10. All Chinese are urban dwelling
  merchant-middlemen who tend to cluster in
  Chinatowns.

20
Stereotypes contd

• Other Chinese stereotypes include that they are
  have dark hair, slanted eyes, and are short and
  skinny.
• Chinese/Asian characters have mostly been
  portrayed as Chinatown gangsters, Kung Fu
  fighters or forever-smiling servant types, no
  intelligence, no dignity.

21
Fun Facts!

• While American schools are focusing on
  standardizing reading, writing, and math. China
  is trying to stress more creative thinking and
  control!
• In the past, Chinese education focused on rote
  memorization. Today, teachers jobs are to
  promote, cooperate, and guide. China tries to
  emphasize hands-on experiences. This is so
  because Chinese students have all the knowledge
  they need, but they do not have the communication
  skills they need to compete in todays society.
• Many schools stay open until 1100pm!
• Schools try to create a powerful sense of
  community in the school!
• Students double as janitors! They sweep and clean
  the school everyday!
• Many Sr. Middle school students take over the
  lectures in math class!
• In some American Schools, students are allowed to
  leave school at 16 years old. In China, students
  stay until they are 18 because the age that
  people are allowed to have jobs is 18!

22
Questions

• 1. What is one thing that you thought was
  interesting about Chinese Schools?
• 2. Describe two of the eight values that Chinese
  Students are taught in school and compare them to
  values that you have.
• 3. Go to http//www.enchantedlearning.com/inventor
  s/china.shtml and read about a Chinese Inventor.
  Write one paragraph describing one invention and
  how it is used today in America.
• 4. Why are Chinese schools trying to stress more
  creativity in their classrooms?
• 5. List five things that are necessities in your
  life, compare them to the five necessities in
  Chinese peoples lives.
• 6. Compare Chinese Schools to your school, use a
  Venn Diagram.

23
Activities

• Practice Writing Chinese numbers
• http//www.enchantedlearning.com/school/China/numb
  ers/Writenumbers.shtml
• Make a Chinese Calendar
• http//www.enchantedlearning.com/books/holiday/chi
  nesenewyear/info//
• Practice eating noodles with chopsticks
• Pretend that you are attending a Chinese Middle
  school, write a narrative story describing the
  events of your day.

24
Bibliography

• Baker, Linda. (2004). Chinese Schools Get
  Creative.
• http//www.csmonitor.com/2004/0120/p14s01-legn.htm
  l. (this website tells about how Chinas schools
  are reforming toward creativity instead of rote
  memorization)
• Chinatown Connection. (2007).History of Chinese
  Education, Five Necessities of Chinese Culture.
  http//www.chinatownconnection.com/chinese_educati
  on.htm. (this website tells about the Chinese
  necessities for living)
• English Plus. (2000). A Month in a Chinese High
  School.
• http//englishplus.com/news/news0700.htm. (this
  is a personal journal of a woman that spent a
  month in China and told of her experience)
• Nicholls, Mark. (2007). Friendship Is The Dish Of
  The Day.
• http//new.edp24.co.uk/content/features/story.aspx
  ?brandEDPOnlinecategoryFeaturestBrandEDPOnlin
  etCategoryFeaturesitemidNOED2820Jan20200720
  140832267 (this website told about the foods
  that Chinese studetns eat for lunch)
• Sina Corporation. (2006). CPC Promotes "Core
  Value System" to Lay Moral
• Foundation for Social Harmony. http//english.sina
  .com/china/1/2006/1018/92262.html. (this website
  tells about the values that Chinese children are
  taught in school)

25
Bibliography

• Surowski, David B. History of the Educational
  System of China.
• http//www.math.ksu.edu/dbski/publication/history
  .html. (this website has the history of Chins
  educational system)
• Unknown. (2000). Education.
• http//www.index-china.com/index-english/educatio
  ns.htm. (this website gives pertinent information
  about each level of Chins edcuation system)
• Unknown. Overview of the Educational System of
  China.
• http//www-personal.ksu.edu/dbski/publication/ove
  rview. (this website gives pertinent information
  about Chinas education system)
• Unknown. Basic Education. http//www.tiglion.net/c
  hina/gen_info/educate/basic.htm (this website
  gives pertinent information about each level of
  Chinas education system)
• Unknown. The American School System.
• http//www.rzuser.uniheidelberg.de/el6/presentati
  ons/pres_c2_uss/TheAmericanSchoolSystem.htm (this
  website gives pertinant information about
  American educational system)
• Wikipedia. (2007). Chinese Language.
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_the_Unit
  ed_States. (This website tells about the
  different languages spoken in China)
• Wikipedia. (2007). Education in The United
  States.
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_the_Unit
  ed_States. (this website tells about the
  educational system in the United States)

26
Bibliography

• http//www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-12/1
  0/content_399251.htm (this website has one
  stereotype of Chinese people on it)
• http//www.enchantedlearning.com/themes/china.shtm
  l (this website has activities for children k-3
  about China)