Education

1
Education

• USA, UK, Australia

2
Compulsory Education

• Free education ages 5 - 18 (13 years)
• In USA and Australia, the first year is optional
• called kindergarten or pre-primary
• usually only half a day
• The last two years are optional
• except in some American states
• Some children go to nursery school before age 5
  (requires tuition fee)

3
University

• Universities and colleges charge tuition fees
  most also receive some money from the government.
• but are not government-controlled
• each university sets minimum requirements for
  entry
• Acceptance is based on
• high school results
• a standardised test (maths and english)
• eg the SAT in America

4
University

• Most bachelor degrees are
• 4 years in USA
• 3 years in UK and Australia
• Final year in UK high school is more specialised
  than in America
• most students study only 3 subjects

5
University Learning

• Less classes than high school
• eg. for humanities students
• 4 - 5 units / semester
• 3 - 4 classes (45min) / unit
• A lot of independent study is needed
• humanities students reading, writing essays,
  preparing for tutorials
• science students exercises, assignments

6
University Learning

• Lectures
• each unit usually has 2 lectures / week
• Tutorials
• 10-20 students 1 tutor
• students discuss questions related to the
  lectures and the readings
• Labs
• for science units

7
University Learning

• Teaching how to think, not what to think
• Learning here isn't a one-way process in which
  you simply receive information from your
  teachers. Instead, you'll be encouraged to read
  widely, to research thoroughly and to question
  what you learn at every opportunity.
• (www.britishcouncil.org)

8
University Learning East West

• Tutors complain that many Asian foreign students
  dont participate enough in tutorials.
• Even if your answer is totally wrong, it is much
  better than I dont know.
• teachers want to see the process of learning (not
  only the result)

9
University Learning

• Benefits
• knowledge
• critical thinking
• ability to argue clearly
• self-discipline

10
Gap Year

• Some students choose to wait a year before
  starting university
• (after a university offers them a place, they
  apply to postpone it for a year)
• work
• travel
• volunteer work (often overseas)
• Harvard University (USA) even suggests it in
  their letter of admission

11
Gap Year

• In England, about 1/3 take this option