Wasai --- School on Sunday!!?

Before coming to Taiwan, I was teaching English at an international summer school course in England. Most of the students in my class were European, but there were also one Taiwanese girl, Amy. She was 15 years old, and so must have been in junior high school.
One day I asked the students what they liked to do in their free time; most of the students were of one mind, they hang out with friends, watch movies, play video games and sports. Amy however, told us that she didn’t get much free time because she was always at school. At first I thought that she hadn’t understood my question, “No, no,” I explained, “‘free time’, is the extra time you have after school.” “I know,” she answered, “but I go to school early in the morning and come home at about 9 o’clock, then I do my homework.” “And the weekends?” I asked her. “Yes, it’s the same.”

The other students stared at her like she was from another planet, and even I found it hard to believe. In Europe it’s just not possible for someone to spend that much time in school. Coming to Taiwan though, I realized that not only was it true, but that she wasn't particularly strange either.

On the rare occasions that I manage to get out of bed for my "daily" 6am bike ride, I see kids going off to school. At 9, or even 10 o'clock at night you can still see them coming back home. I can't help but feel sorry for them when I'm out enjoying myself on Friday night, and they're standing there at the bus-stop, waiting for their ride home. It wouldn't be so bad, except for the fact that a lot of them will be back off to school early on Saturday morning.

Submitted to Wasai Taiwan by: Andrew Crosthwaite
( the U.K. )

related video:
school

Wasai---Making friends in college

The education experience in Taiwanese colleges is very different from my experience going to college in the United States. In America, going to college seems like a bigger rite of passage than it is in Taiwan. Many parents as well as their children come to help move in, and there is sometimes a tearful farewell. Perhaps this is due to the fact that most students do not go home to visit their parents and families every week, as many of the students I've met have told me they do. Therefore, it seems harder to get to know other fellow floor-mates and spend a lot of free time with them. Whereas most American college students really treasure their times in college, it seems like going home every weekend does no allow the same kind of relational bonds to form in Taiwan. I also noticed when I went into the dorms in Taiwan to visit a friend that most students seem to stay within their rooms and play computer games. In fact it seemed like a lot of the students didn't know their floor-mates, or even their next-door neighbors. In America, all of the doors in a hallway are open, and people go in and out; students end up getting to know easily 30 friends like this as they see each other daily, hang out, play board games, eat together, play sports, and go on trips together. These bonds are strengthened by the fact that many students stick around campus on weekends. However, this kind of open life does not seem to happen in the dorms that I've seen or according to the students I've talked to.

In addition, America's college students do not have as strong a departmental identity as Taiwanese students. Rather, most of the friendships and relationships formed happen within the dormitories or student clubs (fraternities, sororities, and other social clubs). Students do meet many other students in classes, but a lot of their friends come from outside of their classes. It was strange to hear of intramural basketball teams created here within the math department or the civil engineering department. That would be really odd and even mocked as nerdy in the United States, since most people just create teams among their dorm floors, club, or friends.

Submitted to Wasai Taiwan by: Allen Chen (Hsinchu)

===================================================================

related post:

I was born and raised in the States by parents that moved over from Taiwan after college to study. Growing up, I have visited Taiwan on multiple occasions to see relatives, and most recently, I have moved back to Taiwan to stay here for a year.
One cultural difference that I have noticed here, especially this time around, is the strong sense of community that exists here, notably at the university level, since I am spending most of my time with college-age students and can compare them to students at UC Berkeley back home. There is a unity within university departments that is hard to find back in the States, and it seems like everyone belongs to some kind of club that they can call their family. There seems to be much less individualism and fewer loners here in Taiwan. From my conversation with students here, it seems like familial loyalty is also more pronounced here than in the States, where you hear more stories of sons and daughters happy to be out of the house and ready to rebel against their parents’ authority once they begin college.

Jonanthan Chou (Hsinchu)

Wasai---Cross-culture Analysis of Education

While studying in Taiwan, I have had the opportunity to experience a slightly different educational system. To a large degree, academic education is a highly valued commodity in Taiwan. In fact, academic prowess serves as the main, and – dare I say – sole means to evaluate the potential and intelligence of a student. As a result, standardized tests serve as the main tool to evaluate students. Admission into quality high schools, universities, and graduate schools are almost completely based on a student's standardized exam score. Due to this heavy focus on academics, every student I have talked to has attended cram school as a child. These cram schools act as second schools for many of the students who attend with many students in class from morning until late into the evening. The popularity of these cram schools make for a highly profitable business. Entire skyscrapers house a plethora of cram schools, and parents even sleep outside the night before in order to get their children into the best cram schools.

In the United States, supplementary course work is usually for students who are struggling with their normal school curriculum or span a few weeks in preparation for standardized entrance exams such as the ACT or SAT. Parents generally encourage their children to develop hobbies and interests outside of academics. Instead of cram schools, students regularly join extracurricular activities such as organized sport teams or common interest clubs. Many times, parents encourage adolescents to find part-time jobs more so for the experience than for financial reasons. Rather than solely a time for academic pursuit, Americans view college as a time for experimentation, self-discovery, and fun.

In Taiwan, the acquiring of “book knowledge” and the ability to succeed on standardized exams provide a means for upward mobilization – at least in the academic realm. Admission into a good high school, a good college, and a good graduate school are based on testing ability. In the United States, in addition to “book smarts,” students are encouraged to have “street smarts” or real life experiences outside of the classroom. In addition to grade point average (GPA) and standardized exam scores, college admission applications often ask for extracurricular interests, essays discussing personal experiences, and teacher recommendations. Elite colleges such as Yale, Harvard, and MIT include face to face interviews in their application process. Graduate school admission is much in the same fashion.

Ultimately, this difference in philosophy is due to differing views on the definition of intelligence and the proper skills needed to achieve success. In Taiwan, Confucius thought plays a large role in determining societal norms and educational philosophy. People in Taiwan generally place greater value on acquiring “book knowledge” than people in the United States. Parents constantly refer to their children's or other parent's children's college or class rank. “So-and-so's child ranked first in their class and goes to MIT!” Academic prowess garners respect for the child and parent. In the United States, students who may not achieve as high ranks in their class are not necessarily seen as lazy or under-achievers, but having talents other than academics. Parents brag about their children's achievements in areas ranging from academics, to sports, to social functions such as becoming class president or prom queen/king. As a result of these differing attitudes, the traits of a successful student are slightly different.

From my time abroad in Taiwan, I have come to appreciate the intricacies involving in the relationship between education and culture. A society's education and culture continually change with the advent of globalization and modernity, and they both influence the development of the other. The educational system in Taiwan is rapidly changing and developing along with Taiwan's dynamic culture. The educational system in Taiwan approaches an exciting turning point. Taiwan, a place where ideas and knowledge from around the world are consumed, is slowly transforming into a place where ideas and innovations emerge.

Submitted to Wasai Taiwan by: Sam Tsu

(Hsinchu, Taiwan--- Chicago, the U.S.)

For Expats
For Taiwanese