Western classroom
For example, let’s say you step into an American classroom. As the USA is an individualistic culture, where a strong sense of ‘I’ or ‘Me’ is cultivated, students will be produced that aim to pursue personal goals and to be self-reliant and competitive. They will view learning as a process of grasping new knowledge to facilitate their interactions with new people and environments next time. Should a teacher pose a question, they will participate readily, leading to a dynamic classroom environment. Even if the teacher is wrong in a particular question that he/she is solving, students will have no problems pointing out his/her mistakes – the teacher then would readily apologize.
Asian classroom
Now how rare is it to find that kind of behavior in Asian collectivist societies like Singapore or China? It’s much more common to observe a quiet, unresponsive classroom where drones of students listen passively to a single lecturer carrying on and on with his never-ending speech. Like in COMM 101 class, when Ms. Kam asks for volunteers to air their views, it’s so difficult to find willing participants who are not afraid to say their opinions. This is because most of us would either be afraid to lose face, or even to let the lecturer lose face by ‘upstaging’ him or her. Our classroom environment is hence quite static and boring. The whole point of learning in a collectivist culture is to learn how to acquire the customs and norms of that society in order function better as an in-group member. Hence students in collectivist cultures tend to automatically conform to the classroom. The general thinking is that since nobody wants to say anything, then I won’t say anything either! This whole attitude is in complete contrast to the Western individualistic culture.
Even the teachers are affected by culture. You’ll never find an Asian teacher singling out an individual student in a collectivist environment. This means that interaction between the student and teacher would be less likely, allowing the whole student body to be viewed as one entity. Yet, this would suit the Asian student just fine, as many of us would not want to stick out from the group anyways by having to talk to the teacher on a one-to-one basis in front of the whole class.
In the end, since we have all been brought up in different ways, we’d be comfortable with our own culture. If an Asian student were to be placed in a Western environment where he/she suddenly has to depend on her own sense of self and opinions, she might suffer or be at a loss on what to do. On the other hand, the Western student might feel frustrated having to survive in a restrictive, conformist Asian classroom. Is it ever possible to change our preferences? Do you think the Asian student or Western student would ever like it better in their foreign classroom environments, given they had time to adjust? Perhaps it would be that only the Asian student would enjoy her new environment better over time. Once you are ‘liberated’, it is hard to fall back into the other end of the spectrum, where strict rules and codes of conduct govern you.
16 comments:
I agree with your article fully! Sadly, our Asian classroom environment is in complete contrast with the Americal classroom.
I guess we have our culture to blame on, since we have been brought up in such an environment. Speaking up to a teacher who is of a higher authority was considered as disrespect since young. In contrast, the Americans have been taught to voice out any opinions since young, even at home with their parents.
Moreover, I will feel that such collectivism is not only displayed in classrooms, but also among fellow adult Singaporeans. If a reporter is to walk down the streets of Orchard Road asking for political opinions about our government for example, how many will actually voice out their opinions? Many will either walk away. Reason being they are either afraid to offend SOME people or they just do not know how to as our society does not 'function' that way.
Improvements are being made as the school structure is being altered in Singapore to promote creative thinking and public speaking. Sadly to say, we are still very far behind as compared to the Americans as stated in Kristy's example of our very own COM101 classroom.
As we belong to the collectivist society, people will find it easier to conform rather than to fight back, fearing being ostracised.
What do you think?
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I guess we it is easier for Asian to adapt more than the Westerners because it just takes more bravery for the Asian to speak up and express their opinions whereas the Westerner has to suppress his/her opinions which is much harder.
It perhaps has to do with our Asian culture and tradition. The lecturer/ teacher holds absolute authority and knowledge and as students/ learners, we have no right to question.
Perhaps it worked in the past, but it is seemingly irrelevant today where education and knowledge gaining requires much critical thought, analysis and discussion. This is the way to go from here on.
Yup. That's why I said culture affects our behaviour, gladys. Collectivists tend to be more timid, as they are not used to expressing individual opinions with no security behind them. In contrast, individualists are already comfortable speaking out their minds. As a results, individualist cultures tend to be more open rather than collectivist cultures, helping to perpetuate the differences between the East V.S. West way of life.
ya know, like what ruuderek was saying, it's kinda true. the government is trying to reform the education system to try and make the students more open and outspoken by requiring that the syllabus include critical analysis and thought. but because the culture still pervades, even in singaporean classrooms today you find that the teacher is so much more powerful than the silent student. but hey, things are changing slowly i feel. hopefully in the future we can reach a 'better' standard and our children will be able to have the ability to speak their minds out freely without fear of repurcussions.
i hate how teachers sometimes try to repress the student. asian culture really helps to give rise to the collectivist environment.
Good writeup!
I agree with collectivism in Asian societies and individualism in American societies. However, I believe that we should not view one as superior over the other, as there are indeed advantages and disadvantages that can be learnt from each respective culture. Also, the motivations should be addressed, what exactly spurs someone to be so concerned about the views of others that it will affect his or her own thinking, so the overconfidence in oneself that will belitle the opinions or good advice sometimes that he or her might be getting from around.
Regards,
Shawn Lee Wei Bin
hey kristy!
yea, i totally agree! the difference between us and th states is that obvious! i have a friend who was studying here, and went over to the states to study and he was saying how it was so different, and when you don't speak up there, people tend to label you as a "loner" or some quiet person with opinions!
so now, after studying there after a few years, he's totally changed and now voices his opinion all the time. haha.
well, i guess thats the part bout culture, where we can learn/it overlaps?
and maybe its not that we're a collectivist society, maybe is just because, as you said, don't like voicing our opinion because of fear of what people might say. cause i think we do have out own opinions and are pretty individualists but just have a problem with speaking our minds. haha.
sam♥
Shawn, I realise an interesting problem is that culture can affect the personality of a person so deeply that it determines 'psychological' problems that the person might have. For example, wouldn't you think it more common for Asians to suffer from intimidation and low self-esteem rather than the stereotypical belligerent and over-inflated egos of an American? Both peoples are not very balanced in the wellness of the mindsets, but I do believe their individualist vs collectivist cultures did play a part in making them that way. What do you think?
oh i totally agree with you. our lessons are so different from those in america. Here ppl tend to be shy and not speak up about their opinions or answers as some of them don't want to make mistakes in front of others. I think it takes a lot for asian to speak up in class. Although now ppl are encouraging them to spek up more it think it'll take them some time to get there.
In my opinion, the way lessons function on either sides of the globe (western and "asian") is largely attributed to the local culture and way of life.
Over at the western countries, children are being brought up less strictly, and generally lead life at a slower pace, well relatively both in and outside of school. Parents do not limit them as much as the asian counterparts do. They grow up while being exposed to a spectrum bad influences. A few examples. Children play video games and kill cops in games like grand theft auto. They watch wrestling, a huge entertainment "sport" in the western countires in the USA. Parents deal with their children with a very open mindset, and they usually do not think much of these bad influences and happenings. It is because those are, seemingly, already all part of their culture, part of being American. These “unrestricted” children grow up to be confident adults, with often no problems(fear) of voicing out their own opinions. Maybe that is why classrooms in the west have lively discussions all the time.
On the other hand, asian children generally live life in a totally different, or even opposite (in some aspects) manner. Asian parents generally have higher expectations of their children (personal life experience confirms this), and are extremely strict on discipline. In many cases physical punishment ie. caning is used to reinforce the latter aspect. (mrs sam!) These children are trained by their parents, peers, essentially by the environment, to take just what that they are given without any prior hesitation or thought. As these children grow and mature they become teenagers/adults with no tendency to express personal views. Usually, they end up having little capacity to think for themselves, and have problems evaluating and solving problems that occur around them. Then they develop a lack of confidence in voicing their own views. With a relatively conservative culture and a "content-based" study curriculum in place, "collectivist" classrooms are formed.
Perhaps it’s just an issue with incentive. Singaporean students in example, have no real incentive to participate in classroom discussions.
(Hahahaha will this do? :P almost forgot about this!)
I think that it really depends on your personality whether you enjoy an interactive classroom or a didactic one. It is likely that extraverted individuals would be at ease in an environment where they had to openly voice opinions while introverted students would prefer a more passive learning environment.
However, I think that this is not as true as some people think. Some people's preferred learning environment might be contrasting to their personalities. Perhaps the introverted student prefers to watch others engage in intellectual discussion and thrives on the voices of others. Maybe some introverts actually want the interactive lectures, not so much so that they can speak up, but so that they can observe others' insights through the verbal communication that takes place. Likewise, maybe some extroverts like to mellow down when they are in deep thought and consequently prefer the quieter, more passive learning environment because if it were a rowdy class, albeit due to constructive interaction, he or she may have the tendency to become distracted.
You may have a very interactive classroom, but if the content of the conversations are not substantial, you might not learn much. However, a lecture could be one-way, but if the content is brought across in an interesting and unique way, you might take a lot away with you. Ultimately, the manner in which the concepts are put across and the attitudes of the students are what matter most.
Hey Bryan, you've provided some very novel insights to the topic. It is interesting to discuss whether a person's natural personality will contrast or remain stable with the type of classroom environment that he/she would enjoy most. I suppose, though, that this would differ according to one's mood. It may be true that extroverts could seek to mellow down during lessons to focus, and introverts wouldn't mind hearing the opinions of others, but in the end i'd bet that the extrovert would be happier participating and feeling like he/she was involved, and the introvert have some peace and quiet to concentrate on the lesson.
The teacher will always be an integral part of how enjoyable the classroom experience it - that part is undeniable. They are the sole factors that can make students either love or hate the class - influencing the type of interaction that follows. Perhaps the distinguishing factor is not if the classroom is collectivist or individualist in nature, but rather if the energy of the classroom is constructive (everyone focuses and feeds off each other) rather can deconstructive (nobody cares - this can result in total chaos or dead unresponsive silence).
mmmm . I guess once you are brought up in a particular way , its kinda hard to try to adopt another culture . for me , as much as i want to speak up in class , i find it very hard to do so simply because i'm not used to it . it has to do with our perceptions too .
its gonna take a while before asian students will start to speak up more .
i totally agree with jasper. i find it difficult to speak up in class too because i was raised with the emphasis on the notion that 'kids should be quiet'. but i guess change depends on a person's adaptability as well- perhaps the eastern culture is relatively more resistant to change?
and i agree with gladys too, feel free to visit my blog to comment as well! =0D
I don't think that a quiet Asian classroom is all that bad. I mean as compared to some classes where everyone speaks out regardless of the quality of the comments, I rather enjoy the peace and quiet. But the situation that you highlighted is quite true i guess. I guess history plays a part in this outcome too. For years the West has been ahead of the East in terms of economy and technology. The developed nations thus has more time for the people to spend time discovering themselves as opposed to societies which requires the community to work together collectively. The strong influence of Confucianism in the East over the years also attributes to the conformity in Asian countries where people are focused on playing their roles in society. To say that the West is more "liberated" than the east sounds a bit negative. Even in a crowd of individualists, we need someone to coordinate all the differences. And in a collectivist culture, we also need a leader to rise above and show the way.
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