During my last meeting with one of my Korean students, she expressed concern about her daughter’s education. "We will go back to Korea in a few years. I'm afraid my daughter will struggle to adapt to schools there. She might lag behind in both English and Korean because her vocabulary and grammar in both languages aren't strong enough, even though she speaks English like a native."
This conversation made me think about the differences between the Korean and American education systems, their respective advantages and disadvantages, and how one might leverage the strengths of each while mitigating the drawbacks.
From what I’ve learned, the Korean education system shares similarities with the Chinese system in terms of its emphasis and methods. Both are rooted in the same cultural values and strong work ethic.
Firstly, like China, Koreans culturally place a high value on education and academic achievement. Education is seen as a key route to success, leading to significant pressure on students to perform well in school. The system is also exam-oriented, with students required to pass through multiple levels of testing.
Secondly, the curriculum in Korea is rigorous, with a strong focus on mathematics, science, and language studies, particularly English. For this, Korean students work very hard. Imagine if everyone stands up watching in a theatre, you have to stand up if you want to see the performance. So the children feel the pressure to perform well in school.
Thirdly, the learning methods in Korea, similar to those in China, emphasize rote memorization, drill practice, and standardized testing. The classroom environment is teacher-centered, with an expectation of respect and discipline from students.
In contrast, American children experience a more relaxed, fun-filled approach in public schools, which supposedly emphasize the holistic development of students. Academic performance is important, but so are other aspects like extracurricular activities, and social skills. The U.S. system embraces the idea that there are many paths to success, not just through traditional classroom learning. Creativity, critical thinking, and independent learning are strongly encouraged.
These differences explain why South Korea consistently ranks high in global education assessments like PISA, especially in mathematics and science.
On the other hand, the U.S. education system, with issues like inequality, shows more variability in academic outcomes, with some schools excelling while others fall behind.
Culturally, the two countries are vastly different. Korea values collective achievement and social harmony, viewing academic success as a reflection of family honor. Therefore, parental involvement in children's education is exceptionally high in Korea. In contrast, the U.S. emphasizes individual achievement, self-expression, and the pursuit of personal interests.
A Chinese saying goes, 尺有所短，寸有所长 (Chǐ yǒu suǒ duǎn, cùn yǒu suǒ cháng), meaning: "A foot may have its shortcoming, and an inch may have its strength." This implies that everything has its strengths and weaknesses. In this context, both the Korean and American education systems have their own advantages and disadvantages, and one must recognize and leverage the strengths while acknowledging the limitations.
Finally, in a country where everyone runs, you can’t just walk or lay flat (躺平, tǎng píng). While people may not always have the option to choose where they live or to experience the best of both worlds, they can strive to make the most of the opportunities available to them in any given moment.
This mindset extends beyond education and can be a guiding principle in many areas of life, reminding us to embrace what we have and turn challenges into opportunities for personal growth.