Job Discussion Forums

Jizzo T. Clown · Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:34 pm Post subject: Asian Uni Questions

I hope you guys can help me. I'm trying to do a paper addressing some of the differences between universities in China & Japan and the US.

I'm assuming that in those countries, it's more difficult to get into a uni than here in the states, but it's easier to finish with a degree there.

I'm not sure how responsible students have to be in those cultures. Of course over here, 95% (or more) of the responsibility of learning the material is on the students, which requires a lot of motiviation (perhaos more than is required in these two countries?).

Any insight you could give me into classroom etiquette, student/teacher expectations, entry/exit procedures (do they take an exit or comprehensive exam in order to exit the prgram?), or anything else you can think of would be appreciated.

The results will be used to help me formulate a list of what entering students need to know about American Classroom/University customs.

I'll be sure to cite you in my paper as a source (I can use your screen name if you want!)

Thanks again. Hope to get some feedback!

saint57 · Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 3:42 pm Post subject:

mlomker · Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 378

Jizzo T. Clown · Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 3:38 am Post subject:

Yeah, but the majority (if not all) public universities require a standardized test score for entrance and a certain GPA in order to earn a degree, to say nothing of financial aid requirements.

Maybe I should have asked what high-school students do (or are told they need to do) to prepare for uni?

My problem is that a few of the students feel that since they worked so hard to get to this point (uni in America), that it's time to relax (my guess, anyway).

One of the other teachers (who's never been abroad) claimed that in China, once they get into a good university, it's basically "relax" time and they'll pass as long as they go to class.

saint57 · Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 6:48 am Post subject:

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

If you have a list of specific questions, I would be happy to provide you with any information about entrance requirements at my particular university in Japan. I've been here almost 4 years now.

grwit · Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 329 Location: Dagobah

Uni in china is relatively easier than their highschool years but I wouldnt call it a time to relax. All the students I teach in china work very hard to pass. I guess their relaxation comes from spending less time in the classroom. Some students have failed in some subjects/courses and are repeating those subjects. Others failed many and have been kept down a year. Attendance is important in China Less than an 80% attendance rate is an automatic fail where I teach.

However most of the responsibility still falls on the teachers. The students expect the teachers to provide them with all the information they will need to pass and apart from the course material/textbook little other research is done.

Also I have heard stories about students parents passing large sums of money under the table to the leaders of the universities to guarantee their child will pass. But I have no proof to back this statement up. They are just rumors that I have heard. (Ahhh corruption can be a wonderful thing sometimes Wink

)

The big difference I have noticed between Chinese uni education and Australian uni education (sorry never been to america so I can't compare) is the lack of assignment/essay writing in China. At least half of my assessment at uni (if not more than half) was in the form of an essay and the rest by written exams. I have never seen or heard of a chinese undergraduate uni student writting an essay. Students studiying for their masters degree are required to write essays though.

I hope that helps!!!

kerrilee · Joined: 22 Jan 2006 Posts: 59 Location: Dalian, China

I am studying for my MA in China, and have previously studied in the UK and New Zealand. The students (undergraduate only, luckily) have to attend phys ed lessons, and all complete some military training at the start of their degree.........They seem to study a lot, but as previously said, I don't think there is much essay writing, the students are struggling now on the MA cos they haven't really written essays before (and they have to be in English he he). Not sure if they are harder to get in though. I know my uni has a lot of overseas students studying medicine who pay a lot cos they could not get into med school in their own country, they study on a different campus.....The students often live 8 to a room, and can only get hot water at certain times of the day, they have no access to hot showers. They also have a 10pm curfew, as opposed to an 11pm one for the international students and foreign teachers who live on campus....If you need to know more, just ask and I can chat more with my chinese friends who study there or english teachers who teach there too.I teach little kids in my spare time......