Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
entrance exam) the local school system is 100 percent geared to do this. It's not really a
style, however, that marries well with a Western education system. Learning is more pass-
ive—the teachers talk, the students absorb. Students rarely ask questions, often out of a fear
of losing face, and there is little spontaneous interaction. There is also extensive emphas-
is on rote learning methods, mathematics, science, Chinese culture, and history. Creativity
and independent thought are not strong points.
Not all Chinese schools are the same, however, and some schools are trying to make
changes and introduce more creativity into their programs. There is also a growing number
of private schools, which promise more international approaches to education and slicker
environments. As things stand, however, even the most modern Chinese schools still find
themselves shackled by the need to prepare their students for the same rigid exam system,
so there remains a limit to exactly how liberal they can be.
Chinese school hours can be long—from as early as 7am to 4pm—and often require
students to attend compulsory classes on Saturdays as well. In addition to the homework
that they're already assigned to do, kids also face pressure to attend after-school tutoring or
b
ǔ
xíb
ā
n
(
補習班
), roughly translated as “cram classes.” Extracurricular activities, such as
sport, music, and art, do exist, but the range is unlikely to match the diversity of what you
might be accustomed to in your home country. In countries such as America or Australia,
the real pressure at school may crank up in the final year or two before high school, but
in China, the pressure to do well in the
g
ā
ok
ǎ
o
is tangible from kindergarten. Children as
young as seven or eight will have weekly tests, and their results are often posted on a school
intranet for all parents to see.
In Chinese schools, class sizes are relatively large with 30 to 50 students per class. Stu-
dents are randomly assigned into classes when they first start and will often stay in these
same groups throughout their schooling, regardless of ability. There is no segregating of
children with higher or special learning needs.
Chinese schools are extremely strong in objective subjects like math and science, and
the skills carry over into everyday life—just watch to see how quickly and easily a Chinese
person can recall a cell phone number that they've just seen. If such subjects are your child's
passion, then maybe a Chinese school will work for them. It might not be to their advant-
age, however, if individuality or creative expression is more their thing.
In theory most local schools can accept foreign students, but in practice, many won't.
If your child is fluent in Chinese this will give them a better chance, and if they have a
Chinese appearance, this may also be a bonus. But if none of these factors help, then you
may need to call on your connections and quite possibly hand over a well-padded red en-
