differet learning styles
One week's CBE study had ended. I learned a lot during this week. But each time I wanted to write something, I found it quite hard to express myself~
During my last about 18 years of study life, I had never had a class like this. In China, teacher is someone who mostly be the representative of truth and authority. In China, we never call a teacher only by his/her name, instead we should call "teacher+family name". If a teacher is called only by the last name, he must be thought of unrespected and it's definitely run counter to the traditional culture of China.
In China, as our teachers are always be highly respected, and also as we got the biggest population in the world, we seldom have opportunity to talk in the class. We learn what the teacher told in the class. We seldom or even never have group discussion in school. Teacher is definitely the only leader of the whole class. What we should do is just sitting down and making notes of what the teacher says. However, don't talk in the class doesn't mean we cannot express our ideas or we cannot voice when the teacher make a mistake. KongZi, who was the founder of China's culture, had encouraged people to ask questions. So, if we have something don't understand or have some ideas, we can talk to teachers after class. And now, after years of learning habit, when we come to a foreign country to further the study, we can easily find that in class, most Chinese students prefer not to talk in public. They just sit there, listen, and make notes. And this kind of state always be considered by westerners as "no thinking, no learning, and no passion in discussion". What a misunderstanding!
Hpwever, now, I'm studying in the class which require quite a high ability of presentation and leading and such sort of things. Although in China, I had been the monitor for several years and I got many opportunities to practise my personal abilities, I also find that it's quite hard for me to fit for this new studying style in a short time. However, I'm trying: trying to think like a westerner; trying to speak and express as others do; and trying to be someone who absolutely be part of the UK's culture and life.
I really got too much to do. Life is not easy. However, I have hope in mind, which can give me more power and motion. Memorize the expectation eyes of my family and friends, I will be so delighted and will strive for a bigger progress~~~
13 Oct 2008 22:24
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Tags: Learning Style
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13 comments by 4 or more people
[Skip to the latest comment]Keep fighting together Ally :)
14 Oct 2008, 00:31
Which teaching / learning style do you like more? China or UK
14 Oct 2008, 18:17
Nice to learn about Chinese teaching styles…I would like to know more about it!
15 Oct 2008, 23:49
Mr.xiaoyu
houxiuxixiu
16 Oct 2008, 08:32
Paul Roberts
Ally, another great post with an extremely interesting reflection on the differences between the style of learning that you are used to and what you are finding on the Management for Business Excellence masters programme.
I appreciate that the differences in learning styles must be difficult to get used to but I observe that perhaps without being conscious of it, you are adapting extremely well to team-based learning through discovery. I look forward to further reflections from you as the course progresses.
16 Oct 2008, 10:28
HZQ
You can do everything well. I trust you. Come on!
18 Oct 2008, 20:13
Xu, I’m sure you’re getting on just fine. Don’t worry about it and don’t let it tire you out!
As a Maths and English teacher (at mostly international schools), I have had quite a lot of experience of Chinese students and I found that over the course of the term they would build up confidence for discussion and assertiveness which made them stronger students, even if it was a struggle at first. I’m not saying that the Western way is better than the Chinese style but I would say that being in an environment where you are encouraged to participate is an opportunity to practise expressing yourself in front of other people your age and build up your self esteem.
Keep doing what you’re doing!!
19 Oct 2008, 02:45
Louis, I think by now I prefer the Chinese learning styles, because I’m not totally used to the UK one~But I definitely know that the UK one is much better for building a character of a leader and it’s really good for brainstorm so I think after this one years’ of study, I will love the UK one and I do want myself learn more here, learn more from you guys~~
20 Oct 2008, 22:10
Hey,Ally, What you descriped about your learning style in china is almost same as we do in Taiwan,it’s quite interesting to find out the similarity. Actually this is also true in other Asian countries like Japan and Thailand. I just feel it interesting that I am not alone!
24 Oct 2008, 19:26
Dear Ritina, you will never be aloneI think during this coming year, I and other MBE friends will always beside youand you will always find some similar points between us~Let’s work on together!
25 Oct 2008, 12:54
Katharine Widdows
Thank you for posting this. It’s a very interesting reflection. I am currently looking at Learning Styles for a PGA project and this has been a good post to flag up to me the importance of considering culture when considering learning.
03 Nov 2008, 12:12
Helen Ireland
I chair a working group of Library staff who are trying to improve the Library’s services to international students, so I found your blog very interesting. Thank you.
05 Nov 2008, 12:47
fishing tackle
VAC – Visual Kinaesthetic and Auditary very intersting – adults and children do use the brain very differently
08 Jan 2009, 11:02
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