After I have been studying in Canada for two years, I have found there are some difference in educational system between China and Canada. More and more Chinese students come to Canada, not just to learn English, but also to experience different educational system. There are three main different parts in which education in China and Canada.  

First of all, the students’ expectations in the classroom in China are different from those in Canada. Generally speaking, Chinese students are quieter and participate less in class. They are not encouraged to express their ideas in the class. However, they would like to ask questions after class, because they are taught that asking teachers a question makes them seem stupid in class. Students are more focused on how to memorize everything they are assigned instead on developing student creativity and thinking skills. However, in Canada, students are encouraged to be more sociable and talkative. They are likely to deliver their feelings during the class. The curriculum emphasizes individual thinking, teamwork, and self-expression. Unlike China, Canadian teachers always say “No question is a stupid question.” Canadian students feel free to express their opinions.

Another area of difference in the educational system between China and Canada is the education goals. In China, students are trained to be like the exam-machines, because they have to pass the entrance exam in order to get in to a university. The higher mark they get on this exam, the better university they can enter. The goal of studying is teach to the test instead of providing more social, moral, thinking, and physical education. In contrast, in Canada, teachers help students to develop their thinking and potential skills. Students are more likely to think and solve problems on their own. Teachers do not merely prepare students to answer questions for the entrance exam.

The last obvious different between China and Canada’s education systems is the outside activities such as special interest club, primary research, and sport courses. In China, every Chinese school asks students to pay equal attentions to moral, social, and physical education, but the real focus is on passing the university entrance exam. For example, during the last year of the twelve years of compulsory education, teachers can even borrow time from other unnecessary classes or extracurricular activities to give students more practice in the area where they have to take the exam. For example, the teachers won’t give their students to take the art class because they think it isn’t important. On the other hand, Canadian education is more concerned with the outside activities. They believe a good student not only must have good marks on the basic subjects, but also should have special talents, social skills, level of maturity, teamwork skills, and leadership qualities. These are mostly learned from the outside activities.

Education is vital to everyone’s future success. While it may take ten years to grow a tree, a sound educational system may take twice as long to take root. Although China and Canada have different educational systems, both countries have the same ultimate goal: to educate their citizens as well as they can. This goal can be reached only if people take advantage of all the educational opportunities given to them. That is why I came to Canada to study, grow and become a better person.
 

August 2004