by Anh Nguyen
When comparing the purposes of American and Vietnamese educational systems, the difference between the two concepts is quite clear. One of the unexpected aspects that people in the Western world do not see is the difference between the two cultures and the education system. This is an unbiased topic where we only look at the pros and cons of both education systems without praising one over another. Based on the article from Ivy Talent Education (Leila, April 28th, 2021), there are some significant differences between American and Vietnamese education, regarding teaching style, school subjects, testing, academic awards, technology, and extracurricular activities. Based on my own experiences in grades 1-7, I can confirm that Leila sums up fairly accurate information about Vietnamese education.
Regarding teaching style, the Vietnamese classroom tends to focus on theoretical-based study rather than discussion-based study. The utmost traditional way of learning in school is to take notes and listen to the teacher’s lecture. This is due to the number of students in the classroom, which is usually about 30-45 – about 25 students in private schools. When it comes to the teaching style in the U.S., teachers encourage students to participate in the discussion, which can enhance certain skills. Not a lot of schools that I know here in the U.S have an Academic Awards system, but it is extremely important for Vietnamese students since it impacts their academic reputation. Students who are part of a “Highly Selective Class” are asked to study heavily on subjects like math, science, and English. %hey have to study “the breadth and depth” of those subjects in order to enroll in certain competitions.
Subjects’ requirements in Vietnamese education are very strict and academic based. Students are required to study math, either natural science (physics, biology, chemistry) or social science (geography, history, civic education). Students often attend tutoring sessions outside of school – not because they are falling behind, but because they want to perfect their knowledge and maximize their academic scores.
The Vietnamese testing system is another aspect that causes many students to become overwhelmed; especially in the 12th grade. Vietnamese education heavily grades on academic subjects and students have to revise a significant amount of work before they can take the entrance exam. Because the entrance exam scoring system is complicated, students will choose their high school based on their score. The lower their score is, the lower chance that they could attend the most competitive high school.
Teachers and students must adapt to Vietnam's new website-based study which formed during the pandemic. As blackboards and papers have always been a school tradition, U.S. teaching is much different since it has become more advanced with technology like Google Classroom, Canvas, and/or Learning Management Systems (LMS). Finally, extracurricular activities have become popular among high schoolers. Those activities actually provide more opportunities for students to volunteer in sports, debates, student publications, etc. When volunteering, students potentially learn leadership skills as well as social skills.
As we can see, the difference between the U.S. and Vietnamese educational systems lies in the purpose, style, and cultural perspectives. Vietnamese or any other Asian educational systems may be a tough place for students to learn, as it can cause lots of stress. However, this system results in students being very well trained, prepared for stressful working environments, and ready for good quality higher education. And for U.S. education, the system trains students to have a balance between their social life and academic life, which leads to the enhancement of proper life skills when working within a community.
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