It’s my third year at UNC and I’m finally getting a grip of how to blend in with my American Counterparts.
Despite my so-called “international” education (I have attended a British, American and international school throughout my life), I still follow Korean customs deeply rooted in East Asian cultures. I observed myself swiftly absorbing both eastern and western habits during my adventures at UNC.
Traditionally, teachers were treated with great respect in East Asian cultures. It still isn’t common to “hang out” and have a casual coffee break with a teacher in Korea.
It’s even considered rude to ask questions during a professor’s lecture. Some perceive it as a disruption and a challenge against the professor’s authority.
I was pleasantly surprised at how easily UNC students raised questions during a class to make sure they fully understood the materials. My favorite classroom interaction is when a professor openly admits that he or she does not have the answer to a question, and a student Googles and actively searches for the answer on behalf of the entire class.
No one is offended, and everyone has earned a piece of knowledge.
See, this would be a disaster in Korea — the professor would be considered incompetent and the student extremely arrogant to correct the professor.
I’m getting better at pronouncing my opinions in the middle of a class and making inquiries (although I still squirm every time) thanks to the open environment.
There’s no doubt that education system in Korea has its pros and cons. We’ve managed to grow into an industrialized nation in approximately 50 years due to rigorous education and extreme work ethics.
Yet, questions are being raised about the impact of silencing students in their academic endeavors in Korea. People are vying for a change in classroom environments and a slow but definite reform is in progress.
America is imposing standardized tests and forcing teachers to teach to the tests, limiting creative educational opportunities for students in public schools. That’s precisely what Korea is trying to move away from, and we’re relying a lot on western educational models.
Regardless of where you are in the world, I think an open and forgiving educational environment should be encouraged.
To get the day's news and headlines in your inbox each morning, sign up for our email newsletters.
