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Education - the Chinese way?

 

內地考生在「學生能力國際評估計劃」(Programme for International Student Assessment，簡稱 PISA) 成績屢創新高，西方社會不得不重新評估中式教育的價值。今集 Kevin 和 Crystal 從暢銷書 "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Dragon: Why China Has the Best (and Worst) Education System in the World" 談起，思考中式教育背後的代價。

 

這本書是說什麼的？

The author examines how China’s contemporary examination-driven system emerged from an authoritarian, imperial culture, and how it has become an object of admiration among some policy makers in the West.

 

authoritarian / authoritarianism 專制(的)

(adjective 形容詞)

 

何謂「專制」？

Authoritarianism is a form of government characterized by absolute or blind obedience to authority, as against individual freedom and related to the expectation of unquestioning obedience.

 

例子：China’s education system implements authoritarian cultural and political habits.

 

Imperial culture / imperialism 帝國主義

(noun 名詞)

 

= a culture connected with an empire

= a policy of extending a country’s power and influence through colonization, use of military force, or other means.

 

傳統中式教育會否「傷害」孩子？

Traditional Chinese education basically ignores children’s uniqueness, interests and passion, which results in homogenization.

 

homogeneous / homogenous 同質的

(adjective 形容詞)

 

homogenise 同質化

(verb 動詞)

 

例子：It is not easy to homogenise national cultures.

 

中式教育講求操練，也令人透不過氣來：

It forces them to spend almost all the time preparing for tests, leaving little time for social and physical activities. It also places them under tremendous stress through intense competition, which can damage their confidence and lowers their self-esteem.

 

tremendous 巨大的（無分褒貶）

(verb 動詞)

 

例子：The business is tremendously profitable.

 

中國在公開考試的成功，吸引美國仿效：

The U.S. has certainly become more like China in recent years. The No Child Left Behind Act has increased the stakes and usage of standardized testing. President Obama’s Race to the Top and other initiatives continue to push testing into schools and classrooms by associating test scores with teacher evaluation.

 

stake 風險

(noun 名詞)

 

► at stake = being risked and might be lost or damaged if unsuccessful

 

例子：The tension was naturally high for a game with so much at stake.

 

► high-stake 高風險的

(adjective 形容詞)

 

例子：High-stake examination

 

不過，此書作者公開指出，以孩子興趣與能力為本的教育會比較貼近人性：

The education we need is actually quite simply “follow the child.” We need an education that enhances individual strengths, follows children’s passions and fosters their social-emotional development. We do not need an authoritarian education that aims to fix children’s deficits according to externally prescribed standards.

 

foster 鼓勵/ 領養

(verb 動詞)

 

fix the deficit 解決赤字

(verb 動詞)

 

► in deficit

 

例子：The current account of the balance of payments is in deficit.

 

Kevin 教室

exceed vs. excess vs. excessive

 

exceed 超越

(verb 動詞)

 

例子：His performance exceeded all expectations.

 

excess 過量 / 多餘

(noun 名詞)

 

► an excess of sth = a larger amount than is needed

例子：An excess of house plants in a small flat can be oppressive.

 

► in excess of = more than a particular amount

例子：Avoid deposits in excess of one million in any one account.

 

excess 剩餘

(adjective 形容詞) * [additional] – neutral

 

例子：After cooking the fish, pour off any excess fat.

 

excessive 過量的

(adjective 形容詞) * [too much] – disapproval

 

例子：Excessive focus on test scores hinders a real education.

   
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