Essay - Why Korean students are so quiet in class?

Why Korean students are so quiet in class?

Mirae Yeo

1. Introduction

Korea has the highest investment ratio of R&D per GDP than other countries such as US, China, Europe, and so on. However, the number of articles is smaller than other countries, and there is no Nobel prize winner in the science. Mark Zastrow, editor of Nature, criticizes and analyzes this situation in Korea. One of the reasons that Mark suggests is the academic culture. Academic culture in Korea is apt to discourage the creativity and debate, so it’s hard to show innovative and positive results. There are several reasons why the academic culture in Korea is so quiet, and also in classes.

2. Reasons

2.1. School life

Korea has 9 years of compulsory schooling from elementary education to secondary education. In this period, children can learn social life directly or indirectly. Hence, teachers have affect students in a lot of ways. Sadly, there isn’t always great teachers. When I was in elementary school, I saw several teachers scold a student who ask a question about the basic concept. In more serious cases, they humiliate the student in the presence of other students. I was shocked, and after I saw that situation, I hesitate about asking.

This situation has been occurred in presentation, also. When someone express their own view and that view is quite strange or has no bearing on the subject, audience become silent and show “it’s too absurd to repeat!”

2.2. Transmitted culture

From the Joseon Dynasty period, being obedient to parents was the virtue of a good child. This virtue was transmitted for generations, and this virtue is so for lab culture in these days. Hence, it’s hard to reverse the culture in relatively fleeting moment.

3. Conclusion

Although Korean academic culture is quiet yet, the culture is constantly changing. Therefore, few years later, Korean academic culture will be active and dynamic culture.

 

* References

1] http://news.donga.com/Main/3/all/20160602/78472342/1

2] http://www.nature.com/news/why-south-korea-is-the-world-s-biggest-investor-in-research-1.19997