Comparison of Expectations of High School Student in China and in America

这是一篇通过美国和中国教育模式的对比，得出彼此优缺点的essay，文章主要做对比的对象是高中生，在中国，老师,家长和学生仍持有认为进入大学是他们享受自由的第一步的理念，虽然学生们在发达城市能够拥有一个丰富多彩的生活,但是大量的学生在仍然会面对巨大的学习压力。相反,美国学生没有来自父母的压力。他们能够沉浸在俱乐部活动,兼职和实习，从时尚行业到商业企业,没有被他们的家庭或学校干预太多。中国必须改变这样的教育方式，但是目前来看，这种情况至少还需要持续至少10年，总之,学生们在中国只能是适应，而在美国是可以选择。因此,美国的教育体制更适合学生的成长，而中国是努力改善它。

  The U.S. and China are always compared together in aspects of politics, economy and culture. Apart from these macro viewpoints, I always wonder what a normal workday goes if I am a high school student in China. Will I be able to embrace outdoor researches and social activities as I do now? After searching online and making interviews, I have gained a basic concept about the differences of expectations of students in America and in China.
  The first distinction lies in attitudes towards study. Confucianism, which has been promoted for thousands of year in China, advocates ideas like “Respect a child’s faculties from the moment it inhales the clear air, but a man of fifty who knows nothing is worthy of no respect”. Though keen on learning, since the ancient examination system, called “the imperial examinations”, selected officials mostly based on grades, nowadays, Chinese students are still focusing more on grades rather than learning abilities. When searching key words like “study” via the biggest searching engine in China, Baidu, you will get a list of websites claiming that they aim to improve your grades in a semester’s time. Similar advertisements are overwhelming. I think what leads to it is that Chinese high school students are under great pressure of the college entrance examination since most of them regard it as a key to a new life, whereas American students have been quite independent both economically and psychologically. The latter are given opportunities to choose their own way whether to go to college or earn themselves an early career.
  Some people may argue that there are high schools that concentrate to foster students comprehensively. Yet, I asked several friends from provinces in China, like Anhui and Shandong. They told me a sad fact that teachers, parents and students are still holding the opinion that getting into university is their first step to enjoy the freedom to develop an interest of their own, a life in their own hands. That is, though students in developed cities in China are able to possess a colorful life, a huge number of students in China are still coping with tremendous academic pressure.
  On the contrary, American students have less academic pressure from their parents. They are able to immerse themselves in club activities, part-time jobs and internships from fashion industries to business corporations, without being interfered much by their families or schools. Getting into a famous college doesn't equal a bright future here.
Besides, Chinese students are taught to be obedient. Mentally speaking, they are educated to be modest, which requires them to hardly talk about their accomplishments unless mentioned. Their lives mainly are constricted to schools, since everyone is asked to get to school early and leave late as if long-time study surely brings about good results. In addition, challenging the teacher in the classroom is less frequently than in an American class. Chinese students follow a certain procedure of listening, memorizing and practicing. Such an education system is referenced as a “spoon-feed” one, which indicates a teaching way that emphasizes on passing on knowledge rather than communication and questioning. They seldom raise their doubts in class to avoid losing "face" if they are wrong. Meanwhile, American classrooms encourage academic questions and discussions. Classes are more communication-centered rather than merely teaching rules and knowledge of a certain subject.
One more thing about expectations of high school students in both countries is that Chinese students live a much easier life comparably speaking. Since Chinese students recognize study as their main and perhaps the only task, they are free from worrying about living basics. Their families and schools have already taken care of everything else in hope of constructing a perfect environment of pure study. However, Americans are far away from this type of “babysitted” life. They are treated as an adult, taking responsibilities of their own life. Yet, the easy mode of Chinese high school students leads to a serious problem in the future. These students may find it extremely hard to live independently and lose their competiveness in fields of cooking, driving and other necessary requirements of a self-satisfying life.
  In this way, a huge challenge lies ahead of Chinese students that they are obliged to make a quick adjustment as soon as their high school comes to an end. A brand new society is ahead of them. If they want to be embraced by it, they have to improve their skills from all dimensions.
  More and more people have realized the deadly disadvantages of Chinese education. Government is endeavoring to make impairments to this current situation, where they are researching and collecting useful reform procedures from America, Japan, Singapore, etc. Yet, educational reform is a huge project that requires powerful supports from individuals, families, societies and economy. So, the pessimistic situation will last for at least a decade since provinces and cities in China differ in thinking modes and norms.
In conclusion, the rule of being a student in China is to follow whereas the one in the U.S. can choose. So, the education system in America does better in students' growths while China is making great efforts to improve it.