More than just Potato and Potahto:

1
More than just Potato and Potahto
Differences in Educational Environments and
Philosophies around the World

• Angie Jones, University of Central Florida
• John King, University of Central Florida

2
Objectives and Overview

• Purpose
• Survey (Pre-Study)
• Advisor-Survivor

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Purpose

• To give an overview of educational philosophies
  from around the world to benefit general advisors
  in the areas of awareness, cultural programming,
  and developmental advising

4
THAILAND

• Intro to Thai culture
• History of Education

5
Thailand Intro to Culture

• Monarchy
• Hierarchy
• Buddhism

6
Thailand Intro to Culture

• Collectivism
• Sanuk (fun)
• Conflict Avoidance
• Kreng Jai
• Land of Smiles

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Thailand Intro to Culture

• Polite smile for someone you barely know
• Stiff smile I should laugh at the joke though
  its not funny
• Evil ideas smile
• Im impressed smile
• Lighten the mood smile
• Sorry I screwed up smile
• My situation is so bad I might as well smile

8
Thai Universities School Uniforms
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Thailand vs. United States in Higher Ed

• Thailand
• Rigid rules, red tape
• Exams more rigorous and graded more difficultly
• Lack of critical analysis
• Rote learning focused

• United States
• Many exceptions to rules
• Exams often include points for efforts, extra
  chances
• Critical analysis important
• Participatory learning

10
Thailand vs. United States in Higher Ed

• Thailand
• Strong mentoring between students
• Voicing non-popular opinion considered
  disrespectful
• Disagreeing with professor on academic subjects
  considered disrespectful
• Aware of social class and hierarchy

• United States
• No cultural precedence for peer mentorship
• Okay to voice non-popular opinion if provide a
  valid argument
• Okay to disagree with many professors on academic
  subjects
• Less aware of social class and hierarchy

11
SAUDI ARABIA

• History of Education
• General System of Education
• Curriculum/Texts
• Assessment
• Culture in Education
• Saudi Arabia vs. United States

12
Saudi Arabia History of Education

• Islam focused goal of spreading and honoring
  Muslim values
• Kuttab schools focusing on Islamic studies,
  reading, writing
• Simple agrarian society ?oil rich (1938) ?
  education focus on resources
• 1953 Ministry of Education centralized
  modern reformed
• 1970- Modern movement revisited learn in a
  correct and comprehensive manner, Muslim values
  teaching and ideals, skills and knowledge to
  contribute to the development of the Saudi
  Arabian society economically, socially, and
  culturally

13
Saudi Arabia History of Education

• 1957 King Saud University founded 1st class
  had 21 students
• 1961 Women admitted as external students in
  Colleges or Arts and Administrative Sciences
• Today 50,000 students

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Saudi Arabia History of Education

• 1970 7000 students enrolled in
  colleges/universities
• 2004 200,000 students enrolled

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System of Education

• Three levels
• Primary (six grades ages 6-12)
• Intermediate (three grades ages 12-15)
• Secondary (three grades ages 15-18)
• School Hours ? 5 days a week, Saturday to
  Wednesday
• Seven periods of instruction (45 minutes each)
• 20 minutes for lunch
• 30 minutes devoted to noon prayers
• Four Main Authorities of Education
• Ministry of Education
• Presidency of Girls education (Eliminated in
  2003)
• Ministry of Higher Education
• General Organization on Technological Education
  Vocational Training

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Curriculum

• Centralized Academic Developed by Ministry of
  Education
• No flexibility of Electives
• Teachers not involved in Curriculum Development
• Specifics
• Primary 9 hours a week for Arabic Lessons, 12
  hours for other subjects
• Intermediate 8 hours/week for Arabic, 19 hours
  for other subjects
• Secondary Same as Intermediate 11th divided
  into science and arts (60 students must enter
  science track)

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Texts

• One textbook per grade teachers must stick to
  book
• Censored to not include sex or female images
• Teacher outlines text on board Note-taking ?
• Ignores students needs and abilities
• Rote learning (Islamic Tradition) move toward
  critical thinking skills

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Grading System
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Culture in Education

• Respect and Dignity held high
• Hospitality guest first
• Friendships system of favors, rude to refuse
  help
• Separation of grades from age seven
• Voice opinion (sign of excellence) loud voice
  marks a degree of seriousness

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Culture in Education

• Student can help friend answer teachers question
• Not cheating communal learning, sharing
• Student/Teacher relationship formal
• Relationship between students is close and
  non-competitive
• People more important than rules (negotiation)
• Casual dress not encouraged in classroom
• Inappropriate to ask about female members of a
  mans family

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Saudi Arabia vs. United States

• SAUDI ARABIA
• Rote Learning Focus
• Lessons do not conflict with Islamic principles
• Negotiation of grades
• More Individual Work
• Expressing opinion in loud voice symbol of
  learning
• Friendship/Family high importance
• Separation by gender

• UNITED STATES
• Critical Analysis
• Lessons usually no religious parameters
• Grades often non-negotiable
• Group Work focused
• Expressing opinion in loud voice symbol of
  aggression/disrespect
• Individuality/Self-Reliance
• No separation by gender

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Sources

• Al-Faisal, T. (2006). Saudi Education in the
  Global Economy Vital. Speeches of the Day
  4/15/06, 72 (1), 414-416
• Al-Saden, I.A (March 2000). Educational
  Assessment in Saudi Arabian Schools Assessment in
  Education Principles, Policy, Practice, 7(1),
  143-156.
• El-Sanabary, N. (1994). Female Education in Saudi
  Arabia and the reproduction of Gender Division,
  Gender Education, 6(2).
• Flaitz, J., Kosel, L. Kalaydijan, K., Miranda,
  A., Mitchell, D., Mohamed, A., Smith-Palinkas,
  B., York, J., Zollner, E. (2003). Understanding
  Your International Students An Educational,
  Cultural and Linguistic Guide, Ann Arbor, MI
  University of Michigan Press.
• Miller-Rosser, K., Chapman, Y., Francis, K.
  (2006). Historical, Cultural, and Contemporary
  Influences on the status of Women in Nursing in
  Saudi Arabia. Online Journal of Issues in
  Nursing 11( 3),1-15.
• Ministry of Education, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  www.moe.gov.sa.
• Ministry of Education (Thailand). National
  Report 2004. International Conference on
  Education. Geneva Sept 8-11 2004.

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Sources (Continued)

• Mulder, Niels. Inside Thai Society. Amsterdam
  The Peppin Press, 1996.
• Mulder, Niels. Thai Images The Culture of the
  Public World. Chiang Mai Silk Worm Books, 1997
• National Identity Board. Thailand into the
  2000s. Office of the Prime Minister (Kingdom of
  Thailand). Bangkok, 2000.
• Prokop, Michaela(2003). Saudi Arabia the
  politics of education, International Affairs, 79,
  77-89.
• Teay Shawyun and Krisda Tanchaisak. A Better
  Understanding of the Core Values of Thai
  Undergraduates. 2005.
• www.into-asia.com
• www.chula.ac.th
• www.tu.ac.th

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26
In France, is it acceptable for students to
arrive tardy to class?
27
In France, is it acceptable for students to
arrive tardy to class?

• NO

28
In Thailand, can students discuss the current
government?
29
In Thailand, can students discuss the current
government?

• NO

30
In most schools in Jordan, can male and female
students study in the same classroom?
31
In most schools in Jordan, can male and female
students study in the same classroom?

• YES

32
Can students in Korea wear sleeveless shirts to
class?
33
Can students in Korea wear sleeveless shirts to
class?

• YES

34
Does the government in China pay all tuition fees?
35
Does the government in China pay all tuition fees?

• NO

36
Are students in China required to live in
dormitories?
37
Are undergraduates in China required to live in
dormitories?

• YES

38
What country has the famous university known as
the Sorbonne?
39
What country has the famous university known as
the Sorbonne?

• France

40
In Venezuela, can students leave the classroom
without permission?
41
In Venezuela, can students leave the classroom
without permission?

• NO

42
In Belarus, how many days per week must students
attend class?

• Four Days
• Five Days
• Six Days

43
In Belarus, how many days per week must students
attend class?

• (C) Six Days

44
In Turkey, is it acceptable for students to
disagree with their professors in class?
45
In Turkey, is it acceptable for students to
disagree with their professors in class?

• YES

46
In Romania, are there rules prohibiting the
consumption of alcohol on college campuses?
47
In Romania, are there rules prohibiting the
consumption of alcohol on college campuses?

• NO

48
Scenario You do not have a lot of time to write
a term paper that is due in 2 days. What did
Korean students say they would do?

• (A) Ask a friend to write the paper for them.
• (B) Find an article and copy word for word or
  paraphrase.
• Spend many hours working on the term paper to
  submit something original.
• (D) Turn in the paper late.

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Scenario You do not have a lot of time to write
a term paper that is due in 2 days. What did
Korean students say they would do?

• (C) Spend many hours working on the term paper
  to submit something original.

50
In Japan, is there a daily cleaning period where
students must clean the school (IN HIGH SCHOOL)?
51
In Japan, is there a daily cleaning period where
students must clean the school (IN HIGH SCHOOL)?

• YES

52
Can Students in Jordan discuss sex in class?
53
Can Students in Jordan discuss sex in class?

• NO

54
Can students in Colombia discuss sensitive topics
in their nations history?
55
Can students in Colombia discuss sensitive topics
in their nations history?

• YES

56
Are there pubs in dormitories in the U.K.?
57
Are there pubs in dormitories in the U.K.?

• YES

58
What is the dress code for students at Oxford
University, when taking official university
exams?
59
What is the dress code for students at Oxford
University, when taking official university
exams?

• Official Academic Dress (cap and gown)

60
In Laos during the 1970s and 1980s, where did
most students pursue degrees?

• France
• U.S.S.R.
• Cuba
• United States

61
In Laos during the 1970s and 1980s, where did
most students pursue degrees?

• (B) U.S.S.R.

62
In what country is the University of University
of São Paulo?
63
In what country is the University of University
of São Paulo?

• Brazil

64
In Thailand, SANUK means

• Inhibition and Consideration
• Smile
• Fun

65
In Thailand, SANUK means

• (C) Fun

66
In Saudi Arabia, when someone offers to help you,
is it polite to kindly refuse them at first?
67
In Saudi Arabia, when someone offers to help you,
is it polite to kindly refuse them at first?

• NO

68
In Saudi Arabia, can you discuss government
corruption in class?
69
In Saudi Arabia, can you discuss government
corruption in class?

• NO

70
In the U.K., how many years does a typical
undergraduate degree take?

• Three years
• Four years
• Five years

71
In the U.K., how many years does a typical
undergraduate degree take?

• Three years

72
Scenario You are a grad student proctoring an
exam and you see two students sharing answers.
What did Thai students say they would do?

• Ask them to stop talking and let them finish.
• Take away exams and report to professor.
• Ignore them but report to professor later.
• Ignore them and never report to professor.

73
Scenario You are a grad student proctoring an
exam and you see two students sharing answers.
What did Thai students say they would do?

• (D) Ignore them and never report to professor.

74
In Saudi Arabia, is there an emphasis on group
work in class?

• NO

75
In what country is Cuza University?

• Belarus
• Bulgaria
• Romania

76
In what country is Cuza University?

• (C)Romania

77
What U.S. President received an honorary degree
from a Thai university?

• (A) Jimmy Carter
• George H.W. Bush
• Bill Clinton

78
What U.S. President received an honorary degree
from a Thai university?

• (C) Bill Clinton