Is the Korean Education System that Bad? II

If you have lived in a western culture, you may have heard people saying Asians are smart. This isn’t because Asians are naturally smarter, it is because of the education system like Korea has. When it comes to math and science I am not one of the bright kids at our school, although they are one of my favorite subjects. But when I joined the math team (when I was an exchange student last year in Wisconsin), surprise! I became regional champion. Thank you Korea. Again this does not mean American kids cannot do math, it shows that because the Korean education policy focuses a lot on academics, Korean students have more knowledge and are accelerated in that area. And just in case you did not know, the 21st century is an era of information.

Secondly, Korean students will learn to manage their schedules at an early age. “I have no time for extra curricular activities.” Please… Stop whining. You don’t go around looking for the time to do things, you make the time to do what you have to do. Because Korean students have a fixed schedule at school, the only time they have is in early morning, late night, and the weekends. Not enough time? This may be true when compared with American students. But what about using those times? Not many students do much in the mornings before school. Using this time, even thirty minutes each morning, to do anything productive, is not only an effective way to start a day but an intelligent way to save time. Whether it is exercising, writing a short journal of how you feel, cooking, anything! Students can do the same at night too. And during the weekends, students have two whole days to do any sports, community service, cultural experience, music, art, whatever. Students may think that this busy schedule may limit them from activities, however, actually helps students to organize when to do what, and prevents students from doing unproductive activities.

So, for those of you who are not doing anything fed up with the Korean education, try considering the good side of the education, and take advantage of it. A situation given to a person is something that he has to adapt to, but better than that is to develop himself through the merits of that situation.