Editor's notes: As an American who has lived in China for several years, our blogger Michael Murphy lists the differences in both countries from his experience.
1. Education - China excels in the math and sciences far more than their counterparts in the US while it comes up short in critical thinking.
I personally feel that the discipline of 'hard work' and long classroom hours in China prepares students to excel in college. The perfect combination seems to be elementary and secondary education in China and college education in the West for those who can afford it.
Chinese pupils read their textbooks in a class on the first day of their new semester at the Zhoudong Primary School in Bozhou city, east China's Anhui province, on Sept 1, 2011.[Photo/IC] |
I’ve lived in China for quite a considerable time including my graduate school years, travelled and worked in a few cities and still choose my destination taking into consideration the density of smog or PM2.5 particulate matter in the region.