Jewish Education Vs South Korean Education Essay
The Korean Education System: Comparison with the Jewish Education System
20151685 Park You Sun
Introduction : Comparing the South Korean Education and the Jewish Education
South Korean system of education is heavily based on methods of memorization and indoctrination. While one cannot conclude that this is a wrong method of teaching, by comparing the South Korean education system with the Jewish education system, which is heavily based on the spirit of Chutzpah, using methods of discussion and debate, this paper will point out the flaws of the South Korean education system and possible solutions to improve the system of education and the style of teaching in South Korea.
The Jewish education system is famous for producing a number of Nobel laureates and successful entrepreneurs in various fields. On the other hand, the South Korean education has yet to produce a Nobel laureate in the fields other than Peace. This difference in success, as well as the completely different methods of education, is why Israeli education system would make a good contrast with the South Korean education system.
Reason for emphasis on education in Korea
In South Korea, academic achievement, for example the TOEIC score, have a direct effect on one’s success. According to Careernet, there is a …show more content…
direct correlation between TOEIC scores and one’s future earnings – the higher one’s scores on the TOEIC exam, the higher their income. Academic background is another extremely crucial factor in getting a good job. According to the data of the Civil Service Commission, about 48.2% of people serving in the highest rank of civil servants are from Seoul National University, and a total of 63.5% are from the SKY Universities, SNU, Korea University, and Yonsei University. As seen from the data, there is a very strong relationship between one’s academic achievement and background with one’s future success.
However, because of this strong relationship, many South Koreans believe that the key to their success is going to a prestigious university, such as SNU, or achieving a high score on a standardized exam, such as the TOEIC. Thus, a majority of the Koreans spend a large amount of money and time on private education in order to achieve good score on their standardized tests. The market for private education in South Korea takes about 15% of its total GDP. Although Koreans seem to spend so much time, money, and effort, often times they are not truly learning.
For example in the market of private education in South Korea, English education accounts for the largest section. According to KBS, Korea ranks 121 in the field of spoken English. Lower than Uganda, Somalia, and other developing countries, this is a very critical problem considering the extremely large amount of money and time spent on English education in comparison to the other countries. This is due to the fact that the Korean education system mainly focuses on memorization and indoctrination and emphasizes high scores on standardized tests as the main aspect of academic achievement. While this method of teaching works in the sense where students achieve high standardized test grades, it does not promote individual thinking from the students. The other reason is a cultural problem; Korean students are unfamiliar with asking questions and discussing controversial topics in class. At the end of the 2010-G20 Seoul summit, a conference of the top 20 influential countries, Barack Obama, the President of United States of America, provided the opportunity for Korean reporters to ask him questions. However, not a single person spoke up to ask a question despite being offered a chance multiple times. Eventually, a reporter from China asked Obama a question; this situation provides an example on how asking questions and free discussion in the Korean education system is lacking.
This is perhaps a major factor in explaining why there are no Nobel laureates in the area of Medicine, Physiology, and et cetera from South Korea. While, on the other hand, Israel is one of the most influential countries in the world due to the promoting of free discussion in their education system. It is due to this fact that there are many Nobel laureate and entrepreneurs despite the size of the country and its population being much less than South Korea.
The main difference between Korea and Israel is the method of teaching in the system of education.
The education system is completely opposite. Israel education focuses on individual thinking and discussion amongst students, not grading; they study for their own interests. The documentary, Youngsters, Rise with the Chutzpah Spirit, broadcasting on the IT channel shows the most important feature of Israel - the Chutzpah spirit. It is the representative spirit in Israel, meaning impudence; in other words, it is the atmosphere for freely asking and discussing. Their education system is based on this spirit, putting emphasis on individual thinking, allowing for creativity, innovation, and
difference.
While the cultural and historical differences between South Korea and Israel will have an effect on their individual education systems, modern times have shown that innovation and creativity is essential for the success of both the student and the country. Since the Korean education system does not uphold to these beliefs, the education system in South Korea should focus on free discussion and promote asking questions to help students develop individual thinking, not just obtaining knowledge.
Works Cited
TOEIC score is directly affect to the income. (2009, July 30). Retrieved July 20, 2015, from http://www.newswire.co.kr/newsRead.php?no=420013
Youn, J. (Ed.). (2004, June 3). Highest Rank of Civil Servants are from Seoul National University. Retrieved July 20, 2015, from http://www.unn.net/News/detail.asp?nsCode=5915
American Journal of Epidemiology. (2000, May 11). Retrieved July 22, 2015.from http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/119/3/431.short
20151685 Park You Sun
Introduction : Comparing the South Korean Education and the Jewish Education
South Korean system of education is heavily based on methods of memorization and indoctrination. While one cannot conclude that this is a wrong method of teaching, by comparing the South Korean education system with the Jewish education system, which is heavily based on the spirit of Chutzpah, using methods of discussion and debate, this paper will point out the flaws of the South Korean education system and possible solutions to improve the system of education and the style of teaching in South Korea.
The Jewish education system is famous for producing a number of Nobel laureates and successful entrepreneurs in various fields. On the other hand, the South Korean education has yet to produce a Nobel laureate in the fields other than Peace. This difference in success, as well as the completely different methods of education, is why Israeli education system would make a good contrast with the South Korean education system.
Reason for emphasis on education in Korea
In South Korea, academic achievement, for example the TOEIC score, have a direct effect on one’s success. According to Careernet, there is a …show more content…
direct correlation between TOEIC scores and one’s future earnings – the higher one’s scores on the TOEIC exam, the higher their income. Academic background is another extremely crucial factor in getting a good job. According to the data of the Civil Service Commission, about 48.2% of people serving in the highest rank of civil servants are from Seoul National University, and a total of 63.5% are from the SKY Universities, SNU, Korea University, and Yonsei University. As seen from the data, there is a very strong relationship between one’s academic achievement and background with one’s future success.
However, because of this strong relationship, many South Koreans believe that the key to their success is going to a prestigious university, such as SNU, or achieving a high score on a standardized exam, such as the TOEIC. Thus, a majority of the Koreans spend a large amount of money and time on private education in order to achieve good score on their standardized tests. The market for private education in South Korea takes about 15% of its total GDP. Although Koreans seem to spend so much time, money, and effort, often times they are not truly learning.
For example in the market of private education in South Korea, English education accounts for the largest section. According to KBS, Korea ranks 121 in the field of spoken English. Lower than Uganda, Somalia, and other developing countries, this is a very critical problem considering the extremely large amount of money and time spent on English education in comparison to the other countries. This is due to the fact that the Korean education system mainly focuses on memorization and indoctrination and emphasizes high scores on standardized tests as the main aspect of academic achievement. While this method of teaching works in the sense where students achieve high standardized test grades, it does not promote individual thinking from the students. The other reason is a cultural problem; Korean students are unfamiliar with asking questions and discussing controversial topics in class. At the end of the 2010-G20 Seoul summit, a conference of the top 20 influential countries, Barack Obama, the President of United States of America, provided the opportunity for Korean reporters to ask him questions. However, not a single person spoke up to ask a question despite being offered a chance multiple times. Eventually, a reporter from China asked Obama a question; this situation provides an example on how asking questions and free discussion in the Korean education system is lacking.
This is perhaps a major factor in explaining why there are no Nobel laureates in the area of Medicine, Physiology, and et cetera from South Korea. While, on the other hand, Israel is one of the most influential countries in the world due to the promoting of free discussion in their education system. It is due to this fact that there are many Nobel laureate and entrepreneurs despite the size of the country and its population being much less than South Korea.
The main difference between Korea and Israel is the method of teaching in the system of education.
The education system is completely opposite. Israel education focuses on individual thinking and discussion amongst students, not grading; they study for their own interests. The documentary, Youngsters, Rise with the Chutzpah Spirit, broadcasting on the IT channel shows the most important feature of Israel - the Chutzpah spirit. It is the representative spirit in Israel, meaning impudence; in other words, it is the atmosphere for freely asking and discussing. Their education system is based on this spirit, putting emphasis on individual thinking, allowing for creativity, innovation, and
difference.
While the cultural and historical differences between South Korea and Israel will have an effect on their individual education systems, modern times have shown that innovation and creativity is essential for the success of both the student and the country. Since the Korean education system does not uphold to these beliefs, the education system in South Korea should focus on free discussion and promote asking questions to help students develop individual thinking, not just obtaining knowledge.
Works Cited
TOEIC score is directly affect to the income. (2009, July 30). Retrieved July 20, 2015, from http://www.newswire.co.kr/newsRead.php?no=420013
Youn, J. (Ed.). (2004, June 3). Highest Rank of Civil Servants are from Seoul National University. Retrieved July 20, 2015, from http://www.unn.net/News/detail.asp?nsCode=5915
American Journal of Epidemiology. (2000, May 11). Retrieved July 22, 2015.from http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/119/3/431.short