A Contrastive Study of British and American Education

A Contrastive Study of British and American EducationAbstract: This paper is to have a contrastive study of British and American education. The author firstly introduced the position and role of education in society. As is all known, education plays an important role in our life, people are closely contact with education.Secondly, he gave a briefly comparison between British and American education. In a word, there is having many differences. Thirdly, he introduced British education and American education system at different periods in detail, this is the main part of the paper.Then, he pointed the main differences between two countries.Next, and he made analysis of the reasons why the two countries have difference in education. Finally, between Chinese education and the two countries' education, he pointed out that China's education problems, and gives some suggestions to learn from them.Key words: contrastive study; British education; American education; reason; difference.1、IntroductionEducation is an important way to inherit culture and improve the quality of a nation. Education is “like a big window opening”. What‟s more, someone think it is the root of national development. Through the education, people know more knowledge, invent high-tech and create more materials. So, education plays an important role in our society. People are closely contact with education, everyone more or less to receive education, education become a part of life. In the world, education also a hot topic, every country pays much attention to the education.Nowadays; national competition is base on talent. Of course, because every country has different geographical position, history and economy development, so they have different education system. Today I will introduce something about British education and American education, the two countries‟ education is representative in the world. As is known to all, they have many famous universities, and most of top universities belong to the two countries. Every year, there are lots of students from all over the word apply for further study at British or American schools.Therefore,we know something about two countries‟ education system is help for us to choose suitable further study school.2、The Contrastive Study of British and American EducationBritish and American education all focused on cultivating compound talents, have a creative spirit and practical spirit, the school does not depend entirely on the exam, or the requirements of comprehensive quality, comprehensive ability.Of course, British and American higher education system also has many different points. From the system, the British adopted a semester system, the lack of elasticity can not be transferred and turn professional, and American credit system, transfer and turn professional universal and flexible, the exchange of credits from the school; From school management mode, the British colleges, the college and University autonomous are independent, college authority are greater than University, and the United States of America implementation of college system, American University system is the most basic academic unit, and is also the most important academic power center. From the professional point of view, the British in the high school stage determines the professional direction, professional strong point, and the United States to comprehensive ability cultivation for the previous two years, university general education curriculum practice fields, two years after the practice of professional majors. College of Arts and Sciences is not professional, in order to cultivate spiritual leader as the goal to learn.So, there are many differences between two courtiers.2.1、British EducationThe British is pay attention to education. If a child fails to attend school, a School Attendance Office will come to his house to find out why, and if there is no good reason, parents may be prosecuted. If parents send their children to state schools, they will cost nothing, including text books and stationery.In England all the five to sixteen year-old children must receive education. On the courses and qualifications,the presence of two different systems, one is England, Welsh and Northern Irish education system, the other is the educational system in Scotland. There are two different types‟schools: private schools and public schools. The private school system, parents usually have to pay tuition fees, in the public school system, education is free. Public schools are usually not receiving the age of sixteen foreign students.Besides, different age have different school to choose. （1）Some children go before the age of five to kindergartens, officially called …nursery schools‟. Most start at five in an …infant‟s school‟. These schools are co-educational, i.e.for boys and girls together.（2）‘junior school‟, after two years in the infants‟ school the child enters a‘junior school‟, boys usually find themselves in a school for boys only. This is a part of the public education system, for the vast majority of British children to provide education. Children at the age of five enter junior school, at the age of eleven, the general come into middle school or college. (3) Secondary schools. There are two systems for secondary schooling, the selective and the comprehensive. Under old selective system, children take an examination, called the …eleven plus‟, in their last year at primary school. The result directly decides the kind of secondary schools they will enter. Those with highest marks go to grammar schools: schools are concentrating on academic subjects and expect student earn high marks and go to university. Other children may go to technical schools: schools teach students more practical. The rest-by far majority-go to secondary modern school.(4)University. British government pay attention to university, there are many scholarships awarded, it is open to all intelligent pupils, both man and female. British have many famous universities, such as Oxford, Cambridge, St Andrews, and Edinburgh. Oxford and Cambridge have two systems spread all over the world. One is college system, whereby all students live in college during at least part of their course. The other feature is the tutorial system, whereby each student gets personal tuition once a week in his tutor‟s own room.The British high schools offer education until they are sixteen years old, the school helps students prepare for the general certificate of secondary education or equivalent level course examination. A considerable number of foreign students in eleven or thirteen years old to the British school, High school students in sixteen years completed compulsory education, can legally leave school, started to work. However, most of the students in preparatory course students entered the Preparatory Academy or college of further education, where learning schools A-level or equivalent level course. Foreign students at this stage to British education, such as study A-level courses, to study in the UK university continuation course or prepare. Preppy general at the age of eighteen completed secondary education. Then, the majority of students to pursue further education courses or for higher education courses. Higher education refers to the University, college and other institutions to provide undergraduate course education and training. The UK has more than 90university and more than 50Institute Institute of higher education. They offer a variety of curriculum; most courses end can obtain a degree or equivalent degree, graduate diploma or master's degree in business administration.2.2、American EducationAmerican pays much attention to education. There is a complete education system. All American children are offered twelve years of free public education, and most good students can get financial help to continue their studies for many more years. Adults also have opportunities to attend school, and there is no age limit on learning. In the Americans, everyone has the right to receive education. The United States legal provisions in children 6-16 years of age to attend school. The United States of American public schools by the government revenue to support student’s free admission; Private schools from the church support... According to the age is mainly divided into the following four categories:(1) primary school: Grades 1-6(6-12 years).（2）junior high school: grades 7-8(13-14 years).（3）middle school: Grades 9-12(15-18 years).（4）University (College): General for 4years (18years), and the " academy" or" College", as the university graduate students engaged in the research and the establishment of it.First, I will introduce something about Early Childhood Education. In most areas, free public school education begins with kindergarten classes for five-year olds. This is the first time children separate with his or her mother, playing and sharing with other children, and following the directions of a teacher. Every year, nearly three millionAmerican children attend kindergarten. For many, kindergarden is his or her first school experience. Nursery schools accept children from three to five years old for half-day sessions ranging form twice a week, Nursery schools usually charge tuition, though some are subsidized and some offer scholarships.Besides,Day care centers provide care for pre-school children of working mothers who need a place to leave their children all day, five days a week. Then there are Grammar school and High school. The first academic institution that a child attends is called grammar school or elementary school. In some school systems, elementary school includes grades one through eight. The next four years are called high school. In other systems, there are three divisions: elementary school, junior high school, and senior high school.American university currently have quasi bachelor, bachelor, master, doctor's degree system, representing the two major categories of undergraduate and postgraduate education in 4 different academic levels.(1) Two-year colleges, also known as primary or Institute of technology, for the majority of the public, mostly organized by the local communities, it is commonly referred to as community college. Community colleges offer courses are of two kinds: a kind of as transitional arts curriculum, the equivalent of 4years of University in the first two years, students learns Bike into 4 years university to continue his studies; another kind is the termination of occupation technology curriculum, graduates employment directly. The community college to award the degree is a quasi bachelor‟s degree. (2)Four years college, there are two types: one is the liberal arts college or college of liberal arts. Basic classes include humanities social and behavioral science sociology and natural science three big fields.(3) Comprehensive university, large scale comprehensive university, teacher, organization of complex full, complete facilities, general equipped with College of Arts and science as the core of college, repairable degree courses in addition to the usual liberal arts curriculum, and engineering and technical, business, international issues, health, education, agriculture, home economics, architecture, communication, news, library science, hotel management. 3. The Differences in British and American EducationThere are some difference between British education and American education. British public education more powerful, while the United States is a private university education is very high quality. America education attaches great importance to students' questioning ability and research ability. British school Cater for individual differences, hierarchical teaching. British education designed to help students develop their personal skills, and these can be trained, and thus contribute to society. Britain's primary and secondary education are compulsory education, all the people in five ten-year-old were to accept the compulsory education period. United States education system and most other national education system a major difference, Education in the United States, everyone in the society but do not specifically designed for the small number of people. Set up with a tax free education, apart from a general school subjects such as math, history, languages, there are sewing, typing, wireless and automotive repair and other subjects. Students according to their own interests, future plans and to individuals, from many elective courses in their own. The main purpose of American education is to develop the talents of each child, no matter to what extent the high or low, while giving each child's civic awareness.British education is a rigorous style of study, improve the educational system. American education system having a plurality, openness to international, flexibility, makes the education full of vigor and vitality4、Reasons of the DifferencesWe must believe British and American education stand for top level in the world. We also recognize there have many differences. Of course, there are many reasons lead to it.Firstly, Britain is a constitutional monarchy, while the United States is the federal presidential system of the State; the two countries have different System of government, so they have different education system. Secondly, differences of character. Someone put the British character is described as: cold, reserved, introverted, conservative, intellectual rigor, gentleman of humor. Corresponding to the American character is characterized by warm, cheerful, adventure, innovative, bold alive, Frank humor. Because of British conservative and rigorous, they embodied in education is a rigorous style of study, improve the educational system. Americans diligently pursuit of freedom and equality, education is embodied in American education system having a plurality, openness to international,flexibility, make the education full of vigor and vitality. Thirdly, British has a long history, so the education system more perfect, the United States of America pay attention to scientific and technological development, pay more attention to the education innovation.5. ConclusionThere are some differences between British and American education.Undeniable, their education stand for top level in the world. Although there are many differences, but there are also many similarities. Such as they encourage students come into the society; to the nature learn knowledge, to be focus on human, pay attention to social practice education. In British and American higher education, more students to participate in, practice, create in classes, many courses are arranged with case studies and there are some discussion time, students centered in teaching activities. Not particularly emphasizes the scores, and to improve the students' interest for the main purpose. There are different with Chinese education. China pays attention to students‟ exam skill, China education manifests itself is suppressed, the conservative. In the development of Chinese higher education, we have thought of professional educational, it has been the dominant position, university‟s fundamental mission is to develop to meet the needs of economic development of the" special talents”. In short, British and American education valued the students to communicate with people, communication and other social activities, to cultivate students' team spirit; Chinese students is the value of examination results and self development, improvement, team awareness is not strong.Chinese students in learning are often accepted uncritically, they may have different opinion about the subject theoretical system, but they must eliminate it, their mentor doesn‟t like the students' ideas and they have a contrary. Students are accustomed to accept but are not accustomed to thinking. American students were keen to absorb all the achievements in the field, were enthusiastic about the debate, so that their chaotic knowledge system in the debate rejects the dross and error, and thus obtained rapid progress. For comprehensive, American students should learn little Chinese traditional, Chinese students should learn American and British students that dare to doubt, dare to innovate, to swallow anything and everything learning, should be diligent in debate, debate on the learning and the equally important status, improve innovation ability.Bibliography:陈宏俊，李险峰，张菅Experiencing Western Culture 中国人民大学出版社教育导刊，2004/08,《美国归来话教育——美国教育制度特点初探》，中国期刊全文数据库世界教育信息，1997/09,《从学习成绩论美国教育制度兴革》，中国期刊全文数据库吴祥林，2005，《英美文学选读》，中国对外翻译出版社朱永涛，1991，Essentials of British and American Cultures 外语研究与教学出版社。