Though Eastern and Western countries have contrasting educational systems, it’s not to say one is superior over the other. There is much to be reflected on within both systems, in turn understanding the cultures, beliefs and philosophies that underpin approaches in classrooms and universities.

虽然东方和西方国家有不同的教育体系，但这并不是说一个国家比另一个国家优越。在这两种体系中都有很多值得反思的地方，反过来，我们也要了解构建他们学校教育方法的文化、信仰和哲学。

I went to school in Singapore, Malaysia and Australia, and my learning experience in South-East Asia was vastly different compared to Down Under.

我在新加坡、马来西亚和澳大利亚都上过学。我在东南亚的学习经历与澳大利亚截然不同。

Learning can be defined as ‘the activity or process of gaining knowledge or skill by studying, practicing, being taught, or experiencing something.’ You learn the basics of language, numbers and science at school. You gain more specialised knowledge at university. Then there is learning outside of the classroom through socialising, traveling, life lessons and experiences.

学习可以被定义为“通过观察、实践、被教导或经历某事获得知识或技能的活动或过程”。“你在中小学校里可以学到有关语言、数字和科学的基础知识，而你在大学里获得更多的专业知识。此外，你还可以通过社交、旅行、生活课程和生活经历等方式在课堂之外获得知识。
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Different people and cultures learn differently, and so naturally there are different approaches to learning as a student in particularly within formal educational settings. Here are some differences between Eastern and Western learning styles in the context of schools and universities.

不同文化推崇不同的学习方式，所以作为一个学生，自然有不同的学习方法，尤其是在正规的教育环境中。以下是东西方学习方式在中小学校和大学背景下的一些差异。

1. Learning is a ‘struggle’

1. 学习是一场"斗争"

Eastern and Western cultures define ‘struggle’ differently when it comes to learning. In Eastern cultures, there is the emphasis that learning and studying is a serious activity. When you struggle throughout a subject or course, then it is considered that you are actually learning. Confucianism is rooted in many Eastern societies and the virtues of moral righteousness, filial piety and loyalty highly influence their education systems.

在学习方面，东西方文化对"斗争"的定义是不同的。东方文化强调学习和研究是一项严肃的活动。当你全神贯注的学习一门学科或课程时，你就会被认为是态度很认真。儒家思想根植于许多东方国家的社会，道义、孝道和忠诚等美德对他们的教育体系产生了很大的影响。
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Dr Jin Li compares learning concepts in her book Cultural Foundations of Learning: East and West and suggests many Chinese students follow Confucian learning traditions, seeing learning as a means to bring honour to one’s self, family and society. According to Li, for Chinese cultures learning is a life purpose and the purpose of learning is to ‘self-perfect and contribute to others at the same time’ whereas for many Westerners ‘curiosity about the external world is the inspiration for knowledge.’

李瑾博士在她的书《学习的文化基础:东方和西方》中比较了二者的学习理念，并建议许多中国学生遵循儒家的学习传统，将学习视为一种为自己、家庭和社会带来荣誉的手段。她说，在中国文化中，学习是为了实现人生的目标，是为了“自我完善，同时为他人做出贡献”，而对许多西方人来说，对外部世界的好奇心才是获取知识的动力。

During secondary school in Singapore, my classmates and I often struggled to get every question in our maths and science classes right. We frantically put our heads together and scribbled steps on paper trying to derive some progress as the teacher waited for the right answers. Shameful not to get the answer right but much pride in intellectual struggle towards eventually get the answer, showcasing a reflection of strength and what your Asian upbringing instilled in you.

在新加坡读中学的时候，我和同学们经常努力把数学和科学课上的每一道题都答对。在老师等待正确答案的时候，我们聚在一起，在纸上快速地写下步骤，试图取得一些进展。没有得到正确的答案是很丢人的，而且学生们会对最终得到答案的智力斗争的胜利感到自豪，因为这展示了他们的力量和亚洲教育灌输给他们的东西。

When I moved to Australia, secondary school here had a more relaxed approached to learning. If you couldn’t derive the correct answer in class or on a test, it was often seen that you simply weren’t good in that area or an area not of your interest.

当我搬到澳大利亚时，这里的中学有一种更轻松的学习方式。如果你在课堂上或考试中不能得出正确的答案，人们通常认为你只是在那个领域不擅长或不感兴趣罢了。

2. Creativity vs. science

2. 创造力vs科学

Some subjects and courses are chosen more over others among different cultures. In Eastern cultures, study choices are often characterised by their practical application in life. Studying medicine, accounting and law are often the choices that measure up to parental expectations and peers, the more common pathways to sustainable livelihoods.

在不同的文化中，有些科目和课程的选择人数会比其他科目和课程要多。在东方文化中，人们选择学习科目通常会关注其在生活中的实际应用。学习医学、会计和法律往往是符合父母和同龄人期望的选择，是获得可持续生计的更常见途径。

In Western cultures, choosing what to study involves more of, ‘What are you interested in? What do you enjoy doing?’ It’s no surprise that there is a wider variety of arts and humanities studies in the Western world.Creativity is generally a stronger trait among Westerners. When it comes to the more imaginary and visionary interests, expressing creativity and critical thinking is usually harder for those from Eastern cultures.

在西方文化中，选择学习什么更多地取决于"你对什么感兴趣？你喜欢做什么？"所以毫无疑问，在西方会有更多种类的艺术和人文学科研究。西方人通常更有创造力。当涉及到更需要想象力和前瞻性眼光的问题时，来自东方文化的人通常更缺乏创造力和批判性思维。

When I was doing graduate studies in psychology in Australia, one of the assignments involved reflective writing about personal growth. As the tutor explained the assignment, an international student from Vietnam asked, ‘Is there a sample essay we can refer to? To get a better idea?’ To which the Caucasian tutor very bluntly stated matter-of-factly, ‘No. There isn’t. We don’t offer sample essays or templates as we don’t want to stifle creativity.’

当我在澳大利亚读心理学研究生时，其中一项作业涉及关于个人成长的反思性写作。在导师讲解作业要求的时候，一个来自越南的国际学生问:“为了更好的理解，有没有范文可以参考?”这位白人辅导员非常直截了当地说:“不。没有。我们不提供范文或模板，因为我们不想扼杀学生们的创造力。”

3. Learning habits

3. 学习习惯

Where passive learning is common in Eastern cultures, active learning is encouraged in the West. In collective-oriented Eastern societies, it is respectful to show obedience to seniority: teachers are esteemed with the authority to impart knowledge and listening to the teacher is often the silent rule. Western communities are generally more individualistic driven, more direct about speaking up and so sharing ideas in the classroom is normal.

被动学习在东方文化中很常见，而主动学习在西方文化中更受到推崇。在以集体为导向的东方社会，对资历的服从是一种尊重：老师被尊为传授知识的权威，认真听老师讲课往往是不成文的规矩。而西方社会通常更注重个人主义，更直接地发表意见，因此在课堂上分享自己的想法是很正常的。

Rote learning goes hand-in-and with passive learning among South-East Asian students. Repetition and memorisation are often the techniques adopted to get the answers right in class. While this may encourage perseverance to work towards solutions, there tends to be a lack of meaningful learning which entails making connections and understanding how concepts are weaved together.

在东南亚学生中，死记硬背的学习与被动学习的学习方式是相辅相成的。在课堂上，不断重复和死记硬背通常是获得正确答案的方法。虽然这可能会对培养学生坚持不懈的品质有所帮助，但往往缺乏很难将学到的知识融会贯通并形成体系，所以很难称之为有意义的学习。

My mum championed rote learning, insistent that I practised mathematics questions in the revision books until I got each one right. She often went, ‘This is wrong! And this is wrong again! And here is wrong too! Practise again and show me the correct answer!’ And so the writing out of the formulas began again.

我的妈妈也支持死记硬背，坚持让我不断重复做书里的数学题，直到每一道题都答对为止。她经常说:“这是不对的!这又错了!这里也是错的!再练习一遍，告诉我正确的答案!“于是，我只能又开始书写公式。

4. After-school activities

4. 课外活动

Keeping up academic productivity is the norm when you’re growing up Asian compared to the typical laid-back Aussie way of life. Attending tuition lessons outside of classes is common in Asian countries. The saying ‘burning the midnight oil’ is used here to refer to staying up late studying, getting all homework, worksheets, exercises and practice tests done.

与典型的澳大利亚悠闲的生活方式相比，追求学习效率是亚洲人在成长过程中的常态。课外补习在亚洲国家很常见。“开夜车”这个说法在这里指的是熬夜学习，把所有的家庭作业、练习题和模拟测试都做完。

Learning piano is also highly encouraged as an extra-curricular activity in traditional-minded Asian households: a symbol of prestige, opportunity and something to put on the university application.

在传统的亚洲家庭中，学习钢琴也作为一项课外活动被高度推崇：它象征着一个人很博学，很有修养，同时也可以作为一项荣誉帮助你申请在名牌大学就读。

In contrast with many Caucasians in Australia, juggling a job while you are still at school or university is common. Some do so to get work experience, and others do so to be individually self-reliant and pay student bills (whereas there are well-to-do Asian parents who provide the financial assistance including the tuition fees until you’ve finished university).

相比之下，澳大利亚的许多白种人在学校或大学期间同时工作是很常见的。一些人这样做是为了获得工作经验，另一些人这样做是为了独立支付学费(然而，有些富裕的亚洲父母会提供经济援助，包括直到你完成大学学业的学费)。

5. Benchmarking and awards

5. 基准及奖项

Being at the top of the class is admired within Asian cultures while in Western cultures, the experience of learning is what matters more. For many with strict Asian upbringing, there is often sitting exams and passing with distinction. It’s akin to the pathway of success and a potential of what else you can potentially achieve.

在亚洲文化中，名列前茅是令人羡慕的，而在西方文化中，学习的过程更重要。对于许多受过严格的亚洲教育的人来说，参加考试并以优异的成绩通过考试往往很重要。它类似于通往成功的道路，以及意味着你有可以实现其他成就的潜力。

When you come from a white Australian family, chances are there’s minimal fuss about getting a pass grade across your subjects. There’s more of a focus on the development of soft skills and taking charge of what you actually want to do in life, be it backed by education or other experiences.

如果你来自一个澳大利亚白人家庭，那么你很有可能不会为自己的各科成绩是否及格而大惊小怪。而更多的是关注自身各项技能的发展，以及去做你真正想在生活中做的事情，无论是上课还是其他经历。

My Chinese parents adorn their living room with photos of me in my graduation gown and holding the testamur. Graduating with a degree is something that they are proud of. As dad said, ‘Not everyone has a degree!’

我的中国父母用我穿着毕业礼服拿着毕业证书的照片装饰他们的客厅。我拿到学位毕业是他们引以为傲的事情。就像我的爸爸说的，“不是每个人都能获得学位!”

* * *
While learning approaches are shaped by cultural upbringing and beliefs, learning is also very much an individual experience. That is, learning itself is a choice you make – it is up to you if and how you learn. Different people learn differently in varying circumstances, and you may find yourself adopting different learning approaches on different occasions.

虽然学习方法受到文化和信仰的影响，但学习在很大程度上也是一种个人经历。也就是说，学习本身就是你的选择——是否学习以及如何学习取决于你自己。不同的人在不同的环境下学习的方式不同，你可能会发现自己在不同的场合也会采用不同的学习方法。

When you learn be it at school or later in life, some concepts are harder to grasp while others resonate more with you. Consequently, the path of learning you choose and learning in itself shapes personality and future.

当你在学校或生活中学习时，有些概念可能让你感到很难掌握，而另一些概念则更能引起你的共鸣。因此，你选择的学习道路可能也就决定了你的个性和未来。

In Eastern cultures when you’re older, ‘not knowing’ is often seen as a weakness and learning may come from a place of lack and shame. With Western cultures, learning to gain knowledge is seen as curious.

在东方文化中，当你长大后，说出“不知道”往往会感到很羞耻或感到自己知识很匮乏。而在西方文化中，学习并获取知识是为了满足自己的好奇心。

When I returned to university and studied psychology out of interest, I shared that with friends and colleagues here. The most common response I got was, ‘That’s interesting! How is it related to your job?’

当我回到大学，出于兴趣学习心理学时，我与一些朋友和同事分享了我的这一选择。我得到的最常见的回答是，“这很有趣!””这对你的工作能有什么帮助?”

Hearing that response, it felt like I had to justify that what I was studying was an investment towards a tangible, practical outcome. People tend to relate choosing to study as a means to an end or else it’s a waste of time. But that’s not how I see learning all the time.

听到这样的回答，我觉得我必须说明，我所选择学习的内容是一项投资，是为了获得一些我想要的切实的东西。人们倾向于把学习作为达到目的的手段，否则就是浪费时间。但我并不总是这样看待学习。

As Bruce Lee said:
‘Learning is a constant process of discovery – a process without end.’
Do you like learning? What have you recently learned?

正如李小龙所说:“学习是一个不断发现的过程——一个永无止境的过程。”你喜欢学习吗?你最近学到了什么?

原创翻译：龙腾网 https://www.ltaaa.cn 转载请注明出处