Here's why East Asian students consistently outpace their Western peers

[FarCenter]

The results speak for themselves. The latest Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) have been released – and, once again, East Asian countries have ranked the highest in both tests.

Over recent years, other countries’ positions have gone up and down in the tables but East Asian education – which includes China, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan – continues to dominate.

And the gap between these countries and the rest of the world is getting wider.

The reasons why East Asian countries are way ahead of the pack as far as education is concerned has long been debated – but it essentially seems to come down to the following four factors.

1. Culture and mindset

2. The quality of teachers

3. Using the evidence

4. A collective push

http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-why-east-asian-students-consistently-outpace-their-western-peers-2016-12

[JCMach1]

1. Imagine an American where we put as much money and effort into science training as opposed to Sunday

School...

That America would be a much better place...

[riverbendviewgal]

4. Or sport stadiums

America needs scientists not jocks

[uponit7771]

2. I read an NPR story on US students outpace Asian and European students on using abilities

... across domains and that's what Asian people tell me a lot that our US education more rounded

[FarCenter]

3. What does "using abilities across domains" mean?

[uponit7771]

5. Transfer math and science skills across other subjects basically using what is learned vs

... being trained to do singular tasks.

[JI7]

6. that the west focuses on a wider area while the asians are more focused on a few

[pnwmom]

12. It means they can connect the things they learn in one subject

with things they are learning in others, instead of only being able to understand topics in isolation. With this ability one can see that a problem in one field can be solved with the techniques in another.

This is a key ability in innovation and creative thinking.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

7. Teachers are treated like medical doctors in those countries, from what I've read.

I doubt there's many people in those countries making comments like, "Those who can't do, teach."

It makes sense to me to encourage (some of) the best students to become teachers! At my university, majoring in education was sometimes viewed as a "cop out" for any students who couldn't handle more difficult coursework. I certainly didn't think that was necessarily true given how some of the students surely wanted to become teachers in the first place! It's pitiful how teachers are sometimes viewed in this country.

[Liberal_in_LA]

9. plus 1

[duffyduff]

11. Because, after all, only morons go into education.

Your post is just nonsense.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

13. I didn't say that at all.

I was just repeating what I heard among some other students, and it was pretty ridiculous.

EDIT: Also, I've read that admission standards to get an education degree in countries like Singapore is much more difficult. That's what I meant about encouraging the best students to become teachers. I should have written "discouraged the worst students" instead.

[Wellstone ruled]

8. Back in the day,

we were not allowed to learn and second language other than Latin,whoopie,that did zero for most of us. Because of the so called Commie Scare,no Russian or German or Chinese languages. And the world has changed leaving millions of Americans dumber than a box of rocks. Got to love hind site.

[pnwmom]

10. Maybe it's related to the sheer number of HOURS they're forced to spend

on directed studies; their long days in their regular classes, plus cram classes, plus homework.

And yet many of them are sent here to attend universities, where they believe we offer a better education.

And it turns out there is a cost to their approach to education:

(from the article at the OP)

Formal schooling is also supplemented by intensive after-school tuition – at the extreme this can see children studying well into the night – and sometimes for up to three hours of extra school in the evening on top of two hours of homework a day.

But while this intensive after school study can get results, it’s important to recognise that in many East Asian countries, educators worry about the quality and influence these “crammers” have on the mental health and well-being of children. And many studies looking at pupils’ experiences in these schools have reported high levels of adolescent stress and a sense of pressure to achieve – for both the students and their parents.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

14. I worked at some Japanese-owned companies, and the President...

... at one of them loaned me a book about Japanese culture. (Sorry that I can't remember the title or author now.)

Students at their high schools are pushed very hard as they compete for admission into their best universities. What surprised me was that their colleges weren't as much of a struggle as in the USA. It's considered more of an opportunity to form relationships for when they enter the business world, so there's more socializing.