Read the passage and choose the best answer to each of the questions that follow.
GETTING THE BEST OUT OF OUR CHILDREN
There is a strange paradox to the success of the Asian education model. On the one hand, class sizes are huge by western standards with on average between 30 and 40 students per class in countries like Japan and Korea. On the other hand, school children in developed Asian economies rank among the highest in the world for academic achievement in the areas of science and mathematics, especially on standardised tests. Meanwhile, British secondary school students fail to shine in conditions most educational researchers would say are far more likely to help them succeed.
Why do Asian students seem to perform so well then? Is it their legendary discipline? Certainly, classroom management seems to be a whole lot easier in places like Korea, and perhaps lessons are more effective as a direct consequence. After all, we are only too aware of the decline in discipline standards in our own schools; belligerent and disrespectful students appear to be the norm these days. Teachers in Britain seem powerless to control what happens any more. Surely this situation cannot create a very effective learning environment, so perhaps the number of students is far less relevant than is the manner in which they conduct themselves.
But there are other factors to consider, too. Korean students spend a lot more time with their teachers. It seems logical to suggest, therefore, that they might form stronger bonds and greater trust, and that Korean teachers, in understanding their pupils better, might be able to offer them a more effective learning programme. Of course, trust and understanding leads to greater respect as well, so Korean students are probably less likely to ignore their teachers’ advice.
Then there is the home environment. The traditional family unit still remains relatively intact in Korea. Few children come from broken homes, so there is a sense of security, safety and trust both at home and at school. In Britain meanwhile, one in every two marriages fails and divorce rates are sky-high. Perhaps children struggle to cope with unstable family conditions and their only way to express their frustration is by misbehaving at school. Maybe all this delinquent behaviour we are complaining about is just a cry for help and a plea for attention.
But while the Japanese, Korean and Asian models generally do seem to produce excellent results, the statistics don’t tell the truth. Asian sludents tend to put their education before literally everything else. They do very few extracurricular activities and devote far more time to their studies than their British peers. And this begs the question: is all that extra effort justified for a few extra percentage points in some meaningless international student performance survey? So Asian students are on average 3-5% better at maths than Britons – big deal! What is their qualily of life like? Remember, school days are supposed to be the best, are they not?
There has been a lot of attention and praise given to these Asian models and their impressive statistics of late. And without question, some of this praise is justified, but it seems to be a case of two extremes in operation here. At one end, there is the discipline and unbelievably hard work ethic of the Asian students success in education before all else. At the other end, Brilish students at times appear careless and extremely undisciplined by comparison, but at least they DO have the free time to enjoy their youth and explore their interests. Is either system better outright? Or is it perhaps about time we stopped comparing and started trying to combine the best bits of both, so that we can finally offer our students a balanced, worthwhile education? We are not just dealing with statistics; never forget that every statistic is a little human being somewhere who desperately needs our help and guidance - who deserves it.
Question 22: What does the writer mean when he says there is a paradox in the Asian education model?
Question 23: British secondary school students ........
Question 24: What does the writer suggest might make lessons in Korean schools more successful than in Britain?
Question 25: What can be inferred from the utterance perhaps the number of students is far less relevant than is the manner in which they conduct themselves?
Question 26: The traditional family unit .......
Question 27: Look at the following sentence.
You see, behind those great maths and science scores, there is a quite remarkable work ethic.
Where does the sentence best fit in the paragraph? But while the Japanese, Korean and Asian models generally do seem to produce excellent results, the statistics don’t tell the truth. [1] Asian sludents tend to put their education before literally everything else. They do very few extracurricular activities and devote far effort more time to their studies than their British peers. [2] And this begs the question: is all that extra effort justified for a few extra percentage points in some meaningless international student performance survey? So Asian students are on average 3-5% better at maths than Britons – big deal! [3] What is their qualily of life like? Remember, school days are supposed to be the best, are they not? [4]
Question 28: According to the writer, Asian students ........
Question 29: What are the 'too extremes’ mentioned in the last paragraph?
Question 30: Which conclusion about the two educational systems discussed would the author most probably agree with?
