As you might remember (though you probably can't tell by reading this blog) I'm doing a research project on arts education.
After talking to numerous students in both Australia and Taiwan, and reading many papers, my findings as to how students in these two countries seem to perceive the arts can be basically summed up by the difference between these two answers. After confirming their interest in art I asked both why.
"I love art because it gives me a chance to express myself. I learn so much from it, and it makes me feel so happy and alive."
"A" 15 years old, Melbourne, Australia
"At school (on Saturdays only) we have to choose between sports and art. I hate sports and in art I don't have to think. I just get to not use my brain."
"S" 16 years old, Chiayi, Taiwan
Project = Done
Just kidding.
Despite how important the arts seem to be culturally, in Taiwan I found little regard for them in schools. The difficulty in explaining to people that I have a bachelor's in art was just one of the many "cultural differences" I faced.
The approach to education was different in general. Students face incredible amount of pressure at home. One student I talked to told me about a time that they brought home a B+ and had to stand outside the door the whole night... they were 10. Students at Concordia School, where I got to attend classes, arrived at school at 7 am and went to school until 5 pm. Then most went off to cram school.
When I started teaching a class at a local university in Taipei (because that happened...) I planned what ended up being "a very American" class. I planned games, and asked questions to the class as a whole. I got silence, and a lot of wide eyed expressions. I responded by making them learn a dance. Whereas we place more value on independent thinking, and participation, speaking out in front of the class is seen as boastful.
But my goodness the students were cute!
Here's a few of them at Concordia... as you can tell they were just a little welcoming.
After talking to numerous students in both Australia and Taiwan, and reading many papers, my findings as to how students in these two countries seem to perceive the arts can be basically summed up by the difference between these two answers. After confirming their interest in art I asked both why.
"I love art because it gives me a chance to express myself. I learn so much from it, and it makes me feel so happy and alive."
"A" 15 years old, Melbourne, Australia
"At school (on Saturdays only) we have to choose between sports and art. I hate sports and in art I don't have to think. I just get to not use my brain."
"S" 16 years old, Chiayi, Taiwan
Project = Done
Just kidding.
Despite how important the arts seem to be culturally, in Taiwan I found little regard for them in schools. The difficulty in explaining to people that I have a bachelor's in art was just one of the many "cultural differences" I faced.
The approach to education was different in general. Students face incredible amount of pressure at home. One student I talked to told me about a time that they brought home a B+ and had to stand outside the door the whole night... they were 10. Students at Concordia School, where I got to attend classes, arrived at school at 7 am and went to school until 5 pm. Then most went off to cram school.
When I started teaching a class at a local university in Taipei (because that happened...) I planned what ended up being "a very American" class. I planned games, and asked questions to the class as a whole. I got silence, and a lot of wide eyed expressions. I responded by making them learn a dance. Whereas we place more value on independent thinking, and participation, speaking out in front of the class is seen as boastful.
But my goodness the students were cute!
Here's a few of them at Concordia... as you can tell they were just a little welcoming.
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