THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF US COLLEGE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM TO CHINESE STUDENTS

THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF US COLLEGE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM TO CHINESE STUDENTS

INTRODUCTION

Studying in the US is most peoples’ ultimate goal, especially in China. It does not come without its challenges and advantages. Most Chinese students always see it as an advantage while others see it as a setback, depending on their perception. Chinese students are mostly interested in the Us college educational system because of the availability of jobs, avoidance of the college entrance exams and also the cultural interactions, and so many more. Most of the students in China see it as an advantage more thana a disadvantage. Most Chinese students are optimistic that even after school, there still exists a chance where they will get what they wanted. Yan and Berlinder (2011) 12(2), 173-184

Chinese students who study in the US have a rich experience of learning and practising the English language. Us is an English-speaking country, and most of the Chinese get to interact and make new friends in us that gives them a chance to be fluent in English. They also get the advantage of learning new skills that put them at the forefront when it comes to the English language. Taking a course in English also improves their English fluency. Most Chinese get encouraged to learn English at tertiary levels. Liu (2007) 9(1), 126-146

The fact that Chinese students have genuinely studied in Us colleges, the likelihood to get a job in us is high. It gives them a chance to work and be in a country away from theirs, which is a good attribute. Everyone’s dream is to get a job in the superpower country; thus most Chinese get an advantage of studying in Us. It enhances career development in most Chinese students before they go back to the country of origin. Curran (2007) 16(6), 48

The advantage of Us education system to Chinese students is that it helps them interact with people of different ethnicity and cultures. That offers them a chance to learn and experience different cultures which bring unity during their educational experience in the Us. It allows them to have love and a great appreciation for other people around them. Chia et al (1994) 31(1-2), 23-30

Most of the Chinese students get flexibility of studying abroad where the educational system offers them a conducive environment to study and do their research from a developed country where the learning experience is great. Chinese students can develop leadership, teamwork and also making decisions which in schools in the Us offer. It gives them an equal chance to excel in their careers.

Most Chinese students opt to study in the Us because of the complicated procedure to apply to be a citizen or work in the Us. Most of them choose to study in Us and apply for the immigration process while in the US. Most students want to live and become a citizen in the Us, and the easiest way is by first studying there. That gives them an advantage while studying in the Us educational colleges.

The most anticipated exam in china is the Gaokao (National College Entrance Examination). Most parents and students in china escape this fierce competition by opting to study in the Us. Us college education system is known worldwide and thus gives Chinese students a relief to the national college entrance examination. Liu (2013) 34(5-6), 868-887

Most Chinese students studying in the Us have a chance to travel to new places in the foreign country which gives them a new perception and also makes their study in the Us an awesome. They can hike, and sliding on the ice, which makes them appreciate and love everything around them. Liao (2012)

Most of the Chinese students get to be independent in their decision making away from their parents. It gives them a chance to depend on themselves. They get a chance to become an adult finally.

Disadvantages of us college educational college offer to Chinese students

Immigrating to another country is quite expensive. Most students depend on themselves to cater for their bills rather than their parents. Expenses like travel, tuition and also pocket money may be high compared to their native countries. The dollar exchange rate also differs while a Chinese student is travelling to the US.

China is not an English-speaking country, and Us college educational system is based on the English system that is a challenge to the Chinese. The Chinese have to take an English class for them to be at a position to communicate effectively. They have to undergo an English test before they go to Us. It hinders most of the Chinese students from studying n the Us because of the language barrier.

Chinese students have a challenge where they have to adapt or change their culture to accommodate the Us culture, including food, language, dressing and many more. It also hinders most Chinese students from studying in the Us. Most opt to remain at home where they can easily blend in.

The Chinese students in the Us have a difficulty of endless assignments and also personal chores where they live alone.  The Us education system, at times, might be challenging to adapt for the Chinese students as the assignments, and even the tasks of living alone may overwhelm them.

Living in a foreign country alone means that one is taking care of the bills individually, and they might, at times, go through a difficult life where the parents are not giving them any support. The Chinese students find it hard to cope up alone where they cater for everything, and they are solely responsible for any wrong decision they make. Some of them might not cope up quickly with this independence.

The credits in school might not be transferred. The Chinese students risk wasting their hard-earned points and money to spend and finally not count during graduation time. It also comes as a setback to most Chinese students who study through the Us college educational system. Walden (2008)

Chinese students who travel to the Us have to keep constant communication with their relatives and friends who are far away. At times homesickness cripples in, and they might not be at a position to meet friends and relatives face-face. It appears a challenge to many Chinese students who study abroad, especially the US, where they only video call to see their friends and family. It is a setback to the Chinese students. Kline and Liu (2005) 29(4), 367-390

Most students from china face racism from American students who see them looking weird. This setback causes some students to understand the Us as a wrong place to study. Payne (1984) 23(2), 124-131

CONCLUSION

Despite the Chinese students who study in the Us having challenges where they have to cope up with cultural differences, the high cost of living, loneliness and language barriers; there remains a lot of benefits accrued to the Us college education system. Most Chinese students tend to focus more on the advantages than the setbacks, which makes it essential for most of them to go through the Us college educational system. They decide to go through the process regardless of the hardships. At last, most Chinese students gain by having a new experience in terms of culture and language and some end up getting employment opportunities and expanding their career. Some of them get to take back home an array of experience having had new friends and also some also get to escape the college entrance exams, which is a requirement in their college admission. Finally, the Us college educational system gives the Chinese a great advantage despite the hardships they might encounter. Griner (2014) 7(1)

ABSTRACT

Chinese students persevere the hardships to get good at the end of the study period in the United States. Some get to have permanent residence while some get employed there to excel their careers while some get to learn from different cultures and make connections while in the Us. The Us college educational system is helpful to the Chinese students at the end of their study period despite the setbacks they go through.

REFERENCES

Griner, J., & Sobol, A. (2014). Chinese Students’ Motivations for Studying Abroad. Global Studies Journal, 7(1).

Liu, Y. (2013). Meritocracy and the Gaokao: a survey study of higher education selection and socio-economic participation in East China. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 34(5-6), 868-887.

Nelson, A. R. (2013). The Perceived Dangers of Study Abroad, 1780–1800: Nationalism, Internationalism, and the Origins of the American University. In The Founding Fathers, Education, and “The Great Contest” (pp. 175-197). Palgrave Macmillan, New York.

Payne, C. (1984). Multicultural education and racism in American schools. Theory into Practice, 23(2), 124-131.

Yan, K., & Berliner, D. C. (2011). Chinese international students in the United States: Demographic trends, motivations, acculturation features and adjustment challenges. Asia Pacific Education Review, 12(2), 173-184.