«The stark realities of life of a typical secondary-school student in Russia and China: do they have much in common? »

State budgetary educational institution of Moscow "School No. 2200"

Cross Cultural Connections Conference «Bridge Russia and the World»

«The stark realities of life of a typical secondary-school student in Russia and China: do they have much in common? »

Supervisor: Olga Peshcherskaya,

MY DAILY ROUTINE

5 «I» -Math class. Science is the best, strongest, brightest support in life.

(Timiryazev)

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One chance meeting gave rise to a thought…

My mother works as a senior lector of skiing in Russian State University of Physical Education and Sports. One day I saw a Chinese girl of my age who was sitting in the audience with her mum.

I was interested who she was and , surprisingly, she spoke English. Just like that I became friends with Wang Ye from Hengyang Hunan(the second largest city in Hunan Province, China) and after communication with her , I took a decision to compare our schools

My

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Hengyang, Hunan Province, China

My

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Why did I do this project?

The aim of the project is to compare the life of an average secondary school student in Russia and China in order to identify common and distinctive features between Chinese and Russian schoolchildren and prove the necessity of closing-in movement between two educational systems in the process of globalization.

A teenager is not a difficult age,

it's a difficult life no matter what country they are from

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MY HYPOTHESIS

To prove that despite some obvious differences between Chinese and Russian students , there are some certain similarities in national character, cultures and school life that can lead to mutual cooperation

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Some methodological characteristics

Theme of my research work : a school life and after-school activities of Russian and Chinese fifth-graders

Object: a typical Russian and Chinese fifth-grader

Subject : finding obvious similarities and striking differences between the two educational systems (secondary school) and debunking of generally accepted stereotypes about them

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Novelty and topicality

To compare the modes of life and academic performance between the secondary school students of China and Russia as due to inevitable changes of relations between Russia and China, it is very important for China and Russia to identify and strengthen existing similarities in lifestyle to integrate and change the relationship for the better between two educational systems and countries as well.

Our project is at the junction of the following sciences: cross-country studies, geography, philosophy and linguistics

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The key tasks of the project

1. To collect and summarize information about Russian and Chinese secondary stages of education

2. To point out some specific features of an average Russian and Chinese student of the 5th form

3. To compare some certain advantages of being a Russian and a Chinese teenager

4. To show some apparent disadvantages of being a Russian teenager in comparison to a Chinese one

5. To take a set of interviews with a Chinese schoolgirl and a group of Russian fifth-graders

6. To suggest some useful tips how to simplify a teenage academic performance and after-school activities

7. To draw general conclusions on the project

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The guide to my project work

I. Theoretical background

• Definition of a term a teenager

• Psychological image of a fifth-grader

• Comparison of the major positive sides of a teenage life in both states

• List some negative sides of being a teenager in Russia and China in comparison

II. Practical part

• Making an opinion poll among Russian teachers

• Taking an interview with Russian fifth-graders and a Chinese student

• Giving sound advice on relieving stress and brightening a life of a teen

III. Conclusions

IV. Bibliography and applications

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Secondary-school student

Girls

Boys

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Psychological image

You know, teens can be moody and lose my temper. But we try to keep calm and get on well with our classmates and teachers. Young people do want to find true friends. We learn how to make friends with my classmates and take a stand for my opinion. We’re eager to study!

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Generation gap or mutual cooperation?

Students want to be independent , live without any conflicts with their dearest and nearest as our parents come first in our lives regardless of the place of living!

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Chinese and Russian educational systems: do they different or alike?

Chinese and Russian educational systems in comparison

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The school workload and time spent at school in secondary schools in both countries

Russian fifth-graders must attend school 5 days a week with 5-6 lessons daily .A lesson lasts 45 minutes

They have 2 days off for relaxion and hobbies.

Lessons start at 8.30 am and finish at 2.30 pm. So ,we spend 6 hours at school

There are no more than 25 pupils in the class.

Chinese students must attend schools 5 days a week with 7-8 lessons a day (a lesson lasts 40 minutes).

At the weekends they attend private tutors or elective courses .

Lessons start at 7.30 and are over at 7.30 (with a lunch break for 1 hour). So , they spend 12 -14 hours at school a day

There are from 40 to 80 students in the class

Russian secondary school

Chinese secondary school

There are 13 compulsory subjects to learn: Chinese (11), Mathematics(6), History (1), I.T (1), P. E(3),(Science) : Chemistry, Physics, Biology(1), Foreign Language (4), Art(1), Music(1) and Ideology and Politics+ class meeting(2)However, only Chinese, math and PE are set up in many rural areas.

They use 100-point mark system

A - 85-100 -) –Excellent (A) ;

B - 75-84 -–Good (B);

C - 60-74 –Satisfactory (C) );

D/E - 59-0 -– unsatisfactory grade (D ).

There are 14 compulsory subjects on our timetable . Maths(7), Russian(5) ,Literature(3), English(3) , History(2), I.T. (2) and P.E.(2) are the most important .

Science(Biology, Geography), Music, Art ,Basics of Religion Handicraft are taught once a week.

We use 5-point mark system (5-excellent, 4-good, 3-satisfactory, 1-2 unsatisfactory)

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Unwritten rules to follow, inside discipline in both countries

Russian

1. Daily morning assemblies outdoors with special rituals and physical exercising are a n essential part of their school routine

Chinese secondary school

1.Russian fifth-graders have weekly assemblies to learn future plans and get to know with the winners of different contests.

secondary school

2. There are several youth organizations The Young Pioneers and The Communist Youth League of China at schools. Everyone ought to become a member of them.

2.There are no any youth organizations at out schools .

3. Our local authority isn’t so strict for skipping lessons and we can’t be excluded from school for school truancy

3.Chinese pupils mustn’t miss lessons without a sound reason. If they skip 12 lessons they will be excluded from school.

4.School teachers and local authorities work hard to form the students’ ideology, moral principals and character building using morning assemblies, class meetings, nationwide events and Ideology and Politics lessons.

4.Unfortunately, we don’t have special lessons on our timetable which can systematically educate the right moral values .

As a matter of fact, some teachers do hold their class meetings in the right way and try to build up our characters . Our headteacher is one of them.

5.I think, that it would be great to have such elective-course as “What is bad and good: instruction for the right behavior.”

5. The main moral values to be educated:

patriotism, law-abidingness, courtesy,

integrity and honor, solidarity, friendship,

diligence and frugality, self-improvement ,

professional dedication and devotion

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Obvious advantages of the schooling in China over the schooling in Russia

China has forbidden under-18s from playing video games for more than three hours a week, due to "spiritual opium". So , they play with Chinese tangram puzzles and Rubik's cubes at school

2.Chinese schoolchildren read a lot and have special time for reading treated as a timetabled subject at school.

3.Chinese children are sporty, athletic and pay much attention to keeping fit and be in a good shape (national gymnastics chi gung , football teams and P.E. lessons at the stadium promote their physical development)

Russian

secondary school

Chinese secondary school

1.Russian fifth-graders are addicted to playing electronic games on their cell phones

2.Russian students aren’t fond of reading and it is becoming a global problem.

3. Not all fifth-graders are keen on doing sports and keeping fit .That’s why this side of life should be paid more time and efforts.

4.We don’t have such a system of punishments and stimulations to be the best in academic performance . I wish we would put this system into practice

5.The majority of our students don’t worry a lot about their future till the 9 th grade and then 11 th form. We should start providing our prosperous future since the primary school.

4.Since early childhood every Chinese child has been motivated to study well, work hard at school and be the best at school in order to pass his exams and be accepted to the 10 th grade .There are academic performance ratings in every classroom and top-lists of all the classes in the school hall. For the correct answer, the student receives a star.

If you are a bad student , you will have to join a kung fu school and become a kung fur coach without education.

5. Competition is high in China because of the large population and that’s why they work hard to be the best and take their place in the sun

6.The attitude to teachers are very respectful and this job is well-paid.

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Obvious disadvantages of schooling in China over Russian studying

Chinese secondary school

Russian

secondary school

1. Chinese children do not have a lot of free time as they overloaded and overworked as a child is constantly busy learning under the pressure of parents or future tests or exams.

The quality of education suffers as a result.

2. Studying in the form of games doesn’t let them concentrate, discipline is lame. The groups are so large, so it is difficult to calm down the children.

3. There is a flood of exam-oriented education. Education is based on the memory of relevant knowledge and the simple use of examinations as the core

6.The conditions of studying are completely different in a big city and in a rural area. Classes are overcrowded, no central heating and comfortable toilets .

7.Not all teachers are well-educated and able to gain knowledge.

1.We have enough spare time to rest and recharge our batteries.

2.Our system is a combination of teaching forms and ways to get knowledge.

3.Now we will have to do tests and take our exams but we are taught to think, reflect and argue, express our opinions and come up with new ideas .

4.Our system is very flexible and many-sided so it is able to reveal our abilities , talents, direct and develop them in the right direction.

5.Our school system in general is free from politics or governmental control .

6.There are fewer students in the class, a lot of modern facilities and all modern conveniences are there at schools.

7.All teachers are highly-qualified and use modern methods of teaching.

4 . School education ignores the personality of students and their learning abilities. In China at present is that it ignores the nature of students.

5.School system is politically and morally oriented. As students’ ages continue to increase, political ideology is gradually introduced into the textbooks .

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School workload :on the heels of everything…

Indicators

5 grade in Russia

Number of subjects

6 grade in China

14

Weekly study load

13+elective courses

30 hours(5-6 lessons a day)

Number of subject teachers

Time spent on doing homework

48 hours (7-8 lessons a day)

14

Total time spent at school

2-4 hours a day

1 and native speakers

4-5 hours a day

6 hours a day (8.30 to 2.30)

Number of extra-curriculum clubs, sections and societies to attend

12-14 hours a day (7.00-7.30)

1 -2(twice or 3 times a week)

Spare time a day for hobbies or relaxion

3-4 (more than 3 times a week)

4-5 hours day

Only for sleeping

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Advantages and disadvantages of being an average student in China

They are motivated to study and gain knowledge all the time .It’s a shame and you spot a family name if you are a bad student. The only way for you to be a kung fur coach.

Too many students in the classroom and there are too many lessons in the form of a game

Students’ motto is “ We will learn until we die!” They work hard on their bodies, spirit, endurance and stamina and strong character.

The school area is surrounded by an iron fence and you can leave it only after all your lessons

They are too politically-orientated , can’t think freely, narrow –minded (lack of the Internet news and opportunity to broaden their minds)

They read a lot , play only with real toys , aren’t addicted to playing computer or electronic games

All their efforts and time are linked with taking their exams at any cost .They don’t develop any talents or innate abilities except from required for their exams

They are obedient, enduring and diligent, are used to obeying their parents, the elderly and teachers.They are patriotic, devoted to their country, adaptive and unpretentious in everyday life

They are a member of any youth organization, they feel themselves as a part of the entire system

There is a very high level of competition or rivalry so it can lead to form such a trait as indifference to others, mercilessness , cruelty and stopping at nothing

They are always overloaded, overworked and don’t have enough sleep or rest , full of fears not to live up to all their parents expectations . It causes a set of nervous breakdowns , depressions and low self-esteem.

There is cast-iron discipline in Chinese schools: no school truancy, no idle students, strict teachers ‘ control and punishment for the absence of homework .

For cheating on exams they can’t do it for 3 years or even be put into prison

They have only 2 holidays a year (winter and summer) but with o lot of homework to do.

are given a whole book of 60 pages with assignments in Chinese, mathematics and English. prepare 3-4 creative works, a rewiw on the books you read and write 20 essays with a volume of at least 300 hieroglyphs.

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Advantages and disadvantages of being a fifth-grader in Russia

The process of personality formation is in the very beginning and you can change your character for the better

A complex of different unwritten rules and demands from 14 subject -teachers which should be followed instead of one teacher in primary school

The main terms to be popular are doing well at school and taking an active part in all school-wide or class-wide events.

Desire to be independent, broaden your mind and express your individuality , unmask all your hidden talents can be the main motive for self-development and right behavior.

New grade consisting of the students from various schools-a new community

Now you are «Junior» in the secondary school

It’s time to choose your hobby and the best way of spending your spare time

(5 form) instead of being «Superior »in the primary school

Many peers are addicted to their cell phones and use them in non-stoppable way during the breaks.

All teachers tend to turn you into a broad-mined, all-rounded and smart person with a high level of creativity, logical thinking and a lot of new ideas +vivid imagination

(4 grade)

There are no any youth organizations at school to be involved into or to take part in.

There are some Olympiads, contests, competitions, events, exhibitions and conferences to participate and come in full force to develop your leaning abilities and realize your creative potential

There are some common fears which must be overcome : fear of failure at school, fear of being rejected in your class, fear of fall short of parental expectations

We are trying to turn over a new leaf and everything depends on our diligence, hard work, motivation and ambitiousness

All meals are paid so it’s costly to have 2 meals a day in our school canteen

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What do my classmates think about secondary school in Russia?

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MY COMMENTS:

• My classmates enjoy studying in the 5 th I grade although it was easier to study in the primary school.
• The main problems of fifth-grades are lack of time and sometimes too much homework to do.
• All my classmates think that their class is smart, friendly and they get on well with each other
• Parents, teachers and ..a cat are the major helpers and supporters.
• We aren’t afraid of learning some new subjects and we adore get new knowledge

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My useful tips for the secondary-school students in both states

1. Be self – confident, work hard and

set ambitious goals .The sky is the limit!

3. Manage your time and never be idle.

4. Read more useful books to broaden your mind

5.Relieve the monotony in life,live to the fullest !

6. Respect others as all the world loves a lover

8. Keep fit regularly as a sound mind is in a sound body

9.Be helpful, supportive, sociable and kind to help everyone out!

10. Never give up and go through difficulties to the stars

11.May your life motto be ,”Never look back to scale new heights!”

"No pains, no gains.”

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My personal conclusions

• Our life is rather tough, full of ups and downs but eventful, fast-paced and interesting.
• In order to cope with everything, we should make up our life rules and develop our own pace of life to move heaven and earth
• This project is my first attempt to do it! Judge not and you will no be judged!
• I’ have told you about the lives of secondary-school students in two states in order to prove that our life isn’t a bed of roses and to encourage every teen to be himself and move beyond this hard teenage age!

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Thank you for

your attention!