Workshop2: Eating habits (correction)

Workshop 2 is using the food as a metaphor for the different countries’ education. In this essay, I will compare the food cultural from different countries and discuss the differences between Chinese and English education cultures. There are a lot of differences between China and Western countries, no matter in food or in education.

In this paragraph I will describe the differences between English and Chinese food. I had an opportunity to have lunch with Alexandra on Tuesday. We went to a restaurant called Jenny, which is same as my name. We ordered two traditional English foods, one is fish and chips, the other one was a whole big potato covered with cheese, called Jacket Potato. The platter was so big, I can hardly image that people can eat them all by just one person.  I got full quickly after I ate just half of the platter. Alexandra told me that potato was a common food material in English food, and there were actually a lot of fat in some English traditional food. To girls, maybe it is not a good choice. I also brought Chinese food to share with Alexandra which I cooked early that morning, fried rice with eggs and lettuce with oyster sauce. Although it was cold when we ate, I am glad that Alexandra liked my food. 

I think English food is easier and more convenient to take away, like the sandwich culture. I have seen plenty types of sandwiches in London. I like them, they are delicious and easy to make. But the cooking process for Chinese food is more complicated. Food you can take away for lunch called box rice in China, it is also more difficult to make than sandwiches. There are many steps to finish one box rice. But the balance of nutrition in food is healthy and less fat in food. However I like English and Chinese food both, It is a good experience to try different food types. I can change the food type everyday in London’s daily life.

The education is also quite different in two countries. In China, students almost do not have the chance to eat lunch or dinner with teachers. The relationship between students and teachers will not be this close, people are shy and unfamiliar with each other. Most students do not dare to question teachers or to suggest there can be a better way to do the projects. They just do what their teachers tell to do. The relationship between students and teachers is lack of communication. Students always feel uncomfortable to be alone with teachers in China. I like the relationship with tutors in London, which is quite different from China. Tutors here like to be questioned, like to discuss the every possibility about the projects with students. They encourage students to be more spontaneous and creative. (Sir ‪K. Robinson, 2011) The atmosphere in class is active. Teachers and students sit around the table and share the ideas and information together. We can evaluate and give opinions to others’ ideas. I can even have lunch or tea with my tutor here. We can talk about the funny things during the lunchtime. Tutors will buy cakes for the class, we can share the problems we meet and try to solve them together. The relationship between teachers and students is quite friendly and relaxed. Students can find project what they are really interested in and good at during the study process in school. The educators in Western countries recommend students to think for themselves and study independently.

Maria Montessori said:

Hence it follows that we should leave as much as possible to Nature; and the more the babe is left 

free to develop, the more rapidly and perfectly will he achieve his proper proportions and higher

 functions.

But most people in China haven’t realized the importance of letting children think themselves independently. They just think it is better to send children to famous school and take different lessons after official school to get better education. Many parents think the value of knowledge means as many tutors as possible. Children feel very stressful during their growing process in this way. The famous schools especially the junior high schools and high schools in China mean the better probability to pass the college entrance examination. Students in China usually feel confused about what they are actually interested in and what they really want to learn in universities because they have less chance to be in touch with different things in high schools and just have to study hard to pass the college entrance examination.

People are free to explain ideas in London but more reserve and would not dare to challenge and experiment in China. The difference I think is kind of similar with the food in two countries. Like sandwiches in London are easy to make and can be various but the box rice in China are more traditional and do not have many changes. Different countries have different cultures in everything. It is interesting to contrast and learn the differences.

References:

Sir ‪K. Robinson. Out of Our Minds: Learning to be Creative (2011). Hoboken N.J. : Capstone.

M. Montessori, F. Simmonds. Spontaneous Activity in Education (1965). Frederick A. Stokes Company.