How Different Cultural Background Influence Students’ Learning Method

--A Comparative Study of Chinese Students and American Students

Abstract

when meeting problems, different people may have different problem-solving styles. This phenomenon is easy to spot on campus. In the classroom, Chinese students often prefer to solve problems by themselves when they encounter problems, such as searching for answers on the Internet, and rarely discuss with professors or classmates. English-speaking students, on the other hand, prefer to solve problems in discussions, and they prefer to ask their own questions directly in class rather than finding answers after class. But in previous research, there has been little research on what leads to different problem-solving styles. Therefore, the following research will study the reasons why Chinese students and American students have different problem-solving styles from two aspects: historical reasons and educational systems. Chinese history has long been influenced by Confucianism, which emphasizes authoritarianism and collectivism, so Chinese students are more accustomed to receiving knowledge passively and solving problems passively. American history, on the other hand, emphasizes more free and logical thinking, so American students prefer to actively explore problems. In addition, China's unique college entrance exam education system allows Chinese students to do well in basic subjects, but the fill-in-the-blank education deprives Chinese students of the desire to actively explore knowledge. Compared to the Chinese education system, the U.S. education system was democratized after World War II, which has led to a diversity of educational resources, greater respect for students' interests, and enhanced student initiative. However, a liberal system is often more difficult to manage classes and students, and because there is no mandatory learning, American students generally perform worse in basic subjects.