In Singapore, practically all kids have tuition - even the smart ones who get straight As often have tuition just to make sure they never ever get a B. It is the kiasu mentality gone mad, it is this insane Asian obsession with academic achievements. However in the UK, the only people who have private tuition are those from the Asian community (and some from the Jewish community) who still have that obsession with academic achievement. The rest of the British students either try to seek help from within the school system or simply accept that the child will score a C or a D at the exam. Your average British parent will not freak out if the child does badly - the attitude has always been a fairly relaxed one, "never mind, I'm sure you'll do better next term if you work hard - let's have a chat with your teacher to see how you can improve", or even "it's okay, as long as you've tried your best, we can't be good at everything..."
What is the effect of this I hear you ask? Well, there are plenty of smart kids who will get very good grades without any extra help and they will go to the top universities. I know this family where the son went to Oxford and the daughter went to Cambridge (both did medicine) and neither of them had even a day's tuition because their parents were strictly against the idea of tuition. The kids who are not as smart will not get good grades and most simply accept that they are not academically inclined - they will then seek alternative career routes which do not involve a degree. Sending a child to university is very expensive so if a child cannot get into a half decent university, then the parents really have to consider if it is a worthwhile investment sending a child to a second grade university - could the time and money be better spent doing something else (such as vocational training) to help the child acquire more skills to find a good job?
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| The UK has some of the top universities in the world. |
But in Singapore, even students with no ability for a subject are subject to hours of tuition until they can get decent grades. That's the problem with Singapore you see, the situation is distorted. When I see a kid with an A for maths, I have no idea if the kid is naturally bright and good with numbers - or if this A is a result of his parents bludgeoning him through hours of intensive private tuition. Thus in the UK, without private tuition distorting the picture, the grades are a far more realistic reflection of the students' abilities and make no mistake, white people are only too aware of how hard Asian parents push their kids, so they tend to look at these straight-A Asian students with a bit of skepticism. So it's not that these Asian kids are any smarter than their white or black counterparts at school, it's just that Asian parents push their kids a lot harder because of this cultural obsession with getting good grades.
2. The importance of psychometric tests
Interestingly, one of the UK's biggest graduate recruiters has announced that they will completely ignore A levels and degree results, instead relying on their own in-house tests to evaluate candidates. Thus in this context, gatekeepers are wary that some students may have good grades not because they are brighter than everyone else, but simply because they were pushed a lot harder by their parents. Conversely, there may be other candidates with less than perfect grades, but may have some very good attributes that may make them very suitable for the job. Our job as the gatekeeper is to find the best candidate for the job and the kid who has had the pushiest parents (hence the best results) may not be the best candidate! Welcome to the world of psychometric tests. There are a whole range of such psychometric tests that gatekeepers like myself use to evaluate candidates across a range of skills - the outcome of these tests often tell us a lot more about the candidate than their grades and it allows us to observe them in action. Now there are two kinds of group activities I am fond of, the first one is the "no right answer" discussion exercise.
The second kind of exercise does have a right answer and it is often a brain teaser - but we're looking for much more than the right answer when conducting this test. So for example, the small group would be presented with this puzzle: "A ship is docked in the harbour. Over the side hangs a rope ladder with rungs a foot apart. The tide rises at a rate of 9 inches per hour. At the end of six hours, how much of the rope ladder will still remain above water, assuming that 9 feet were above the water when the tide began to rise?" Now there is a right answer to this puzzle (leave your answers in the comments section below), but I would be observing how the individuals in the group work together to arrive at the answer. Some people would be shouting over the others, some would not be willing to listen to others, others simply cannot make themselves heard (even if they have the right answer) and you would be amazed how much you can learn about the candidates by observing them in an exercise like that. Even if they get to the right answer, I would then be able to find out who took the lead, which individuals solved the puzzle and which individuals did nothing.
3. Far more young people work part time
The vast majority of university students in the UK actually do some part time work for a variety of reasons: firstly, many young people get a student loan to go to university. So if they can earn a bit of money in their spare time, then they need to borrow less and it wouldn't take them as long to eventually pay off their student loans. In contrast, many Singaporean parents are far more willing than British parents to fund their children's degree, even if that means using up their life savings. Secondly, even amongst richer students who don't really need the money, many realize that many employers are looking for candidates with some kind of work experience - this means that they will be able to adapt themselves to the work place a lot more quickly compared to a graduate who has never ever worked a day in his life before. In Singapore, most parents (and even some gatekeepers) actually see part time work as a mere distraction that has little value; they would rather their children dedicate themselves to studying full time in order to get the best possible grades. Hence a lack of any work experience would hurt a graduate a lot more in the UK than in Singapore.
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| Are you able to hold down a part time job whilst at university? |
4. More help available for young people looking for work
In the UK, there is far more help for young people looking for work. The obvious place to start would be the local Job Centre Plus, this is where young people can get help with everything from identify suitable jobs vacancies to apply for, updating their CVs and receive coaching on interview techniques. Furthermore, these young people are also entitled to the job seeker's allowance which is a small amount of money to help you meet the costs of looking for a new job (eg. traveling to interviews, paying for the use of internet/phone, buying new shoes/clothes for interviews etc). Many young British people do use these channels as they are fairly effective. Now correct me if I am wrong, but there simply isn't the same kind of support for unemployed young people in Singapore. Instead, most rely on their family networks to find opportunities ("lobang" or "pull string") and any kind of financial support would depend on the generosity of other family members rather than the state. This is often swept under the carpet of course, as Singaporean society often heaps blame and guilt on young people who are unable to get a job. So many would lie that they are still doing some kind of education or training so as to claim that they are still students, rather than be labeled 'unemployed'.
5. A willingness to travel for work
Lastly, the UK is a large country not just in terms of population but in terms of area - that means that people are generally far more willing to move around the country in search of better opportunities: these could be short term (going to a good university in a city far away from your hometown) or permanent (the way many have flocked to the big cities in search of the bright lights). In sharp contrast, Singapore is a small country and I am shocked at just how few Singaporeans are willing to even consider working outside Singapore to say, consider job opportunities in Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok or Hong Kong. They can be so very insular: there seems to be a total lack of a sense of adventure - this unwillingness to embrace the unfamiliar despite the rewards it may bring. Whereas in the UK, many people will gladly move if their job demands it and this is not just around the country but internationally as well. This is particularly true for people from small towns and villages in rural areas with limited education and employment opportunities - thus they are often forced to move when they become adults so this just becomes totally normal for in British society.
Over to you now: what do you think? Would you prefer to have a British style or a Chinese style education - what would you like for your children to have? What have been your experiences with either systems? Which do you think works better in terms of preparing students for the working world? What are the merits of each system? Do Singaporean students get the best of both worlds? Do let me know your thoughts please, many thanks for reading!
Still 9 feet! because the boat FLOATS! It's a trick question! - I would yell excitedly upon seeing that question, then proceed to laugh at my own cleverness.
ReplyDeleteOn a serious note, I do wish that local education wasn't so stressful. It's a vicious cycle here.
Well done. Correct answer. I half wondering if I needed to convert the feet & inches to metric but I realized, why bother given that it is a trick question anyway. you see most Singaporean students who are brilliant at maths would start calculating at once and work out an answer via maths - whereas the only way to arrive at the right answer is to pause and think carefully, look at the big picture and realize it is a trick question.
DeleteWell done. I'd score you very highly on this psychometric test - you'll go far :)
If you read the question carefully, you would realize that there is no answer.
DeleteIf you read the question carefully, you would realize there is no knowable answer.
DeleteSorry Tom, you're on the right track but you didn't express yourself clearly enough to pass the test. Yes it is a trick question. The boat is floating, thus the rope will always stay exactly where it is regardless of the tide. Thus if we started out with the length of rope being 9 feet before the tide rose, it will still be the same after the tide rose, ie. 9 feet.
DeleteSo yes it is a trick question that requires no calculation (just a realization that the boat is floating on the water), but there is an answer indeed: 9 feet.
Nice try but you've got it wrong Tom.
Well, allow me to explain. The question does not says that the rope is 9 feet. 9 feet is stated without having any relation with the rope. Lets suppose that 9 feet refers to a length of the rope, this just proves that at least 9 feet of the rope is above the water. Also one thing to take note, what do you mean by how much of the rope is above the water? do you mean the vertical length of the rope? Personally I understand it to be the vertical length plus the total length of the rungs of the rope ladder. This just complicates things since we already can't be sure of the length of the rope and we also don't know the number of rungs of the ladder. Hence this question can't be answered.
DeleteLet me quote the question again, ""A ship is docked in the harbour. Over the side hangs a rope ladder with rungs a foot apart. The tide rises at a rate of 9 inches per hour. At the end of six hours, how much of the rope ladder will still remain above water, assuming that 9 feet were above the water when the tide began to rise?"
DeleteI don't think it is unclear with regards to the length of the rope ladder above the water - it is 9 feet. The amount of rope that is under the water is irrelevant to the puzzle. And you're just splitting hairs when you ask questions like "do you mean the vertical length of the rope?"
In any case, gatekeepers are wary of people like you who try to claim "no no no your question is not fair" - and I'll be like, go on then, please speak up and let me hear what you have to say, kindly justify your point of view.
You come across as a person who will be difficult to work with. Yes you have some attention to detail (so it's not all bad news), but there's no way I'd let you through the next round because of the way you express yourself.
See? Psychometric tests are not like those maths tests you take at school where you just need to get the right answers. You can get all the right answers in such an exercise but still leave the gatekeeper with a poor impression that they choose to select others and rule you out.
Bwahahahahaha.
I am not sure where the East-West distinction in education came from, but it has been drummed into many people that for years, the "Asian" education systems in a lot of universities and pre-university institutions alike are mostly based on rote learning and memorization. I especially use the Chinese, Japanese, and Korean university systems as cases in point, which just draw attention to the low level of international accreditation for most universities from this region, with the exception of a few. Even the top Korean universities such as Seoul National and Korea U are actually ranked relatively low on the international scale due to certain reasons, including the preferential treatment of foreign staff and faculty (lower wages for them even if they are tenured or permanent because of their nationality), low preference from international students for studying there, etc.
ReplyDeleteFrom my personal point of view, the issue of whether you can "bring the degree out of the country" to be recognized as a graduate from that university is another matter. For certain reasons, it does not matter if you are a graduate of Beijing U, Seoul National U or U of Tokyo, even despite their top ranking within the countries they are founded in, because once you get out and back to your home country, or to another country such as Australia, the USA, and Canada, the perceptions of these degrees and the universities in the western countries are very unflattering and really biased. For example, people will think, "You spent 4 years studying a degree in a country which does not use English or any international 'western' language such as German or French as its main language of instruction. How sure can we be that the level of instruction and training in the skills of the professional course you studied, as well as the applicability of the skills, are the same?" You have former professors from China who got their PhDs from a Chinese university, but end up in menial jobs in the west because their degrees are not recognized or seen as equatable with the skills and training of that country's institutions.
Limpeh I think both cultures have their own extremes. You should not be obsessed with top grades, but neither should you be celebrating if you get Cs or Ds. But I do agree that it's important to pick a field that you have a competitive advantage in, else you risk slipping away into mediocrity.
ReplyDeleteYou're right - both cultures have their extremes and there are Asian parents who are more Western in their approach and vice versa. As for celebrating over a C or D grade, well, if that is the best the kid can do - then why not? If the kid scored an F last term and improved to a C, that is a massive achievement already.
DeleteBut I think the attitude in the UK is that you have little to prove in a school environment where education is very general, where you do so many subjects and without knowing what is ultimately going to be relevant to your job in the future. So if you flunk a subject like maths, then parents are more likely to shrug it off with a, "well I guess you're never gonna be an accountant then, but you'll end up doing something that doesn't require any maths". But Chinese parents would be like, "Noooo! People will judge you for failing maths and think you're stupid - you'll never get a job - it is the end of the world, aaaaaaaargh!"
I can tell you that I was lost in the Singapore system. I thought I was stupid. I failed Mandarin, and I hated how the teachers shoved information into my brain. When I got here, I was shocked. My professors gave marks for class participation! I liked that I had to work all throughout the term rather than just regurgitating at exams. However, credit was given for every assignment. I suddenly blossomed and thrived! I did not go to an elite university. In fact, I went to a small university. When choosing a university, it doesn't matter if it is elite or not. It depends on the program. Some universities are respected for certain programs. Ex.: the one I went to had very good education, nursing, and music programs. In the real world, employers do not really care where you graduated from as long as it is a legitimate university. I mean, would you want your dentist to have gotten his degree online? No. However, a degree from, say Harvard, may look good on paper, but without the soft skills, the graduate from Harvard isn't going to last long. Don't get me wrong, if one can get into an Ivy League school and can afford the fees, go for it! I am just saying it isn't the end of the world is you can get in.
ReplyDeleteI am just glad my son does not have to go through the horrors of the Singapore system the way I had to. He works hard from September to June on every assignment and test. They all count toward his final grade. I like that he can shine through a variety of assessments --- quizzes, tests, journals, posters, presentations, group work, ... the list is varied. It is not just exams like in Singapore. Yes, Singapore students may solve math problems better, but do they have the creativity to solve problems in the real world? Are they compassionate global citizens who will make the world a better place, or are they robots who are programmed to vomit facts and follow orders? The only criticism I have of western parents is that many are too laxed in their academic expectations. I believe in encouraging the child to do his best (which is different for everyone) and providing support from the side lines. Most importantly, I believe in letting the child show you what his talents and interests are. Expose him to different activities, and let him tell you what he likes or dislikes.
Some great points there Di - We have to find better ways to test students and I hate the way it all boils down to one exam every few years (PSLE,, O levels, A levels) as that just stresses the students out: make it or break it and they even think that they can fool around for most of the time and then study hard for a few months just before the exam - that's hardly healthy, is it?
DeleteTypo: "it isn't the end of the world if you can't get in".
DeleteAnother problem is the streaming of students into different programs in Singapore. Children blossom at different times. Who is the government to dictate the educational path of a child at such an early age? Yet parents simply accept the streaming and the government gets away with all the educational atrocities over the years. The morons making these decisions know nothing about psychology and the development of children. Yet they hold the fate of children in their hands. How dare they!
I hate to say it, but based on my memories of classmates back from secondary school, I think that the cut-throat and competitive system in Singapore only encourages you to see your classmates as enemies or stepping stones. It does not always foster close friendships, depending on the person's outlook and personality. When I first entered junior college eons ago, a schoolmate from that JC told me about a secondary school classmate of mine who was his primary school classmate and had chosen not to go to junior college although he qualified for it. The mindset was basically that of a "go-getter" and elitist mentality, because that classmate of mine had answered, "I MUST go to a top 5 Junior College to study, or else, I will not be able to get B3 and above for my GP!" Seriously, from my knowledge of that classmate, even if he had gone to a top 5 JC, he still would not be able to do well in his GP too, because he is not only illogical in his thinking, but also poor in his command of English! So much for that streaming and elitist system....
DeleteIf his English was that good, going to a top 15 rather than top 5 junior college would not affect his chances of getting a B3 grade in GP. Twit. That is all they think about. Colleges, universities; money, housing, cars, ... This is why I do like talking to Singaporeans.
DeleteDi, the last time I ever saw them again in 2011, they were still in those annual Chinese New Year dinner gatherings, boasting about how far they have come financially and so on scaling up the social hierarchy. Seriously, I do not have the same value system as them, so to each his or her own. The main point of education should be instilling in the person an ability to think independently and with compassion for others, and I do not think that the system has succeeded in this case with regards to my secondary school back in Singapore. It is a sad thing that a large part of modern society has learned to see 'success' as simply money and material possessions, but people forget that they are all expendables and do not last very long. The emotional experiences and legacy we carry along with us and give to others are way more important in my honest opinion.
DeleteKevin, I really dread my upcoming trip back next year. I know my in-laws will ask how much money we make, whether we rent or own, how many cars, etc. If we down play some details, they will say, "Then why the hell did you decide to stay there?" If we tell the truth about some details, they will ask for money. Oh, so you own home, two cars, and take vacations? How about some money for your poor mother? They have no concept of reality. You don't have to be rich to own a home, two cars, or take vacations. For them, wealth is measured in dollars and possessions as you mentioned. How about clean air, opportunities, freedom, healthcare, and quality of life? Nope. Not important to these dumb twits. I hope my husband stands up to them. He is a lot more diplomatic than I am. I really despise these people. I will be needing a lot of support from you guys during my trip. Lol!
DeleteDi, I feel for you. The only people whom I did not like back from Singapore were my former secondary school classmates who sat around me, but I do not talk to them anymore at all, and even the common friend(s)--more like one to two of them--were people whom I could not trust to keep secrets too, because of that "open secret" thing going on amongst some Singaporeans. The one thing is that Singaporeans--a number of them anyway--simply are stuck on the LOWER end of the Maslow's hierarchy of needs. I probably earned as much per month in Japan as I would do in Singapore under state bonds to MOE as a teacher or as a contract lecturer in one of the private universities, but Sinkies (note, I say "Sinkies", not Singaporeans) would probably ask why then I chose to go to Japan. How about an awesome chance to experience one of the world's oldest cultures, along with the best food (probably, at least to me, other than French or Korean or Mediterranean food), the best shopping and post-shopping service, and well, lots and lots more?
DeleteAs far as it goes, try to play it low profile! Few people know it whenever I am in Singapore. Note, even if they do know, I make it a point to filter out people, because some people love to do stuff like suggesting that you treat them or eat at posh places just to "show off". Frankly, do we have any kind of time for that kind of showiness?
If they ask you for money, I would use the Lucy Liu method in "Charlie's Angels" and "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle". "No"....guy asks again....."No".....guy asks again...."NO" (Final reiterative reply). "Uh uh"...guy asks again......"Uh uh"......guy asks again a second time....."UH UH" (woman puts up a "Talk to the hand 'cos the face ain't listening" gesture)!
DeleteKevin: Singaporeans think of jobs as how much it pays for the least amount of hours worked. We think of the work environment, the intrinsic rewards, and the opportunities it gives us. Yes, pay is important because we have bills to pay, but beyond being able to provide for our basic Maslow' s hierarchy of needs, we seek fulfilment of a higher hierarchy. For you, Japan provides some of those higher needs; for Alex, doing what he loves be it acting or high finance and having the freedom to live the life he has in London; for me, providing a decent life for my son that is not dictated by PSLE, O Levels, A Levels, and NS. Singaporeans do not get that. I, too, have little desire to meet friends except for one, perhaps two. In-laws, I have no choice. I will practise the Lucy Liu response, though. Thanks! I may even throw in f-bombs now and then just for shock value. My husband is too nice to tell them off. I have no such problem.
DeleteDi, when you told me about relatives asking for money, I started having alarm signals. It is not as if they are your direct in-laws (your husband's father and mother) or your parents. Extended family has absolutely no right to ask for money from extended family members (your husband and you) who have already immigrated, because you are a few times removed from them by connection! That is simply wrong morally. Years back when I was still in my post-graduate phase, having just graduated with a BA and looking for a job, one Singaporean friend tried to suggest that I throw a party or treat and pay for him and another friend to have a buffet dinner at a restaurant! The reason for this? Because I graduated with a Second Upper Honors, according to him! Wait, wait, wait....I have yet to find a job. I do not see why I should "dump" that money on other people, even extended family and good friends, simply to keep up appearances! Wait, wait, wait!
DeleteI should clarify, Kevin: my mil is 18 years older than we are. Yes, she is that young. She can drive, has a small business, and is literate, albeit not highly educated. She was widowed when she was about 39. In my world, she would have remarried, or at least be on the market for a man since she needed a man to define her (so, go seek one already!). Instead, she chose martyrdom and widowhood. She said she would only put on jewellery and make up and sarees if her eldest son (my husband) were there to accompany her to social events. There are always weddings and celebrations for them to attend. Now, this just put guilt into my husband as we were already living here. How was my husband going to be her plus-one at social events? Also, a tad Freudian, no? She has another son, but she prefers to be on my husband's arms. Anyway, my husband flew her here for 6 weeks, years ago, and she turned up looking all haggard and depressed. When she returned home, she eventually realised that we were never going to have a life under her roof in Singapore, Not that she lives on Southfork, and they are the Ewngs, anyway. Jeez! Everyone under one roof?! YUCKS! Over the years, she has tried getting money from my husband just because. Now, there is the issue. She has no dependents. She has a business. She has wealthy siblings to count on should she need a million dollars. She just wants money, so she could tell people her son gives her money. Here we are struggling to make sure we don't get into debts. We have always counted on ourselves to stay afloat. No quarter asked. No quarter given. Anyway, about 3 summers ago, her siblings instigated her to ask my husband for money to prove his filial piety. She called and asked for $10 000 out of the blue. When my husband told me, I laughed so hard, I asked what it was for. Husband said he did not know. I was baffled that he would consider giving $10 000 away without asking why. He said she did not say why. I said there was no way she was getting our money this way. Anyway, husband thinks it's his aunts and uncles challenging her to ask her overseas son for money to prove his love. Husband dearest eventually told her no, and she dumped off a ton of guilt onto him. Then guess what? A few months later, she asked for my husband's and my son's ID details because she wanted to name them her beneficiary for some money she has. I was livid! If she had money, why ask for money in the first place? Pray tell, why would any mother put her son through the ringer of guilt just to prove his love and devotion? I would never do that to my son. Her siblings, the kaypoh aunts and uncles, are always asking hubby for money on her behalf. Not for themselves. They are wealthy. They just want to stir crap for us. Understand that she is not wealthy, but she is comfortable and is not starving. She even has a maid. I know maids in Singapore are cheap, but right now, I don't even have a house cleaner, and I get down on my knees to scrub my washrooms. She has a maid to do that. Who needs more help? She lives with my brother-in-law and his family. His wife instigates him to stir trouble as well. She has hinted that my husband should take care of her. Can someone tell me what this "taking care" of business means? If she has medical needs, my husband is not a nurse. She can drive, and she can read. She can drive herself to the doctor's like I do when I am sick. She is only EIGHTEEN years older! I have friends near her age, and they all live their own lives and drive themselves everywhere. Does she want my husband to sponge bathe her every night? SICK woman! Thanks for listening.
DeleteUhhhh, it sounds like your mother-in-law is being manipulated by other relatives to get the money out of you even when she is not in dire straits. It is alright for you both to give her a token amount of money, but 10 grand Canadian (or Singaporean) is a hefty lot which can last you for a while, around 10 months in Canada or even longer if you can spread your costs out.
DeleteWhy do Asian parents think their kids have to give them money even if the parents have their own money? Why do Asian kids have to show their love through money? My friends here all think it is odd and wrong. There is a sense of entitlement from Asian parents which I refuse to accept.
DeleteI think that some Asian parents bring up their children, expecting them to take care of them when they grow old. This is fine enough, as long as we do not venture into really questionable terrain such as the parents interfering in affairs such as the children's spouses (when they come of age), dating partners, grandchildren's lives, including their school, academic performance, jobs, and spouses....we are in Mordor with the Eye of Sauron gazing over us for goodness's sake! Actually, to be honest, my sister(s) once said that with regards to my PhD, which my parents had helped to sponsor partially via providing aid with the living expenses when I was moving to and fro from Toronto then at a particular period, I ought to "return the kindness that they had shown to me as parents" and "pay back that money". I wish I could, but I cannot, simply because I do not even make that money now, and did not make that money either when I was in Japan, and still have to really save till I am sure that I am safely settled in a place and city with a career long-term. If they mean the Confucian values of "repaying that parental debt", at least make sure that it is not some excuse for the parents to control whatever the children's future is!
DeleteGood point, Kevin. If you want money as repayment of a debt, do not confuse that with the right to control your grown children's life. I think parental debt is wrong. "Parental student loan" I get. Other than that, unless the parent desperately needs financial support, the child is not obligated to hand over an "allowance" as a token of love and obedience. Children ought not to be part of one's retirement plan. This is why Asian parenting is so messed up. Parents see the child as their trophy. "Look at my son. I sent him overseas. He is so smart and is now a ______. He gives me $____ every month. He just took me to ____ for a vacation." You raise a child into this world. You give him the best you can and expect nothing in return. If you had done it right, he will love you in return. Love should not be in monetary form.
DeleteHonestly, my father gets very easily affected by others when he hears all these news from them, family or friends or clients alike, about their children. His views are somewhat skewed compared to my mother's, because he thinks that jobs are aplenty in Singapore for degree graduates. So, when he hears news or updates about how this client's son is a doctor bla bla after medical college, how my first cousin (his elder brother's son) who never had any university studies is having a good job bla bla , and the like (you know, even Felicia Chin's mother buys pork from his business as my mother used to tell me), he gets quite emotionally affected, partially because I am always in contract jobs rather than a real "iron rice bowl". My suspicion is that the older generation of people like my parents--the baby boomer generation--might have worked really hard then, but times were also relatively easier than now for them, because the jobs were aplenty, and people really had way simpler ways of thinking, such as that you only need to get a job after graduation from school, get married, have kids, and then continue the cycle your parents were in. It is very different for those in the X, Y and Z generations, known as the millenials because we have to contend with so many other variables, and I think that they are not aware of them at all.
DeleteKev let's put it this way mate, at least your father still cares. He may not have a tactful way to express his opinions but he still cares - let's take the good with the bad. I don't think my parents actually know what I do for a living these days and the sad part is that I'm not keeping any secrets, it's not like I'm a drug dealer and keeping secrets from my family - ask me and I will tell you (or better still, hear me talk about it on my blog) but they don't care to find out.
DeleteIt's gonna be awkward when I go to S'pore next week...
Alex, perhaps you should hint that you are dealing drugs. See their reactions. Lol. Just a naughty thought.
DeleteKevin, you are so right. Many jobs today are contract work, especially teaching post-secondary. Gone are the days when a PhD holder graduates and get tenure in no time. The baby boomers were very fortunate in that way. People like your dad do not understand the reality out there. I remember my mil visiting us right after my husband graduated and had his very job. It was a management trainee position and did not pay much. Anyway, mil and her siblings expected him to pay for an all-expense paid trip to Canada. She even brought her mom, my grandmother-in-law. They stayed for six weeks. I was still in school so only one income (not to mention I had to study and did not have time to play host!). All meals and entertainment paid by us and the airfare of mil's. Then she had the gall to say that the one bedroom apartment was not what she had expected. You know the type --- old building near the university, furnished in garage sale items. Hubby had just graduated less than six month months ago, and the money should be rolling in, right? Oh, she wasn't impressed by our little vehicle either. Alex, your parents should be amazed by your accomplishments. Too bad they don't ask you.
The topic of this blog was Asian education vs Western education. In a way, it's about Asian values vs Western values. I think Asian parents are confused about Confucius' values!
Well, Alex, I do remember that you did mention your strained relationship with your parents. At this age when they are retired (mine have yet to retire but will soon in a few years), and might no longer be as healthy or active as before, I think that perhaps it is time for us (the younger generation) just to treasure whatever bits of a relationship or mend whatever we have as it is, since to be honest, they will not stay with us for long. At least you have a sister who is on your side.
DeleteDi, I think that to be fair, maybe the lack of a safety net in Singapore makes the parents really feel that the only way they can be more 'secure' is to rely on their children. It might sound very weird to us as people who are very westernized, but somehow, when the baby boomer generation in Singapore is arguably not as well-educated as the current generation of millenials and Gen X,Gen Y-ers, they fall into two main camps: the group who made it to the top via hard work and do not need to worry financially, and the group who did not have much in the way of savings due to their jobs and other factors such as the exorbitant costs of living in Singapore. The latter probably relies a lot on their children and grandchildren, and have no choice. My granny (maternal), for example, is bed-ridden and visually impaired, so she needs to be taken care of by a maid and my aunt when she (aunt) is not working. Your mother-in-law, however, seems very healthy and fit as a fiddle, which is why it seems boggling to me!
Yes, Di, gone are the days when a PhD holder graduates and gets tenure in no time. My first job post-academia took me months to find, and by that time, I had a few interviews and contract offers lined up, but they were not technically permanent or well-paying even then. Some even paid way less than a contract MOE teacher with Singapore's Ministry of Education, although I would say that the work in these cases were way 'easier' comparatively at the tertiary level without those silly need to placate immature teenagers who are hyper-active and even talk back to teachers sometimes(that is what I use to describe students at O and A levels in Singapore!). Well, my dad is rather obtuse in that, and you know, back when I was doing my graduate school, he went around boasting in the marketplace where he sells pork that he has a PhD son! I don't blame him for feeling that way, because after all, if he was to be ashamed or thinking that I am doing something dishonorable such as selling drugs, pimping myself or others, or even breaking the law, that would be worse, but somehow, it is not a bed of roses, and sometimes, I actually have made plans along the way to leave academia if necessary by going into trade or alternative professional work by taking courses somewhere down the road! The Asian (or Singaporean) idea that once you get a degree, the roads are all paved with gold--or good jobs--for you is simply not true anymore. Knowing the right people and even the way you LOOK are sometimes even more important than just how talented you are.
DeleteHave you thought of public schools? I actually taught English at the college level. It was very well paid but term to term contract. It went on for almost seven years. It was great coz the money was great. However, when SARS hit Asia around 2006, a group of us were laid off. They kept the 20 - something young graduates. I filed a complain with the labour board and won. I used the money to get my teaching degree which qualified me to teach public schools. No looking back since. The peace of mind when you have job security is priceless. Pay, benefits, and pension helps me provide for my son and retirement.
DeleteHonestly, I looked into Australian public schools, but it looks like they are very protectionist with regards to the certification and qualifications obtained. My Canadian PhD in English (literature) hardly allows me to enter into that protectionist market when it appears that they want some degree (Australian) in Education and the like. A friend's partner actually told me that the most likely fit is ESL teaching but that requires a CELTA or TESOL certificate, and is easier to obtain at 2 months (compared to the degree in Education). Of course, in most cases, you are also subject to discrimination as someone who is Asian....don't even mention those silly and ignorant students who think that being taught by a white guy or girl means that they will come out of school or academy speaking and writing like a "native speaker"! I am currently teaching on a relief basis at a private school, and envisage going into something else soon. Yes, job security is so important, even though I do not have any family now.
DeleteDi, talking about teaching at public schools, I was reminded of the situation with public teachers in Canada though, since I have a number of friends who are teachers either working in Canada (mainly Alberta), or trained and educated in Canada. It appears that a majority of them are not in full-time positions, and are flung from adjunct or relief to another part-time or short-term one. I guess that you are probably in the group of the blessed ones who actually got a permanent job before that crisis (with an over-supply of teachers in Canada as opposed to the shortage of job positions) hit Canada.
DeleteKevin, if you have PR status in either Australia or Canada, it is worthwhile doing the 1-2 years it takes to get that education degree. You don't need to start from scratch as you already have another degree. You should really look into it. Don't bother dallying around with ESL schools. They are notoriously discriminatory with skin colour and age. It is not the employers as much as it is the clientele who wants a young Aryan-looking person teaching English. Take the extra time to get properly certified. It took me two years from completing pre-requisites to applying for the program to the courses and practicums to actually teaching in a public school and getting paid. Yes, everyone has to start off as substitutes, but eventually someone like you should get a continuing contract in no time. They love male teachers who can coach a sport. In the long run, it pays off. You are still in your 30s, I assume? You can have a long career ahead of you. There is a lot of politics at play at the governmental level in regard to teaching conditions, but it is a far cry from the ESL schools I know of. The unions here are your best friends. The baby boomers are slowly retiring, so there should be more positions available. Even if you end up substituting for a few years, it's better than doing the same in the private schools where there are no unions to protect you. Also, could you not teach English Lit. as a sessional at the universities and bona-fide community colleges? Places like Langara College and Douglas College here are very respectable and unionised. They also pay very well. Seriously, don't bother with the language schools. Work towards something more solid.
DeleteApparently the BBC documentary is not being entirely truthful - the Chinese teachers filmed have all taught in the UK for a long period before filming this (that's where they got their English from). Some of my friends in UCL have been taught by the Chinese teachers in sixth form in the UK.
ReplyDeleteWell they did reveal that these Chinese teachers have worked in the UK before - they weren't fresh off the plane from China... Without a high standard of English to teach the various subjects, the project would have been doomed from the start, so they had to pick these teachers.
DeleteHi Alex
ReplyDeleteA well written article.I rather have a Western style education over an Asian counterpart.However,there is a concern which I would like to bring up.
Is it true that SG employers,esp. those from SMEs, "discriminate" openly or subtly against graduates with an overseas university degree in contrast to those with a local uni degree?
I know that in Britain or in any other Western nations,the employers or HR for that matter dont care which uni degree one may get but they do focus on one's competency,soft skills and many other factors which most SG employers dont do.
I have even heard from friends horror stories that SG employers place an application from someone with a Western degree in KIV.On the contrary,I also heard stories of applicants with NUS or NTU degrees have an "unfair" advantage over one with a UOL or even RMIT degree assuming both have the same grades.
What on your views on this?
Hi Jemson. I think a lot depends on what foreign university you're talking about. That's why we have league tables you see: there are 130 universities in the UK, with Oxford & Cambridge being at no. 1 & 2. So if a Singaporean employer is stupid enough to think that NUS/NTU is better than Oxford/Cambridge, then they don't deserve to hire that candidate who is clearly of a very high calibre. But if they want to discriminate against a candidate with a degree from the wrong end of the league table, then I don't blame them - I wouldn't bother with any of the universities outside the top 40 in the league table. Well, top 50 at a push but beyond that, it's a waste of time and money.
DeleteIs it fair to lump Oxford & Cambridge together with the crap universities at the bottom of the league table? No, it is clearly ridiculous to do so - like I said, it takes a few minutes to look up which position the university occupies on the league table. Is the university in the top 10 or the bottom 10? All I can say is this: there are plenty of companies out there to work for and if a company is dumb enough to let a bad HR manager get away with stupid mistakes, then no, you don't wanna work there. I would avoid that company like a plague. It's that simple.
It would be a total lie to say that employers and HR managers in the west totally ignore what university you come from - HR manager will be impressed if you did go to a good university, but more to the point, we don't write off people who didn't go to a good university, instead we give them a range of tests to prove themselves (ie. those psychometric tests) and likewise, just because you have a good degree from a top university, doesn't mean you're spared those tests either - oh no, you have to take them too like all the other candidates.
I hope this answers your questions.