Most American students rely on their regular school education for their study. Outside of school, they do assigned homework to deepen their understanding of class material and occasionally get help from a parent or tutor. On the other hand, numerous Asian students enroll in private academies after school, where there are teachers who teach the same material taught at school. These private academies also distribute additional homework for students. Numerous private academies are intensive. They open intensive courses during vacation and also make students stay at the academy until 11 PM.
This phenomenon is becoming a big problem in some countries. For example, the degree of reliance on private academies is unprecedented in South Korea. Most students believe school teachers are less competent compared to teachers from a private academy. Consequently, they focus more on studying at private academies than their normal school. Some students even take a nap at school because they were up so late doing homework for the private academies. Students do not worry about missing out on school lectures as they have a chance to listen to similar lectures later at their private academies.