Comparisons between Thai classrooms and American classrooms
by Arnon
When Thai students come to the United States, almost all of them will be surprised in many things that are different from their country; for example, the difference of food, weather, custom, and people. Although most Thai students have learned a lot of about American culture from many movies, books, and web sites, they still experience many different aspects between Thailand and the United States; however, one of biggest differences that Thai students have to learn is the studying style, in which there are two aspects: the atmosphere in classes, but more importantly, the opportunity to do many things in classes.
The first difference between Thai classrooms and American classrooms is the atmosphere. The styles of the class are very different. Most American teachers try to make the students more active in learning, but most Thai teachers teach lessons by following the books. For example, American classes usually have many activities such as working in groups and studying outdoors. Most Thai classes study in classrooms and rarely have extra activities like the American classes. Some Thai students said they were bored and could imagine how every class might be. Participation also contributes to differences in the classrooms. Most American students will pay attention when their friends ask some questions in the class. In contrast, if there is a Thai student who asks a question in his class, his classmate will look at him strangely because in Thai culture Thai children have been taught to be polite, and asking a question in the class seems to bother the teacher and all classmates. From these examples, it can be predictable that the Thai classrooms are quieter than the American classrooms.
The last difference between Thai classrooms and American classrooms is the opportunity to do many things in classes and to use the equipment for studying. Almost all of American students can do more things in class Thai most of Thai students. In American classes, the students can eat, drink, or make jokes, but Thai students cannot do all of those in their classes because the students in the United States are more independent than Thai students. In Thai society, eating, drinking, and making jokes are the inappropriate and impolite in the classrooms because they show that students are not respecting their teachers. Moreover, Thai students have less opportunity to go to out side their classrooms without permission such as going to the restroom and going to drink some water. This is because in Thai culture if a student goes out a classroom, it will give the information to his teacher that the teaching of the teacher is very bad. Therefore, every Thai student must always ask his or her teacher for permission. On contrary, American students can go wherever they want without agreement because in American culture they think that going out the classes is the personal decision, and they don’t need to ask foe permission. More importantly about opportunity to use the equipment for studying, almost all of American students use the good equipment for studying which is can help them study. However, Thai students do not have the good equipment for studying such as books, maps, chairs, tables, and stationeries. Therefore, this difference might make American students study better than Thai students.
In conclusion, there is no way to change these differences suddenly because Thai students and American students are still taught in the different ways, and Thai students do not have enough participation in the class. Moreover, the opportunity in Thai classes is also the difficult part to change, and the equipment for studying of both countries makes both students more different. Therefore, Thai studying style and American studying style will continually have the differences. However, in the globalization these differences will be slowly decreased, and all students might know what the best way for their studying is.