Recently I read a passage introducing the diverse conceptions over teachers’ roles between cultural backgrounds in the East and West . The passage, written in English by a native English-speaking language teacher currently working in Taiwan, illustrates that Chinese and Westerners treat and examine teachers from totally different perspectives, and that is the beginning of how the West and the East differ.
最近我讀了一篇很有趣的文章，文章的作者是個以英語為母語的外國人，目前在台灣當老師。這篇用英文寫成的文章介紹東西方 文化對 老師這個角色所持的截然不同的觀點，而這只是東西方觀念差距的開始而已。
In the Chinese society, teachers are highly esteemed. The author referred to an impressive Chinese proverb mentioning that “One day my teacher, my father for life.” which highlights the reverence that teachers receive in the East. Teachers seem to be regarded as the key that are not only responsible for students’ academic matters, but also their behaviors. In the West, on the contrary, teachers’ role is not emphasized since parents are the first and foremost teachers for children. Westerners have a nifty saying, indicating that “Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.”
文章作者提到在華人社會裡，老師是被高度尊敬的，從”一日為師，終身為父”這個諺語可見端倪。老師不僅要為學生的學業表現負責，更要為他們的行為舉止操勞。在西方則完全相反，因為家長才是小孩最重要的老師，老師這個職業不受重視。西方人有個俏皮話指出這個有趣的現象，”能者做大事；不能者，當老師。”
In reality, Westerners and Easterners conceive diversely in certain areas, and the role that teachers play in education and upbringing is just one instance. For example, Westerners incline to observe the laws, thinking of regulations as means to assure their rights; once the laws are set, everything has to be executed and done by the book. From Chinese points of views, however, laws are implemented to protect the privileged and limit their freedom. They are likely to find the vagueness and flaw of the laws and expect some flexibility from manipulation of personal contacts. After all, “None cares since the law enforcement is as far as the heaven.”
事實上，西方和東方人在特定領域的觀念大不相同，老師在孩子教育和教養的角色只是其中之一。例如，西方人普遍守法，視法律為保障自己權益的方式；法令一旦頒布實施，就必須照本宣科徹底執行。然而從華人的觀點來看，法律是制定來保護權貴和限制人民自由的。華人往往會鑽法律的漏洞，並且期待人情世故的干預。畢竟”天高皇帝遠”，誰在乎守法不守法呢？
Another significant example is language learning. Most Westerners learn second or foreign languages for communication or expression, looking upon another language as a tool of making life better. By contrast, Easterners do so for specific reasons like passing assessments or gaining the certification of the target language, deeming that another language is a crucial instrument for earning their living, which can also explain why Chinese parents tend to emphasize education to a point of compelling their children to bend over for piles of books, and that Western parents will totally disagree with.
另外一個顯著的例子是語言學習。大部分的西方人學語言是為了溝通和表達，語言只是個讓生活更理想的工具。但是大部分東方人學語言是為了通過語言檢測等等特定的目的，目的是為了用這個重要的一技之長謀生。這也可以解釋為什麼華人家長會逼自己的孩子埋首書堆之中，而西方家長不會贊同。
Nevertheless, as the East and the West interact more frequently, it appears that both sides are seeking similarity, striving to learn something from each other’s advantages. In addition to feng shui and the value of Chinese medicine, Westerners now notice the importance of teaching in education, starting to contend that teaching a profession that deserves respect. Meanwhile, Chinese begin to value the obedience to the laws and enjoy the feeling of being protected and regulated by the law enforcement. Although West is west, East is East, but finally the twain meets.
儘管如此，隨著東西方交流越見頻繁，雙方似乎也逐漸在異中求同，試著從彼此當中找到優點。除了像是風水或中醫，西方人也注意到教師在教育的重要性，開始主張教學是應受尊重的職業。同時，華人也開始依法行政，享受受到法律保障和約束的快樂。儘管東方的確是東方，西方是西方，但是兩方的確相遇了。
留言列表
