Do Asian students really want to listen and obey?

Abstract

This article examines some common preconceptions about Asian students and their learning attitudes, in particular the belief that they see the teacher as an authority figure, and as a fount of all the knowledge which they will need to acquire. Students in eight Asian countries and three European countries responded to three statements which reflect these attitudes. Their responses indicate that our preconceptions do not reflect what they really want, and that there is actually less difference in attitudes to learning between Asian and European countries than between individuals within each country. The results underline the need to question our preconcep- tions, and to explore in greater depth the nature and extent of cultural influences on learning.