Education

First of all, Japan has a nationally unified curriculum, while in Canada, each province has its own curriculum. Furthermore, even within the same school district, there are differences depending on the region, such as some areas having junior high schools and others not, which confused me when I first moved to Canada. Compulsory education in Japan goes up to the 9th grade, while in Canada, it goes up to the 12th grade. The school year also starts in April in Japan, but in September in Canada, so it took me some time to get used to it. When I observed my daughter's first-grade class, I experienced a culture shock because it felt like a kindergarten. The atmosphere was very relaxed, with students sometimes sitting on the carpet area listening to the teacher's reading. I felt that the pace was slower compared to Japan, especially in subjects like math. Conversely, Japan, even from grade 1, they are so disciplined. The students shouldn't speak with friends. They shouldn't walk around, they should stay on the chairs. That is very much a teacher centered style. And it's so important for them to succeed, with academic success often measured by standardized test performance. On the other hand, Canada is quite the opposite. The teacher lets students discuss and uses more project-based learning. I like this style because the students can learn to speak their own opinions in front of other people. Japanese education tends to emphasize group behavior, discipline, and the establishment of basic academic skills. Canadian education tends to emphasize individual opinions, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. Both educational systems have their strengths and weaknesses. So I think which is better depends on individual values and goals.