Originally Posted by
scotcher Wait wait wait.
All of it? Just like that?
All educational systems (assuming that each system is itself uniform, which they aren't) in the dozens of countries that make up the vague geopolitical grouping cum meta-society known as "the west" (no matter whose definition of "the west" you are using), are all uniform enough to have exactly the same problem, and you really have enough experience of all those systems or people who have gone through these systems to state this categorically?
And you don't think you are making sweeping generalisations?
Hehe, nah sorry, I think you're talking out of your antipodean date.
Well, if you had an experience of studying in Russian school or university, you would know that the Soviet approach of education (which is still maintained by the majority of educational institutions throughout former USSR) was very different from the approach "western" countries have.
And yes, I use western (i.e. of western culture) referring to North America, european countries (those wich weren't influenced by the Soviet system) and some others (Australia, etc.)
The main difference, as I see it: Soviet system gives you plenty of grammar from the early beginning + a lot of academic info, smacks you on the head for every mistake, focused not on everyday vocabulary, but on more sophisticated one. In worst-case scenario you'll be able to discuss art or poetry, but unable to ask where bathroom is or make an order at the restaurant. You're not supposed to like the process, but you're supposed to learn as much as possible.
"Western" system thinks too much of personality, it's afraid of hurting students feelings, or exausting them, or freaking them out (and inventing moronic ways of studing Russian, like the one, where they don't use cyrillics), giving them as little scholastic info as possible and (in worst-case scenario) teaching them to repeat some phrases parrot-like style and nothing else. You're supposed to like studying, but nobody can garantee, that you will really learn something.
It is a generalisation, of course. Systems differ from country to country, but the difference between "them" and Soviet-style system remains, and it's huge.