# Any dopers from India? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 27, 2010, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-from-india/548143 "2010-07-27T02:52:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-from-india/548143/61 "2010-08-01T03:50:02Z")
People, people, people. We need to focus here on ME and MY homework. 🙂 How are classes arranged in an Indian school (pick whatever type you are familiar with): 7 x 50 minute periods? What’s the most time devoted to any one subject regarding the US? One class period? One week? Whatever it is, I can make it fit. I just want this to be realistic. ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-from-india/548143/62 "2010-08-01T05:47:59Z")
> [@Rucksinator](#): > > Also, are most (all) Indian students taught English? Are other subjects taught in Hindi or English or whatever the predominate language is in that area? > There are 2 types of schools. " English medium " and “vernacular medium”. In first medium of instruction is English right from grade 1. In the latter, English is taught as a subject .All other subjects are taught in local languges like Hindi,Tamil,Telugu,Bengali etc. > Are schoolteachers paid differently depending on what type of school they teach at? At what type of school would a teacher most likely have the freedom to go off-topic on a school lesson? Yes , Pay varies from School to School. In an elite school (IB curriculum, CBSE / ICSE curriculum) , you will have full freedom to teach it a a way which is considered “off-topic.” But not too off topic also.😉 ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-from-india/548143/63 "2010-08-01T09:47:32Z")
_So, what would be a plausible reason that a teacher would take a week-long trip to the United States? To attend the wedding of his cousin-brother that now lives in the US? Could a teacher afford plane tickets?_ **To meet his sister/ brother who is settled there. They sent him the tickets !** - BTW, it sounds strange to me to read about schools being “owned”. Here we have public schools that are run by state and local school boards, and private schools that are usually run by a church. When you said “Owned by a Hindu.”, did you mean that one man owned the school as a business? \* Yes ! It is owned as a business ( unaided by government) . In older times the fees paid by students was an income , from which techers were paid ,and the rest he pocketed. After independance of teh country lot of egulations came in , teachers salaries were paid by state , and a nominal fees only to be charged from students. So owners took money from teachers to appoint them as t it was a secured job with pension and benefits. Newer schools are pure buiness. You provide good eduction to students who can afford to pay the fees. Since there is no goverment control on the fees charged , it is hiked at will by owners. ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-from-india/548143/64 "2010-08-01T09:55:07Z")
> [@Rucksinator](#): > > People, people, people. We need to focus here on ME and MY homework. 🙂 > > How are classes arranged in an Indian school (pick whatever type you are familiar with): 7 x 50 minute periods? > > **Pretty similar . with a half hour break in between.** > What’s the most time devoted to any one subject regarding the US? One class period? One week? Whatever it is, I can make it fit. I just want this to be realistic. \*\* U.S could get covered in many ways . Say they are taught abour Niagra falls in “general knowledge” in 4th or 5th grade. In 6th grade they will learn about the great american president “Abraham Lincoln” in English lesson. It is very difficult to answer this without being a teacher. But I guess about 3 to 5periods in a year on U.S based topics for 9th or 10th grade.\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-from-india/548143/65 "2010-08-01T10:06:55Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Best damned food in the world, though. Do you like spicy food ? Some members of this board complain about the spice part of Indian food after visiting india !😉 ---
**Author:** ![curiousGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5a626/32.png) [@curiousGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curiousGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-from-india/548143/66 "2010-08-01T10:42:24Z")
> [@Rucksinator](#): > > What’s the most time devoted to any one subject regarding the US? One class period? One week? Whatever it is, I can make it fit. I just want this to be realistic. In-school topics on the US were practically absent. You have to remember that we were on the opposite sides during the Cold War. I’m sure I’m not only speaking for myself when I say that most Indians could simply not understand then and cannot even today American support for Pakistan, when India would have been a more natural ally, then and now. There was no negativity in whatever little information was there in Indian curriculi about American culture or other topics about America. (For that matter, I don’t remember learning anything about Soviet culture either. Our curriculum was mostly restricted to South Asia/Asia/Indian subcontinent/Indian freedom struggle.) I cannot remember a single thing ‘taught’ about American culture or history during my school days. My knowledge, and that of a whole generation of Indians brought up in India, about America comes from your movies/sitcoms/documentaries/fast food etc., and most of us fell in love with it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-from-india/548143/67 "2010-08-01T17:04:28Z")
[quote=“curiousGuy, post:66, topic:548143”] > [@Rucksinator](#): > > I’m sure I’m not only speaking for myself when I say that most Indians could simply not understand then and cannot even today American support for Pakistan, when India would have been a more natural ally, then and now. Actually, it’s the other way around. Most Americans could simply not understand then and cannot even today Indian support for the Soviets, when America would have been a more natural ally, then and now. It was Nehru’s choice of a “non-aligned” pro-Soviet position that forced the United States to get into bed with Pakistan. ---
**Author:** ![JohnnyMac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@JohnnyMac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnnyMac)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-from-india/548143/68 "2010-08-01T17:52:27Z")
I know this is **Rucksinator** ’s party, and I don’t want to derail that too much, but this seems like the perfect opportunity to ask a couple of questions I’ve had on my mind for the past few months. I teach English in London, and one of the places I teach at is predominantly Indian and Bangladeshi. Most of the students are between 20 and 30 years old. They want to go into business or IT. I’ve noticed their approach to learning is very, very different to my Western approach. **Indian** , what’s the role of a student in India? Is there any concept of an “independent learner”? Would a student who asked too many questions be seen as disrespecting the teacher, or would he be seen as stupid by his classmates? In short, can you tell me anything about the cultural role of student and teacher in a classroom? I think I have some idea of what they’re used to, but I’d love to get some more insight, and asking these students just isn’t an option, I’m afraid. They’re very respectful, but they only ever want to tell me what they think I want to hear. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-from-india/548143/69 "2010-08-01T19:16:24Z")
I think you’ve keyed onto something very common among Indians. Indian students aren’t expected to be independent learners. They are expected to listen to what the instructor says, memorize it, and regurgitate it word-for-word. I don’t know whether things are changing in some Indian institutions, but traditionally, instructors do not entertain questions from students. It is absolutely drilled into Indian students that they must not ever say anything except exactly what their instructors want to hear. I have seen that tendency very strongly in my wife. When she is writing a paper, she will never, ever, ever say anything or come to a conclusion that she knows or suspects that her professor disagrees with. She thinks it’s foolish risk-taking. There’s only one objective of taking a course and that’s getting a good mark, not being creative, enterprising, or exercising independent judgment, which they are capable of, but will not do when a professor is around. The strategy is to do only what you are reasonably certain you must do in order to please the instructor, get a good grade, and complete the degree with as high a rank as possible. Indian students are also very hesitant to interact with fellow students in certain ways. For example, they do not like to share their class notes or other course materials. And they absolutely do not like interacting with fellow students whom they perceive as being “worse” students in the class. They prefer to interact only with those that are performing at an equal level. Otherwise, they feel like they are “giving away” their work while getting nothing in return. ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-from-india/548143/70 "2010-08-01T19:19:17Z")
> [@JohnnyMac](#): > > I know this is **Rucksinator** ’s party, and I don’t want to derail that too much, but this seems like the perfect opportunity to ask a couple of questions I’ve had on my mind for the past few months. > > I teach English in London, and one of the places I teach at is predominantly Indian and Bangladeshi. Most of the students are between 20 and 30 years old. They want to go into business or IT. I’ve noticed their approach to learning is very, very different to my Western approach. **Indian** , what’s the role of a student in India? Is there any concept of an “independent learner”? Would a student who asked too many questions be seen as disrespecting the teacher, or would he be seen as stupid by his classmates? In short, can you tell me anything about the cultural role of student and teacher in a classroom? > > I think I have some idea of what they’re used to, but I’d love to get some more insight, and asking these students just isn’t an option, I’m afraid. They’re very respectful, but they only ever want to tell me what they think I want to hear. Well, I’m about a quarter of the way through writing my paper, and I just realized that the dialogue that I’ve written might be completely unrealistic. Is there much back-and-forth dialogue between teachers and students? Or do Indian students just sit and listen? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-from-india/548143/71 "2010-08-01T19:31:56Z")
As I said, traditionally Indian instructors do not entertain questions, commentary, or contradiction. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-from-india/548143/72 "2010-08-01T20:32:45Z")
I have to protest about the “spicy”, too. Spicy just means “full of spices”. It doesn’t necessarily mean hot. ETA: And yes, the cities I have been to could never be mistaken for Western cities. I just don’t know enough about bombay. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-from-india/548143/73 "2010-08-01T22:04:35Z")
> [@Rucksinator](#): > > Well, I’m about a quarter of the way through writing my paper, and I just realized that the dialogue that I’ve written might be completely unrealistic. Is there much back-and-forth dialogue between teachers and students? Or do Indian students just sit and listen? What the heck kind of paper are you writing that has dialogue? ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-from-india/548143/74 "2010-08-02T01:30:25Z")
[quote=“acsenray, post:69, topic:548143”] I\* think you’ve keyed onto something very common among Indians. Indian students aren’t expected to be independent learners. They are expected to listen to what the instructor says, memorize it, and regurgitate it word-for-word. I don’t know whether things are changing in some Indian institutions, but traditionally, instructors do not entertain questions from students. It is absolutely drilled into Indian students that they must not ever say anything except exactly what their instructors want to hear. I have seen that tendency very strongly in my wife. When she is writing a paper, she will never, ever, ever say anything or come to a conclusion that she knows or suspects that her professor disagrees with. She thinks it’s foolish risk-taking. There’s only one objective of taking a course and that’s getting a good mark, not being creative, enterprising, or exercising independent judgment, which they are capable of, but will not do when a professor is around. The strategy is to do only what you are reasonably certain you must do in order to please the instructor, get a good grade, and complete the degree with as high a rank as possible. Indian students are also very hesitant to interact with fellow students in certain ways. For example, they do not like to share their class notes or other course materials. And they absolutely do not like interacting with fellow students whom they perceive as being “worse” students in the class. They prefer to interact only with those that are performing at an equal level. Otherwise, they feel like they are “giving away” their work while getting nothing in return.[/\*QUOTE] Agreed to a great extent. There are elite schools ( have foreign teachers ,students go for exchange programmes abroad and so on) where critical thinking is encouraged. Indian government is trying to change this rote learning system. In the schools where curriculum is fixed by them (central goverment), they have changed evaluation system totally . Instead of taking the marks of written exams every 3 months, there is a continuous evaluation system ,where , in one part ,they have to write essays by referring to resources other than text books.They have to debate some topics with other students and so on. So it is changing . ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-from-india/548143/75 "2010-08-02T05:56:40Z")
> [@indian](#): > > … In the schools where curriculum is fixed by them (central goverment)… Is this curriculum (these standards) published online in English? (For example, South Carolina’s state standards are online. It’s brutal trying to find them, but they are out there.) I’d like to try to get a solid cite for exactly how much time is spent on US History in an Indian school. ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-from-india/548143/76 "2010-08-02T05:59:38Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > As I said, traditionally Indian instructors do not entertain questions, commentary, or contradiction. Sorry, my failure to refresh made me completely miss post #69. ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-from-india/548143/77 "2010-08-02T20:32:16Z")
> [@Rucksinator](#): > > > [@indian](#): > > > > … In the schools where curriculum is fixed by them (central goverment)… > > Is this curriculum (these standards) published online in English? (For example, South Carolina’s state standards are online. It’s brutal trying to find them, but they are out there.) > I’d like to try to get a solid cite for exactly how much time is spent on US History in an Indian school. Well, I found this: [CBSE - Central Board of Secondary Education](http://www.cbse.nic.in/secondary_sch_curr_vol1_2011-2009.pdf) This .pdf seems to be the curriculum for secondary education, although I don’t know exactly what that means (grades 9 - 12? Ages 14 - 18? I’m not sure how grades are set up in India). Social Sciences start on pg. 76 (84 of the pdf). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-dopers-from-india/548143.md?page=3)