Several weeks ago, someone wrote about a quiz
bowl program of sorts in South Korea. After living in
China for several years, I realized why there is no
quiz bowl here. The problem is precisely the one
mentioned in the last post; that is, all the students study
only what they must to do well on their tests and
nothing else. I have met Chinese students who know by
heart everything that appeared on their college
entrance exams and absolutely nothing else. I have also
met some who told me they didn't get into a good
college because they spent their high school years
studying math or English on their own when they should
have been memorizing test material. While this
approach to things certainly has its merits, it makes
Chinese students a bit boring. Furthermore, quiz bowl
wouldn't work too well because almost everyone knows
exactly the same things.