Education in Singapore is quite different from what we are accustom to in the United States. In recent years, Singapore has pulled ahead of the rest of the world in adolescent education while America has done the opposite. This is causing many to wonder what has caused Singapore to advance educationally. What about their teaching style and content is so exceptional? Is Singapore a good model for the rest of the world in the realm of education?
UTown Residence Building
My Singapore study abroad trip is part of the Summers by Design program organized by the Department of Engineering Design at Penn State. The program is purposed to fit into the academic schedules of engineering students and expose participants to the international world of engineering design. Summers by Design has three different location options including Spain, France, and Singapore. I was drawn to the Singapore trip in particular because I took a class (EDSGN 100) with the professor (Matt Parkinson) who will be traveling to Singapore with us. Last semester, Matt told us all about the trip and what benefits it could have in regard to our major requirements and future goals. Also, the Singapore trip has the most bang for your buck three weeks for the same price as the one-week Spain and France trips!
While in Singapore, I will be taking a 3-credit engineering design class (ENGR 397) which consists of class time in the mornings and group work in the afternoons. Everyone will be split into design groups comprised of American, Singaporean, Chinese, Indian, and other Asian students to work on an engineering design product for the entire duration of the course. At the end of the 2-and-a-half-week class, all of the groups will display their projects at a showcase and submit a final product design report.
As with any cultural disparity, there are certain things that are unacceptable to do on one side of the world that are not so much accepted on the other side. Singapore is no exception. For the most part, Singapore is somewhat similar in cultural norms to the United States, however, there are a few things that you should definitely not do in Singapore that is commonplace in the United States.
#1 – Do not chew gum.
The first thing to know about Singapore is that it takes cleanliness to a whole new level. You will not find one piece of litter or a spot of dirt on the sidewalks or facilities, this includes gum wads. Gum is not necessarily illegal in Singapore, it is just not permitted to be sold or bought within the country and importing gum is considered a crime. So as long as you take a small amount into the country, say one pack per person, and make sure that you dispose of it properly, I guess you could chew gum after all.. but I don’t think I am going to risk it.
© 2024 State College to Singapore
Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑