Bridging Western and Eastern Learning Concepts: A Teacher's Lived Experiences

• In Event: 64.086 - MTCC Roundtable Session 27
  In Roundtable Session: 64.086-3 - Religion and Philosophy in Teachers' Work

Abstract

Western and Eastern philosophies of education are two contradictory perspectives due to the cultural and traditional differences. Through a reflection on my experiences of studying abroad, in this paper, I look on a comparison between Western and Eastern educational philosophies with the hopes of searching a way to combine these two philosophies. I explore many similarities in which East meets West with respect to holistic education, such as the wholeness of learning, the significance of mindfulness and emotionality, the values of Indigenous learning approach, and the connections between teachers and students. I believe in a co-existence of Western and Eastern principles of education, and I construct my own philosophy of holistic education, symbolized by the Tai-Chi image in Chinese philosophy.

Author

• NGUYEN HOANG GIANG-LE, Brock University