In our podcast, we compare China’s Gaokao secondary education system and the UK’s A-level education system. We introduce the main characteristics of the two systems from the perspective of one of our group member’s personal experiences and critically evaluate these experiences in relation to research about mental health of students in both systems. We question the cultural factors playing a role in academic pressure and draw on parental expectations as another important factor in influencing students’ mental health. This podcast is a product of intercultural exchange of experiences between students from diverse national and educational backgrounds. Through examining the topic, we aim to understand the context in which academic pressure appears and is reproduced in educational settings.
Soundscapes from:
Schenker, H. (2020). Faded Silhouette, https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/G9LQDTWsSn/ [Accessed on 23rd March 2021]
Ludvigsson, M. (2021). Felt like November. https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/TpYrPSmQUu/ [Accessed on 23rd March 2021]
Ebb & Flod (2016). Dissolving Patterns. https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/MkbhZbRDBn/ [Accessed on 23rd March 2021]
News, Channel 4. (2013). China’s exams – the extreme A levels [YouTube Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF8G6-E24Ew [Accessed on 23rd March 2021]