U.S. Beliefs About Learning
Purpose of Learning. As indicated in Table 14.1, three main U.S. pur-
poses emerged from Li’s data: (a) Cultivate the mind–understand the world,
(b) develop one’s ability–skill, and (c) reach personal goals. The most fre-
quent reference to purpose of learning among U. S. respondents is cultivating
one’s mind and understanding the world. As an essential part of the Western
intellectual tradition, also explicitly articulated in Bacon’s vision, the mind is
assumed to have most importance in human intellectual functioning. As dis-
cussed earlier, the notion of intelligence as a capacity lies centrally in the
mind. The mind enables one to learn, but it also develops or becomes sharp-
ened as a result of exposure to stimulating environment that demands its
proper use. Understanding of the world is not limited to certain aspects of the
world but all that can be known by the mind or all that the person desires to
know such as the physical, social, moral, psychological, and spiritual, disci-
plined knowledge, even common sense. In describing her model learner, one
respondent wrote:
His purpose of learning is to understand as much of the world as possible. He is
intrigued by everyone and everything in his environment, and he wishes to
know why people act the way they do, why things work the way they do, and
how to live his life best as he can.The second large purpose of learning is developing one’s ability and skills
that one needs to be a fully functioning member of one’s society. Important
skills include those for a successful career, one’s self-sufficiency and inde-
pendence, as well as knowledge that enables one to solve problems in life, to
help one maintain social relations, to be effective as a person, and to take
control of one’s life and surroundings.
The third purpose of learning is to reach one’s personal goals. Even
though personal goals may include developing one’s ability and skill as pre-
sented in the second purpose, they more often refer to notions of self-
fulfillment, personal happiness, a well-rounded person, spiritual quest, or
any personal goals individuals may desire and pursue. In the words of one re-
spondent:
One learns to gain a better knowledge of self and one’s own place within the
world. Learning justifies, deepens, challenges, or changes personal belief...
The model learner sees learning as the fundamental function of growing up, and
never becomes so “adult” that they stop actively seeking brain stimulation.These three large types of purposes are inherently related. While the mind
plays a central role in learning, it also needs cultivation. This very process is
- AMERICAN AND CHINESE LEARNERS 399