Understanding Education Across Cultures:
Wellbeing, Motivation & Identity
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Welcome to Between2Desks, a resource designed to explore the differences between Asian and Western education systems, and their impact on student wellbeing, motivation, and identity.
This website has two purposes: first, to support international students by helping them understand and navigate cross-cultural differences in education; and second, to provide teachers with resources to better support culturally diverse learners in their classrooms.
Education is not just about grades, it also shapes who we are, how we think, and how we feel. By combining research, data, and personal experiences, this site critically investigates whether academic success should come at the cost of mental health, and how we can achieve a balance that values both performance and wellbeing.
Purpose of this website
I'm an international student studying in Australia from Hong Kong. I've realised there are more and more students studying overseas, one of the challenge for international students is adapting new education systems. This website explores the differences between Asian and Western education systems, focusing on how they influence student wellbeing, motivation, and identity. As someone who has studied in both Hong Kong and Australia, I have seen the benefits and challenges of both systems. These experiences, including personal struggles with anxiety under Asian education system, have motivated me to critically investigate whether educational success should come at the cost of mental health. My aim is to support international students navigating cultural differences and provide teachers with resources to better understand and care for their diverse students.
About me & personal experiences
Growing up in Hong Kong, I was taught that academic success defines your worth. Late nights studying, constant testing, and little time for hobbies or rest left me exhausted and anxious. When I moved to Australia, I discovered a system that valued independence and creativity, yet demanded strong self-discipline. Both systems shaped me, but they also revealed how mental health can be overlooked in education. I lost couple of friends due to suicide because of academic stress under Asian education system; a painful reminder that grades should never outweigh wellbeing. This website is not only research-based; it is my way of making sense of these experiences and using them to advocate for healthier learning cultures.
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