Comments on: Under the Spell of the Bee http://elekhni.com/2008/05/under-the-spell-of-the-bee/ Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:36:33 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Global Voices Online » India: Spelling Bee in the US http://elekhni.com/2008/05/under-the-spell-of-the-bee/comment-page-1/#comment-837 Global Voices Online » India: Spelling Bee in the US Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:30:35 +0000 http://elekhni.com/?p=117#comment-837 [...] The Imagined Universe muses about the Indian-American obsession with the spelling bee in the US. Posted by Neha Viswanathan Share This [...] [...] The Imagined Universe muses about the Indian-American obsession with the spelling bee in the US. Posted by Neha Viswanathan Share This [...]

]]> By: lekhni http://elekhni.com/2008/05/under-the-spell-of-the-bee/comment-page-1/#comment-836 lekhni Mon, 02 Jun 2008 12:43:15 +0000 http://elekhni.com/?p=117#comment-836 <strong>arjun singh:</strong> That's a sweeping generalization on ABCD career choices, right? <strong>kedar:</strong> On the CBSE issue, while kids born here are obviously not going to learn in the CBSE system, their parents are successful products of CBSE/ Indian education system (I am guessing most of the parents are DBDs). These parents grew up memorizing stuff, and would like their kids to do the same. Certainly, memorizing multiplication tables does help. The GRE (and to a lesser extent, GMAT) need you to memorize words too. So the Indian education system of memorizing has an indirect impact on the kids.. You are right that parents put a lot of pressure on kids to do well in academics. That is again a hangover from the Indian system where careers can be made or broken on a single percentage point.. <strong>Avik:</strong> I agree completely. In India, of course, studying history or fine arts doesn't lead to lucrative career choices..plus, the way history is taught doesn't make it sound too interesting. arjun singh: That’s a sweeping generalization on ABCD career choices, right?

kedar: On the CBSE issue, while kids born here are obviously not going to learn in the CBSE system, their parents are successful products of CBSE/ Indian education system (I am guessing most of the parents are DBDs). These parents grew up memorizing stuff, and would like their kids to do the same. Certainly, memorizing multiplication tables does help. The GRE (and to a lesser extent, GMAT) need you to memorize words too. So the Indian education system of memorizing has an indirect impact on the kids..

You are right that parents put a lot of pressure on kids to do well in academics. That is again a hangover from the Indian system where careers can be made or broken on a single percentage point..

Avik: I agree completely. In India, of course, studying history or fine arts doesn’t lead to lucrative career choices..plus, the way history is taught doesn’t make it sound too interesting.

]]> By: Avik http://elekhni.com/2008/05/under-the-spell-of-the-bee/comment-page-1/#comment-835 Avik Sat, 31 May 2008 19:42:09 +0000 http://elekhni.com/?p=117#comment-835 I agree with Kedar in this regard. Indian parents (in India or abroad) give a lot of importance on subjects like science and grammar and so on. You tell them you like to study history or fine arts and all hell breaks loose. I know this issue is slightly off-topic but it's a major influence behind Indian's success in spelling bee contests... I agree with Kedar in this regard. Indian parents (in India or abroad) give a lot of importance on subjects like science and grammar and so on. You tell them you like to study history or fine arts and all hell breaks loose. I know this issue is slightly off-topic but it’s a major influence behind Indian’s success in spelling bee contests…

]]> By: Kedar http://elekhni.com/2008/05/under-the-spell-of-the-bee/comment-page-1/#comment-834 Kedar Sat, 31 May 2008 13:14:32 +0000 http://elekhni.com/?p=117#comment-834 Funny analysis, but I think it's incorrect in many points. Your analysis would apply only to Indian-born and raised kids. I'm not sure, but it seems like all of these kids are American-born and don't have to worry about CBSE; I'm also guessing that, like me, they speak mostly English in the house, and all English amongst friends. I grew up with Marathi, but I stopped speaking it when I was 5. It's probably a combination of factors, but I'd guess that it's mostly Indian-style parental pressure on academics and quantifiable subjects (math, science, spelling, maps/geography, handwriting quality, grammar, etc.). This would also explain why there are so few American-born Indian artists or non-academic types (with a few notable exceptions). Funny analysis, but I think it’s incorrect in many points. Your analysis would apply only to Indian-born and raised kids. I’m not sure, but it seems like all of these kids are American-born and don’t have to worry about CBSE; I’m also guessing that, like me, they speak mostly English in the house, and all English amongst friends. I grew up with Marathi, but I stopped speaking it when I was 5.

It’s probably a combination of factors, but I’d guess that it’s mostly Indian-style parental pressure on academics and quantifiable subjects (math, science, spelling, maps/geography, handwriting quality, grammar, etc.).

This would also explain why there are so few American-born Indian artists or non-academic types (with a few notable exceptions).

]]> By: arjun singh http://elekhni.com/2008/05/under-the-spell-of-the-bee/comment-page-1/#comment-833 arjun singh Fri, 30 May 2008 21:46:39 +0000 http://elekhni.com/?p=117#comment-833 the fact of the matter is that these ABCDs are meant only to be doctors and engineers and earn obscene amounts of salaries latter on in life so that they parents can fix then up with a susheel indian bahu! how convenient! education is the only hope for a better life and still alot of indians believe in this. the fact of the matter is that these ABCDs are meant only to be doctors and engineers and earn obscene amounts of salaries latter on in life so that they parents can fix then up with a susheel indian bahu! how convenient!

education is the only hope for a better life and still alot of indians believe in this.

]]> By: lekhni http://elekhni.com/2008/05/under-the-spell-of-the-bee/comment-page-1/#comment-832 lekhni Fri, 30 May 2008 20:20:26 +0000 http://elekhni.com/?p=117#comment-832 <strong>Adithya:</strong> Oh yes, I keep rooting for all the <i>desi</i> looking kids :) Their names are a giveaway anyway.. <strong>Candadai Tirumalai:</strong> You are right, I can never understand this fascination with growing ten meter long moustaches and pulling cars with teeth, or things like that. <strong>km:</strong> Spelling Bee steroids - that's a thought :) I have heard of people take pills before exams to avoid sleeping. Maybe there is also a pill which will stimulate the right brain ? :o Adithya: Oh yes, I keep rooting for all the desi looking kids :) Their names are a giveaway anyway..

Candadai Tirumalai: You are right, I can never understand this fascination with growing ten meter long moustaches and pulling cars with teeth, or things like that.

km: Spelling Bee steroids – that’s a thought :) I have heard of people take pills before exams to avoid sleeping. Maybe there is also a pill which will stimulate the right brain ? :o

]]> By: Under the Spell of the Bee | DesiPundit http://elekhni.com/2008/05/under-the-spell-of-the-bee/comment-page-1/#comment-831 Under the Spell of the Bee | DesiPundit Fri, 30 May 2008 20:00:14 +0000 http://elekhni.com/?p=117#comment-831 [...] like every year, there is a contingent of desi kids. Fellow DesiPundit Lekhni tries to understand why desis continue to be fascinated by the unlikeliest of sports to be telecast on [...] [...] like every year, there is a contingent of desi kids. Fellow DesiPundit Lekhni tries to understand why desis continue to be fascinated by the unlikeliest of sports to be telecast on [...]

]]> By: km http://elekhni.com/2008/05/under-the-spell-of-the-bee/comment-page-1/#comment-830 km Fri, 30 May 2008 14:29:23 +0000 http://elekhni.com/?p=117#comment-830 I foresee a big market for Spelling Bee steroids. I foresee a big market for Spelling Bee steroids.

]]> By: Candadai Tirumalai http://elekhni.com/2008/05/under-the-spell-of-the-bee/comment-page-1/#comment-829 Candadai Tirumalai Fri, 30 May 2008 13:53:25 +0000 http://elekhni.com/?p=117#comment-829 A different kind of Indian seems to fall under the spell of the Guinness Book of Records. A different kind of Indian seems to fall under the spell of the Guinness Book of Records.

]]> By: Adithya http://elekhni.com/2008/05/under-the-spell-of-the-bee/comment-page-1/#comment-828 Adithya Thu, 29 May 2008 21:49:06 +0000 http://elekhni.com/?p=117#comment-828 Hehe, nice analysis. The interest in quiz and trivia is kind of true. I remember, back in India, ESPN used to broadcast and we used to watch it if everything else is boring. And the major attraction would be identifying the Indians- "Oh,he is an Indian", "Oh, tamil <i>payyan</i>!" Just by the looks of it. Good fun! Hehe, nice analysis. The interest in quiz and trivia is kind of true. I remember, back in India, ESPN used to broadcast and we used to watch it if everything else is boring. And the major attraction would be identifying the Indians- “Oh,he is an Indian”, “Oh, tamil payyan!” Just by the looks of it. Good fun!

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