English education still a priority
Updated: 2013-11-05 07:23
By Berlin Fang (China Daily)
|
|||||||||||
There has been much discussion recently about reducing the weight of English in China's high-stake tests such as the national college entrance examination. It is argued by some applauding the recent change to reduce the importance of English in tests that it will lead students to focus more on learning Chinese. The TV program Writing in Chinese has exposed the problem that students and the general public cannot write in Chinese as they used to do.
Some blame the design of the curriculum for giving English an equal or greater amount of emphasis, which might have contributed to the failure in teaching Chinese. But this is probably not a fair accusation since children in English speaking countries cannot spell either, largely due to the spell check and auto correct functions of word processing applications.
Students in Wuhan, Hubei province, take a mock English test before the college entrance exam, June 3, 2013. [Photo / CFP]
I doubt that studying English per se hurts the study of Chinese. In fact, high achievers in English or another foreign language are more likely to be high achievers in Chinese. It has been proved many times in recent Chinese history that those capable of using a foreign language are also masters in their mother tongue. Qian Zhongshu, Lu Xun and Lin Yutang are just a few examples.
Another trend of thought for curriculum reform is related to the perception of "worth". It is true that English is one of the subjects that students do spend too much time on, with pitiful results. This makes some doubt if it is worth giving it priority. But this is not a sound argument either as students still need to study things that matter more to their future in spite of challenges learning English presents to them.
Improvements in Chinese language education should not be achieved by sacrificing another important subject. There should be a robust foreign language education program, as a foreign language improves a student's future job prospects. Bashing English education as a waste of time or using it as a scapegoat for failures in Chinese education are both harmful tendencies.
Related Stories
Chinese puts in a good word for the English language 2013-11-02 07:19
Lesser score won't dampen English fever 2013-11-01 10:07
Exam change won't dampen English fever 2013-10-26 07:54
Market for English courses surges 2013-10-24 10:22
Today's Top News
Report highlights smog effects
Luxury shoppers get more sophisticated
Li urges farmers to plant more in 2014
Xi calls for targeted policies to fight poverty
Separatists spreading skills online
New warning on overcapacity
Govt must enact land reform
US dismisses Snowden's plea
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
Mining wasteland faces green challenge |
A prescription for danger |
Closing the floodgates to disaster |
Paid to be a guinea pig |
Fight against 'brain drain' |
The road once taken |