The Development of ELT in

China
Presenter: Jenny
Date: 02/28/2022
 01 / Past
the late Qing Dynasty/ the republic of China/
early years of the People's Republic of China

contents Present
02 / modern China
innovation/ development/ current issues

03 / Future
prospects for future development
challenges/ possible influencing factors
01 / Past 19th century - millennium

What happened to English eduaction

during different stages of early China
  A self-protecting Tianchao (Liu & Wu, 2015)
 Changing foreign policy - Tongwenguan 01
 A decline in the use and learning of English (1949 -1955)  Educational reform
- in alliance with Soviet and war with the USA
03  Zhongxue wei ti, xixue wei yong （中学为体，西学为用） -
 A revival (1956 - 1965) - break with Soviet and new Chinese learning for essence; Western learning for application
guidlines for English curricula  Christian missionary education
 Suspension & reform (1966-1976) - the Cultural
Revolution; recover of educational system; the former
Primier Zhou Enlai; more new motivations
 Reform and developemnt (since 1977) - the National
Forum on Foreign Language Education; the English
“boom”; China's Open Door Policy

 English as a part of the general educational program

02
 The impacts of entertainment industry
 Instructional approaches and methods
 The change of motivations
 Shifting attitude of the goverment and the public
02 / Present millennium - nowadays

What is happening to English eduaction in

modern China
 English is the most common foreign language in the Chinese curriculum. (Wright & Zheng, 2016)
 Innovation & Development:
 New curriculum standards - student-centered teaching, TBLT, activity-based practice
 One key shift: from GTM and audiolingual method to more communication-oriented method
 The other key shift: teacher-centered to student centered teaching
 Different new approaches to learn English - English training institutions, medias, internet...etc,.
 Multi-dimension development: socialization, oralization, virtualization...etc,.

TBLT: task-based language teaching

GTM: grammar translation method
 Current Issues
 Still exam-oriented  The problem with ECS (English curriculum standards)

conflicts between different lack of effective learning and

motivations, both teachers' and 01 02 critical thinking;
students' one standard applies to all
the purpose: not so authentic

 Application of new methods

03 04  Mania vs. national identity

Some methods like CLT and advantages; positive & negative

TBL are not always suitable for cultural influences;
Chinese classroom lose of national identity
03 / Future
What is happening to English eduaction in
modern China
Adaptation & Absorbtion
Teachers need to find better
ways to apply new methods
based on the circumstance
in China; Absorb what is
essential and reject what is
useless
Influenced by policy
Policies have great impact
on English education - major
subjects vs. minor subjects/
prohibition of cram school
Curriculum & school setting
Successful adaptation of
methods usually accompany
by the reform of curriculum
and school setting
 Reference
1. Liu, D., & Wu, Z. (2015). English language education in China: Past and present / edited by Liu Daoyi, Wu Zhaoyi
= Ying Yu Jiao Yu Zai Zhongguo: Li Shi Yu Xian Zhuang. Ren min jiao yu chu ban she.
2. Wright, S. & Zheng, L. (2016). English in Chinese higher education: past difficulties, current initiatives and future
challenges. Journal of World Languages, 3(3), 167-183. https://doi.org/10.1080/21698252.2017.1292989
3. China Daily. (2010). Rush to learn English fuels quality issues. Retrieved 19 Oct 2016, from:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/ 2010-08/05/content_11098499.htm
4. Li, J. (2017). Educational policy development in China for the 21st Century: Rationality and challenges in a
globalizing age. Chinese Education & Society, 50(3), 133–141. https://doi.org/10.1080/10611932.2017.1330992
 Thank you
&
Have a good night