INTRODUCTION
In 2009 China expects 10 million1 new college students to attend its +2,2362 public colleges and more than 1,300 private colleges. 3
“The Ministry of Education launched a new campaign to reform EFL education at the turn of the 21st century. The reform aims to modernize EFL teaching on campuses, pushing it out of its traditional track and equipping it with better technology.”4
From a western perspective the mandate from the Ministry of Education evokes visions of full scale implementation of current 2nd language acquisition pedagogy and methodology, multi-media classrooms, computer labs and sound labs, English acquisition libraries and the creation of English speaking environments.
A 2009 survey of Chinese colleges and universities failed to yield evidence of the mandated reforms.
MULTI-MEDIA CLASSROOMS
DEFINITION: A theater style tiered seating classroom with audio-visual equipment programmed in English, sound equipment, projection screen and blackout curtains.
COLLEGE SURVEY: In the rich coastal cities of Dalian, Shanghai, Qingdao, and Xiamen, the 1st tier, 2nd tier 3rd tier and even 4th tier colleges and universities visited had the requisite facilities for English teaching. All of the multi-media equipment had Chinese programming as opposed to English programming. 50% of the multi-media classrooms had flat floors instead of tiered floors. One Shanghai 2nd tier Joint Venture University actively discouraged actual use of the multi-media equipment because of the high cost of electricity and the 3,000 rmb cost to replace the projector bulb.
In Central China and Western China a completely different situation was observed. 2nd tier universities, 3rd tier and 4th tier colleges claim to have numerous multi-media classrooms for English instruction. But the observed reality is that only 1 in 10 has operable equipment, some inoperable for as long at 5 years, (all with Chinese programming), most lacking blackout curtains and most with flat floors. No 1st tier university was visited.
In Southern China 1st tier and 2nd tier universities were observed to have an ample number of operable multi-media classrooms for English instruction. The equipment was programmed in Chinese and the floors were primarily flat, although a few exceptions for tiered floors were noted.
The 3rd and 4th tier colleges appeared to suffer from the same deficiencies as were observed in Central and Western China.
COMPUTER LABS AND SOUND LABS
DEFINITIONS:
A computer lab for English instruction should be a room with English programmed and networked computers with at least one printer, sufficient in quantity to meet the needs of the number of students, and available not only for class assignments but also for research and free choice reading, which requires access to the World Wide Web.
A sound lab for English instruction should be a room with English programmed equipment designed for English audio and visual input in individual stations in sufficient quantity as to meet the needs of the number of students.
COLLEGE SURVEY: Throughout Eastern and Southern China it was observed that an adequate number of computer labs and sound labs exist with an adequate number of computers or stations to meet the students’ needs. Maintenance programs kept the equipment in proper operable condition. None of the labs were programmed in English. None of the computer labs had access to the World Wide Web. Only one computer lab had a printer. Two of the 1st tier universities visited provided a computer in every student dormitory room with access to the school intranet. For an extra fee, the students can obtain access to the World Wide Web but filtered through the school intranet firewall.
In Central and Western China there was a paucity of both computer labs and sound labs.
The labs that did exist were programmed in Chinese, could not meet student needs and were in various states of inoperability. Some labs had as high as a 65% inoperability factor. At one college the computer science majors learned the computer via a PPT lecture. They never received any hands on instruction or experience.
At one school all 8 sound labs were 100% inoperable for an entire semester.
At another school there was a computer lab with 40 computers for 10,000 students. 18 of the computers were inoperable and too old to repair.
ENGLISH ACQUISITION LIBRARIES
DEFINITION: A collection of English books and magazines covering a multitude of subjects and interests, written at varying degrees of difficulty, that can be freely accessed by all students wishing to engage in free choice reading.
COLLEGE SURVEY: A random selection of 3 – 1st tier, 3 – 2nd tier and 2 – 3rd tier colleges and universities in Shanghai revealed that no such 2nd language acquisition English library existed even though each school boasted a School of Foreign Languages with an English Department. A 2nd tier university had an English research library but students were not allowed entry because they would “wear out the books.” A 1st tier university had an English research library but students had to pay an entrance fee each time they entered.
In Central China, a visit to 2 – 2nd tier, 2 – 3rd tier and 2 – 4th tier colleges and universities revealed that no such 2nd language acquisition English library existed even though each school boasted a School of Foreign Languages with an English Department. A 3rd tier college recently constructed a US$5 mil. library for its 10,000 students. The college has 1,100 English majors but not one single English book in its 4 year old library.
In Beijing, a visit to 4 randomly selected 1st tier universities revealed that no such 2nd language acquisition English library existed even though each school boasted a School of Foreign Languages with an English Department. English research libraries were the norm.
In western China a visit to 4 randomly selected 2nd tier universities revealed that no such 2nd language acquisition English library existed even though each school boasted a School of Foreign Languages with an English Department.
In Southern China a visit to 2 – 1st tier, 2 – 2nd tier and 3 – 3rd tier randomly selected colleges and universities revealed that no such 2nd language acquisition English language library existed even though each school boasted a School of Foreign Languages with an English Department. 1 – 1st tier university had a freely accessible English research library. And 1 – 1st tier university had a small English acquisition library within the School of Foreign Languages.
A visit to 5 Joint Venture universities; 1 in Beijing, 1 in Dalian, 1 in Guangzhou, 1 in Shanghai, and 1 in Shenyang, revealed that each school had a 2nd language English acquisition library. These libraries are primarily used for assigned reading and only available for free choice reading one hour each day. Books may not be checked out.
The survey results are not surprising since China teaches English learning for test taking to the exclusion of English acquisition. The communicative approach to English learning concentrates on memorizing set phrases and parroting them back in oral English class.
There are also monetary policy impediments to the acquisition of English books from abroad. When the strict policy hurdles can be overcome, it is usually for the acquisition of science and technology books.
ENGLISH SPEAKING ENVIRONMENT
DEFINITITION: There are two required elements to a proper ESE. A proper ESE is one where the students are inundated with comprehensible English input and where it is easier to communicate in English rather than in the native Putonghua. An English speaking environment is defined as: “An environment where English is the dominant language.” Or, “an environment where people are compelled to speak English”. 5
COLLEGE SURVEY: Speak with any Chinese university foreign language department administrator and they will extol the virtues of creating an English-speaking environment (ESE) for the English majors. But take a close look and you will quickly discover that there is no ESE on campus.
The hiring of some foreign native English speakers and holding weekly English Corners is the total extent of efforts to create an English speaking environment. These English speaking opportunities contribute little or nothing to the creation of an ESE.
An ESE is all about comprehensible input, i.e. immersion. Almost all of China’s colleges and universities hire foreign English speakers and hold weekly English Corner. But finding a single university with an ESE was impossible.
CONCLUSION
Very clearly there is a complete failure of the western “vision” of the Ministry of Education’s mandate to “modernize” the teaching of English as a foreign language in China. Possibly something is lost in translation.
It was noted that the Administration of each college and university surveyed possessed numerous late model luxury sedans while student facilities languished in an inoperable state of disrepair or nonexistence.
- China expects drop in number seeking college degree, http://en.ce.cn/National/Education/200905/31/t20090531_19211543.shtml (accessed July 1, 2009) ↩
- List of universities in the People’s Republic of China, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_in_the_People’s_Republic_of_China (accessed July 5, 2009) ↩
- Non-government Colleges Seek Help, http://service.china.org.cn/link/wcm/Show_Text?info_id=100414&p_qry=university%20and%20enrollment (accessed July 1, 2009) ↩
- A Recent History of Teaching EFL in China, http://www.tesol.org/s_tesol/sec_document.asp?CID=1901&DID=11103 (accessed July 16, 2009) ↩
- Creating Authentic Dialog: ESL Students as Recipients of Service Learning, Stephanie Marlow, Boise State University (Boise, Idaho, USA) “An environment where authentic dialog with native English speakers occurs on a regular basis presents ESL students with the possibility to grow both linguistically and socially” . http://iteslj.org/Techniques/Marlow-ServiceLearning.html ↩
This article reflect the actual situation of Chinese reform on English teaching according to my personal experience. My view is that the reform only attaches much stress to form but content. Many universities or colleges, aimed to gain further college ranking ,did many things just for good form not practical content .And they have no real practical act for creating ESE at their campus. They just use their money to buy the so-called multi-media teaching equipment and English book or magazines, but they never think about how to make full use of these things brought by reform to improve their students’ English application ability.
Yes, we have to admit that this kind of phenomenon exist in China universally. What the superior ordered will probably be distorted when it comes down. I don’t know what the intrinsic factor is to this problem. But at least we should see the positive side of China’s reformation. For example, I had no idea what multi-media classrooms were ten years ago. But now, I can use it in classes. That is the fruit of reformation, isn’t it? Yes, maybe it’s too long to take ten years to achieve this level, but at any rate China is a huge country with a large population, we can not eat up an elephant within one bite, right? We are all looking forward to China’s radical reform. Just be a little more patient and I am sure we can see it, one day!
The original intention of the reformers is good, but the implementation is not effective,they are only concerned about the surface of the work.they just think everything from thier situation ,they do not concern about us ,students.in my opinon,if they want to improve our english.first:They should creat a variety of scenarios to encourage students to boldly speak English,and adopt a liberal attitude to them in the learning process if they make mistakes.second,In the teaching process,they should oriente students in listening, speaking, reading and writing comprehensive ability,encouraging them to venture to say.third;Have respect for each student and actively encourage them to try boldly.
I think the English environment has changed a lot comparing with the past, from no computer and multi-media classrooms to many ways for us to learn English. However, it is not the most suitable environment for English study, and there are plenty of disadvantages for the reform now. Since the reform need the help of everyone, not only the government. Better equipments induce better output. The administration of all the universities and colleges should pay more attention to the facilities.
As we can see in this article, the Ministry of Education has great confidence to reform EFL education. In my opinion, EFL education should to be reformed not only in the equipments but also in other aspects. Equipment is a important factor , but it’s just one aspect of it. We can improve this situation through many aspects , such as we should emphasis on the ways of teaching and acquisition . Besides, We need change our attitude to English learning .English learning requires the public facilitate and our efforts. So if we want to learn English well, ourself is the most important point.
It’s truly and obviously and totally a tragedy of these English learning equipment. More sadly, it’s observed and pointed out by foreigners but not by Chinese. What’s wrong of the Chinese people, especially the managers and teachers? I wonder if they are sleepwalking.
China has definitely no economic problems equipping the English acquisition facilities. The problem lies on the attitude of the managers and teachers on teaching English, which also sadly, influencing the attitude of the students. But if we trace its origin, which turns out to be how a school or college is evaluated, that is the examination results, I see not a single light that we can change the current awkward situation.
We are go through a reform right now,and we have too much things to be reform so that it is impossible for us to finish it in a short time.China has made a great advance now ,but it doesnt enough ,and we can’t be arrogant of that,because we do have many shortage in our country.And we must be confidence that we will be better and better in tomorrow.
In my personal view,the original purpose of the Ministry of Education to reform EFL education is good,it show our country want to do some useful things,but there are really many problems in carring out successfully.
English is a unknown thing when I was a primary student.I know what is English as long as I come to middle school.I can remember clearly that I write the pronunciation of new word in chinese when I learn English in order to remember and read those new words in correct.It’s usually that it can be known by only myself.I never do as that slowly.There were 9 classes in my school then,we shared the same recorder for no enough momey and our teachers were graduated from college.I nerve see a foreigner untill I come to the campus of SYSU.When we are talking about REFORM,we must reform from the primary school,we must have enough money.Each school can employ a better teacher and buy all kind of device that is usefully for the teaching.Our reform will success as long as do that at a early age of the people.
The china English teach reform is in the front of every teacher and student in these years. Everyone in this reform is deeply feel its necessary to our education. On the other hand, Chinese take it seriously in English learning. Child in the preschool is study ABC because they want lose the advantage on the starting line. The Chinese parents spend on children’s English learning is a huge number. But it is obviously most of our student only take mute English. So it is the time for us to think a way to learning a useful skill but not a tool for test.
I think we do need these standards so we know briefly where our reform is going towards and what we must achieve.My undergraduate university do have all those requisite facilities,and we use them every week.But after so many English classes,I find the stronger become more capable of English,and the weaker still can’t communicate with others. That’s because we just talking about how much money the government should give me.Who cares about why the students can’t speak English?How can they learn to find their own way of learning English?We all do the same thing everyday in every place of China,but the result is little progress is achieved.I still wonder can you show me a successful example?Then we can follow it.That will be more easy to answer the question how to “reform”.
Frankly speaking, the reform of EFL education launched by the Ministry of Education may be useful and efficient, but it is not the best way to change our English ability. In many universities, English equipment such as multi-media classrooms, computer labs and sound labs, etc, is good enough, but why most of students do not learn English well? That’s what we should think. In my opinion, the reform of EFL education not only includes English equipment modernization but also the other subject, for example, the creation of English speaking environment, the realization of learning English. So the whole EFL education system should be reformed. And for us students, we should change our attitude to study English. We learn English well is to communicate with foreigner or read English article, not to pass the exam.
“Reform”, the path China stands out of the nations from poor situation . reform isn’t the destination but a process , which can always give us the motivation of making progress . we have carried out reform in many areas including education of English . our purpose is improving Chinese English ability on the whole. But because of lacking ESE , the progress we make is quite few . but it doesn’t means “complete failure” , multi-media classrooms, computer labs and sound labs, these things are necessary for our English learning , we should see the outcome in the long run .
Recently ,many areas in china have the “Reform” ,also including the education area . English is our second language ,which we give enough attention .
With the ministry’s help , many universties have the multi-media classrooms, computers laps and sound laps ,English acquisition libraries even the English speaking environment .At the same time ,the students are educated to have the English classes from the primary school . Even in some big cities,many children and old people learn English everyday .And the trend is rising after china joining the WTO. Of course, the reform in the education area has a certain advancement .However, the economical levels between the east and west in china don’t have a balance ,so some less-developed areas are lock of many equipments. As we all know, one bite can’t eat an elephant . So does the “reform”. Even if the reform has a long way to go, I believe that china will have a great success in English education sooner or later !
One is supposed to resolve a thing in an appropriate method, not in the way he/she likes, so it is with Chinese English Reform. As is known to all of the college students and teachers, the Ministry of Education would like to help students improve their English quickly. This is really a good decision. It does not, however, perform the right methods to achieve this target. We are all aware that it is of great significance that the environment is crucial for language study. When we decide to study English, we should start to make an English environment to help ourselves. We can watch movies without Chinese captions, for instance, and after ten movies watched in this way, our listening must be improved in a dramatically fast speed. In contrast, if there is a word or a sentence written in Chinese appears in the movie, that is going to definitely ruin the environment made by the movie. Just like the things happening in the universities, we are inclined to study English in the sound library, the operation of the system, however, are in Chinese, which destroy the English Environment. Only when this environment problem is solved can our English improve fast and can our Reform harvest well.
The author listed a series of failure in student facilities for the teaching of English as a foreign language in China. The fact seems not too much surprise to me, because these phenomena can also be observed in other fields, which has much relationship with the current system and people’s responsibility; and it is more complicated than I can explain and understand. There still a long way to go. However, from the viewpoint of learning English, poor facilities are not all responsible for the failure of our incomprehensible English even after long years study. The film “the terminal” set a good and typical example of better learning of English even without corresponding facilities. It does not mean the auxiliary facilities are not of great importance. A better reform on TEFL is basically beneficial for students.
As we know, there are many old system that don’t suit the economy and social development along with the economy and social developing. Then we should change the old system. That is “Reform”. As our country developing, there also are many disadvantage system which should be reform. The education system is an example. There is no oral English exam and then people doesn’t care about that. As a result, many students couldn’t speach English smoothly even they can have an high score in the test.
I don’t think these colleges or universities mentioned above which claimed they have no money to run these equipments or repair their requirement is the truth that they didn’t have money, the reason is just that their money is not used to repair these equipment but for the leaders to eat or something else. First, the reason of the failure of the reform is responsible of the basic institution. Second, another reason of the failure of the reform is that only improve the equipment can not work, only the reform of the English teaching system can it improve the teaching efficiency. In my opinion, the reform of the English teaching should focus on the teaching system and the exam system, also the provision of English library for the students is very useful. The other improves such as the equipment is just the assistant methods.
I think the English language education reform is a long process, because it involve many field such as ministry of education and need for some supporting policies. And at the some time I do not think multi-media equipment is a necessary condition for learning English well. I think the key to learn English is yourself and your efforts .Of course it very important to establish the environment for learning English, for example provide some sound labs and English corner.But at last I also think the reform is possible and useful.
When English becomes more and more important .for the problems in education, it is a time to take measures to reform. It means that many failed teaching methods will changed, as well as many unqualified teachers will lose their jobs. Currently, there are a large number of English language training centers,they will be in trouble if they can not change mode of operation in order to better survive. Reform,it also means that there will be great economic interests loss for a group of people.
China need reform in language learning,not just reform of the facilities and equipment,but the reform of teaching method.I appreciate the teaching way of our oral English professor.I hope more and more Chinese teacher learns to create a English Speaking Environment for their students.
Obviously, Chinese have entered a misunderstanding of English reform. They almost focus on the improvement of English teaching devices, while not the English teaching methods.
Does the reform like this do works? May be or may be not. To be honest, the devices are truely useful for English learning partly, but they work little. The true reform , in my opinion, may be the reform of English learning system. Only in the way can Chinese students learn English easily.
Reform means beneficial change, or sometimes, more specifically, reversion to a pure original state (from Wikipedia). There was nothing improper for the Ministry of Education to launch the reform of EFL teaching, but there was something that does not match the needs of acquaints English or the aim to teach people to be the ones who can produce comprehensible English output. Yes, it can give a little help that teaching in a multi-media classroom, but clearly leaves much to be desired. We need a revolution, not a reform. We need to overturn the thoughts rooted in our mind, especially the teachers’ wrong guided thought. Maybe the meaning of revolution had been lost when translate into Chinese. So my dear Martin, we should do something to catch the attention of the Ministry of Education and make them to realize the reality problems.
It is the government’s duty to improve the conditions of students. Excluding some man-induced factor, poor is the essential problem for the government to implement its duty. China is a developing country. We don’t have so much money to develop our education. The reform aims to modernize EFL teaching on campus need a long time, especially for the northern or western China. That is the situation. But it is so contemptible for the college to cheat the students of their facilities. It hurts them so much and frustrates them to learn.
Reform means an improvement or change for the better.The Ministry of
Education launched a new campaign aiming to modernize EFL teaching on
campuses, pushing it out of its traditional track and equipping it with
better technology to reform EFL education. all these measures are full of
good will, but few of these come to ture for the fundamental realities of
China.In my opinion, it is a romantic scheme to reform entirely in the
whole country, and without changing the idea of students and schools
first. The roots of ME is not only the poor equipments but also the
inappropriate ideas of people about English. As a learner of English, we
should realize that we learn English not only for passing exam to graduate
and obtaining good job opportunity, but also for enjoy and communication
demands, only in this way can we immerse ourself in learning English. As
an administrators of the schools, they should change their own old
opinions that pass rates are everything, it is not proper to evaluate
English of students only by their CET4 scores, and that will make learners
bear heavy burden to learn English. Just let the learners enjoy learning
English, Everything will be different.
So I think the first step of the reform is to change people’s old ideas,
then improve the enviroment and equipments of the school step by step.
As China is growing and prospering,change is really needed.Reform as a novel world is everywhere in China in reccent years.As a eaaential language tool ,English learning makes no exception.The government of English teaching has made so many mandated reforms in order to improve English teaching and learning enviroment.However,China is still a developing country,and most areas can not pay for the high cost of these reforms.I think the government should consider the differences of different areas ,and launch essencial help to those who need help.Also,English improvement does not just based on these digital facilites changing,we also could creat an English using enviroment by ourselves.
Reform means an improvement or change for the better.The Ministry of Education launched a new campaign aiming to modernize EFL teaching on campuses, pushing it out of its traditional track and equipping it with better technology to reform EFL education. all these measures are full of good will, but few of these come ture for the fundamental realities of China.In my opinion, it is a romantic scheme to reform entirely in the whole country, and without changing the ideas of students and schools first. The roots of ME is not only the poor equipments but also the inappropriate ideas of people about English. As a learner of English, we should realize that we learn English not only for passing exam to graduate and obtaining good job opportunitis, but also for enjoy and communication demands, only in this way can we immerse ourself in learning English. As an administrators of the schools, they should change their own old opinions that pass rates are everything, it is not proper to evaluate English of students only by their CET4 scores, and that will make learners bear heavy burden to learn English. Just let the learners enjoy learning English, Everything will be different.
So I think the first step of the reform is to change people’s old ideas, then improve the enviroment and equipments of the school step by step.
Education reform always create much criticism. Tradition had much effect on the progress of reform. However, education reform will develop with economic growth and social progress. So, no matter what negative news are reported, the reform process can’t be held up. Providing better equiment and creating better environment to students, at least could give them chance to promote their English, even motivate their bigger interest in English. Today, English is more and more important all over the world, and it is obviously the trend that more and more people in our country learn better English, especially the schoolers. English education reform is the great effort our country is making, although there are quite many shortcomings in it. The most useful thing is to perfect the education reform, making it work better and better in future.
It was Chinese English educators’ exploration and innovation, although we haven’t seen excellent achievement yet. It is impossible to find an omnipotent way to resolve all problems. It refers to the whole Chinese education system. It need a long time to form a reasonable education system and the environment
Chinese education system does need to be reformed not only in English teaching and learning but also in other subjects. However, the reform does not just rely on equipments such as multi-media. Frankly speaking, equipments are important factors, but how to use them properly is more important. Some universities and colleges are full equipped, but the teachers and students do not use them at all so that these equipments all go to waste
Though the modernization of EFL teaching equipment is not so successful, we can learn a lesson from them.
The reason of the failure maybe various. But my opinion is that, maybe the aims of reform is not just simply to modernize EFL teaching on CAMPUSes.
When I was studying in my high school. One day our English teacher told us that, we had learned all of the English grammar, and what we should learn about English in college is only to replace our simple words to the advanced words.
So of course the modernization in campus is good, for we can use it to improve our English. And the emphasis of reform maybe not lies in college, but in somewhere we learn English when we are still a blank.
Reform which mean to improve a system, an organization, a law, an education,etc. by making changes to it.Now let me take about the education reform.There are much sounds about it in china.But the practical or sense action are just so little.The education in relation to hardware have much improved,but the software education is not timed with the hardware education.In other words,we are just blindly forward and neglect it’s banlance. We are only carrying out forms of education.
Education reforms frequetly In the modern China, English educatoin included. But the achievements are not so exiting. Because of China is not like any other country in the world, she has a long history, the chinese culture influence people very much, especially confucianism was more deeply rooted in our national life. This leads to the educational reform mild. Another reason is that China has a large population, there are countless school over the country, the educational reform means difficult. How to reform useful is the key challenge to the new Minister of Education today.
As a student, we hope to study in classrooms with advanced equipment. We wish we can get a good job when we graduate. We need educational reform.
The reform in English teaching works more or less, I think. Now many chinese can speak English well, at less better than the early days, though the equitments not the complete reason for the progress. There are defects in the reform. Now that we have realized the defects, the next step we must make the reform more effectively and appropriately.
As we all know,China is a developing country,plusing with his biggest population,we can imagine the pressure that China have met.It isn’t the point that our country isn’t reluctant to reform,but the limited fund.So,we only can reform the 1st tier university at present!From your view,may be it isn’t looked as a reform.But for me,it takes great changes comparing with many years ago ,at that time we have no TV and computer,say nothing of multi-media classrooms.So,for us,it is a reform!China is becoming bigger and stronger,I believe there will be one day all of the universities get really reform!
China has come a long way in EFL education. In the past, we just pay attention to get a high score in the exam. But now, we emphasize the ability of using English in communication.
The Ministry of Education launched a new campaign to reform EFL education at the turn of the 21st century. The reform aims to modernize EFL teaching on campuses, pushing it out of its traditional track and equipping it with better technology. The reform wants to provide us a better English learning environment. It is a good beginning. A good beginning is half done. China has realized that we need to do something to our education system. Hardware reform need a long time to fully finish it, especially in some remote area. Rome is not built in a day. We come forward step by step, inch by inch.
The idea of creating English speaking environment comes easier. All we need is to change our attitude. May be you can not find a really ESE in universities at present, but we have already noticed it. For example our English class is gradually changed from the former teacher centered classroom to students centered classroom. Instead of being mere knowledge receivers, students are encouraged to be active participants in classroom interaction, ready to present their ideas or argue for specific viewpoints. May be what we did in the past and what we are doing at present are not good enough, but what we will do in the future will better and better, I believe that .
Reform is not an easy thing which need break new ground.People who study English in China need reform. Many students study English well but can not speak it well. We know English is important in daily life. Our world is became more and more small. Sometimes we communicate with foreigners. But now our study model is not good, sometimes one people’s English is good but can not speak. So we should reform our method and teach according to the student’s ability. I think it should be useful to use different methods to different people.
To enable students to improve English and adjust to the 21th century, The Ministry of Education launched this new campaign to reform EFL education. From this article, we can see the effort of Ministry of Education and Chinese colleges, such as emploing foreignal teachers and programming the equipment, including requisite facility, English research library,computers and so on. Obviously they aware of the urgency of this reform ,however, most things they do have little effect to creating English evironment. Though this discouraged some people, however, it is a necessary process, I think. China is a developing country who have lag far behind developed countries, what we are doing now mostly learn form others. Hence we can see this as a process and I am convinced we will make great successes so long as we can see our disadvantages ,conquer it and hold the line.
As we all know, the world is changing every minute , to make us adapt to the environment，we should learn efficiently . Such as English learning, much reform has been made. This is good news. But reform does not mean everyone has the same possibility to acquire English well. Maybe the reform is not suitable, or the executants do not carry out it in a right way, or student just depend on it too much instead of work hard .So I think reform means we attach importance to education ,but not means we could acquire what we want . We should work hard ,efficient，if we have good suggests, we must convey it out .We should believe that our education in china will be excellent one day if we make efforts together！
The Ministry of Education is bureaucratical. It just makes orders, but it doesn’t consider the real situation of the country. The multi-media classrooms, computer labs and sound labs, English acquisition libraries and the creation of English speaking environments, all need a lot of money. The Ministry of Education wants to have them all, but it didn’t have the idea how to get money to do these things. No money no talk. The Ministry of Education didn’t do it in detail, how can the reform work? Although the improvement of the equipments is very important, the reform of concept and methodology are more important than it, I think.
When talking about reform,there are some issues that we should consider seriously.As what the article mentioned, the equipment for English learning is very important.Because the object of studying a language is for application including speaking and listening.At the same time we have to admit that not every school can provide the advanced equipments for teaching due to the different economic conditions in China.And I appreciate that our university can provide us a good environment although it is not the best. However,the reform aims to modernize EFL teaching could be taking long due to the facilities we face with.We should be confident and try our best together to build the future not only for us but also for the nation.
Since China has realized the necessary of reform in English education, Multi-media classroom, computer labs and sound labs are built in most of university. However ,it harvest little. Most teachers still get used to the traditional teaching method that they don`t will to change. Another reason is that the expensive equipment expense limites its extension. Many universities can`t purchase the equipment. But it`s not the excuse for students` poor English. Where there is a way. Without these equipment we still can learn English well if we study hard.
Yes, there were not enough English teaching facilities in most of Chinese schools, even some colleges and some universities because of the in-competence of the finical the government could offer. But Chinese English-learners could study English everywhere in anytime in varies of ways, with the improvement of the economy of China, the situation will become better.
It is a common phenomenon in china.maybe the ministry of education intended to make some changes on EFL.But some leaders of universities or colleges don’t care whether the students can put their English into practice.What they turely cared is how to make their job looks like a perfect one and get praise from the ministry of education.So every reform in china is always harder than other countries.I know I can’t count on these leaders to make a great change.But if everyone who works for education can shoulder their responsibilities and care about the students even though a little,I think the result will be changed.The reform will walk on step by step.
Many people consider reform as the same meaning to change. I will not fight on it, but as it to me, I think reform is not as simple as change, it maybe preferable to change which from the root. For instance, our English learning, if we change our books and fight on English text, this means change but not reform. What reform means in my head is a completely change, the root of this matter maybe is our views on why and how of English learning. People will never know they are wrong until they recognized what is really right. So if we want our reform take effort, there must be a deep change in us nowadays.
I went to the main library to find some English books related to my main field of study in the university. Quite surprising to me, only few, old and torn books were available. Many of them are donated by some people abroad. If I want to get up-dated informaton of my field in English, the only way is through internet. It is only one small corner to show how insufficient resources provided from high educational institute to improve English. Neither English learning environmnet, nor English speaking environment are really provided in my university. Though much have been done to improve, such as multi-media lab. However, English media resources such as English reference books and magazines are still not enough. If facilities are inoperational, encourage students to send email each other or talking miscellaneous things in chat room may be another way to increase the practical use of English.
In recent years, people paid much attention on the reform of education. Of course, The Ministry of Education took a lot of measures to reform the EFL education, but sometimes things went contrary to their wishes. I think maybe it is because China is a huge developing country. The economy condition of the west is quite different from the east. In my opinion, we should try our best to learn English with existing condition, and I believe the government would make more efforts to reform the EFL education.
The question is about money all the time .China is a developing contry.There is too many things to do .The money is never be enough.When there is society there is the rich and the poor ,God can never change this,so the difference is nomal between the west and the east .Our government is do his best to do things good .
There are a lot of problems in English education, as we know. Reform is necessary. But reform of English education was done by many times, the the previous results are not satisfactory. Many new ways has not been broad acceptance by the teachers and students. We do not just want to improve their English proficiency, and get a good examination results. But at many times, the two are contradictory.
I think the most important purpose of the reform is to make them coordinate. Or in order to get high scores, we may back to the old way.
I must say that too much attentions have been put on learning english in china,both the government and the public. The TEFL in china came out a case of crabs. Learning english has became a nationwild endeavor pursued at all academic levels, from kindgarton and university. But few graduaters can use english comprehensibly. Both of us relized that innovation on the TEFL curriculum are needed. But how? It’s not so easy to answer. Only english-speaking environment is great help in learning english. But all around us are chinese-speaking and how can an only english-speaking environment form. Suppose that one commit to speak english only for a year, the only way it can be is that the people around him can speak english with him, or he will speak nothing for a whole year. This way of learning is still arduous. Fortunately, some boarding schools are endeavouring to produce an english-speaking environment for their student. Although no results of their success have reported, it’s a good beginning of Chinese TEFL reform.
I think the whole education system of China knows that there needs a reform in TEFL, but no enough attention is paid to the reform. So the reform is just seemed to happen, but not actually happens. The four important factors that form the new pedagogy are all just at beginning, or we can say that the reform still dwells on formalism. There are not enough materially actions taken to really realize the reform. Maybe it’s one of the Chinese ministries’ shortcomings-inefficiency that leads to this result. If they face the problems of China TEFL, it means they will admit their own problems. It is kind of bringing contempt upon themselves, so they just ignore it. What they did just makes the problem worse. I argue that they should face the current situation bravely and pay enough attention to modernize EFL teaching on campus. This is the right way to solve the problem, and good to us students and them.
The reality raised by Martin was serious in China, but I think we must treat these defections subjectively in Chinese current situation.
The reform of English education is facing serious problems indubitable. No emphasis and orientation were taken to the heart of the administrator, most colleges and universities waste their material and financial sources to unworthy aspects, such as individual consumption, luxury but useless establishment in campus. Moreover, corruption and putrefaction are existed in many territorial districts in China.
However, there is an immutable fact preventing the current reform. What is Chinese current situation? As everyone known, China is a developing country, she must give consideration to all facts under construction comprehensively. The financial assistant is certainly limited. Furthermore, financial crisis engulfed all countries including China last year, China have to deal with this tough problem through enormous financial afford expenditure in fundamental service.
As China develops in all aspects, I am full of confidence in the bright future in the reform of English education.