Can you answer any of the questions?
EFL/ESL Teaching in China: Questions – Questions – Questions
This article raises numerous fundamental issues which appear to have been overlooked by China in its exuberance to embrace EFL/ESL teaching as China rushes to join the new world order and partake of its share of the global economic pie. This article establishes a solid and fundamental legitimization for asking the politically incorrect, controversial and sensitive questions but leaves their final resolution to the language teachers, graduate students and linguists who have the inherent fundamental duty to seek the answers. (2007) Frontiers in Higher Education, Ch. 10, Nova Science Publishers.
In my opinion, there are some questions on the EFL teaching in China though it has been taught for many years. Why ? who are responsible for it ? the government, the teachers , the schools , the students and the others ? I think the answer is all of them, there are some space to make the measure for the institution to improve the students’ English. The teachers should supply the skills to study English and the soft environment and the atmosphere ; the schools are create good environment and the facilities for the students. It is not enough for it. The most important reason is the students who are the decisive factor. Their will to study English decide the skills and the efficiency ,they can be proficient in English even if there is a teacher for you.
Now that we find the main reasons for the questions, thus we know that how to deal with them. But it is difficult for China, because the situation is very perplexed and we have long road to go.
After seeing the editor’s words” There is more than one way to skin a cat”,I was so ashamed.I looked for the article in other columns again,then I succeeded. There are many questions difficult to answer.I want to talk about the first question which I think about many times.We have learned English more than ten years.Each of us had to learn English from the beginning of middle school without thinking our needs or future.For many students who go to work after middle school,it wiill be better to learn some skills useful in their future work.
There are more and more people in china learn English nowadays.But it is effectness.Most of them can’t even read,let alone speaking and writting.In my opinion, if we want to make EFL/ESL teaching in China successfully,we should change the system at first.I still remember that almost all my teach emphasize on vocabulary when they teaching English.As a result,my oral English is neglected and is very poor.I really want to the government take actions to change the system for our country’ future,for there are so many we have to learn from other country and we need to communicating with others.
Culture is inextricably linked by language. Language is a social and cultural phenomenon and a product of the development of society and culture. Any language can’t survive and develop without its inseparable social and cultural environment. So when we learn English, we must learn it culture at the same time. Comparing and analyzing the language culture of Chinese and English will help an English language learner to learn and use English well.
It’s really a long article, I finished the first question just now, and I would like to say some words about this question. So, why should 1.3 billion Chinese learn English? Sometimes, I can’t help asking myself. I think most of us will say because it’s a world language and we have to learn it well in order to communicate with the foreigners and do business with them! It’s a necessary tool! I support this point basically. But I don’t think that all the Chinese have to learn English, even put it in the first place and consider it’s more important than our own language! After all, not all of us have to deal with the English speakers and what’s more, even if we don’t know English, we got translators or maybe our business partners can speak Chinese! I adore the French people, I think they really do a excellent job to protect their own language. They indeed love their own language. We should learn from them, there’s no need to rush to study English the whole country in the name of doing international business or learning the high technology from foreigners. Remember that in this world village, nearly 25% the population speak Chinese! And as China becomes more and more powerful and prosperous, can’t you see the future of the Chinese? I guess Mandarin will become a popular language in the world sooner or later, and more and more people will come to learn our language! So, why not just save the money and energy that is invested in the national English teaching to do something more important, just as better the infrastructure in the country side?
I haven’t seen EFL/ESL teaching in China in this way before I read this article. After seeing it, I admit that there are some questions that we cannot answer, even some problems with our English teaching system. For example, how can EFL/ESL teaching in China be called a success? What’s the standard? No one can tell. I agree with this article’s point in this regard. However, when it comes to the question why should 1.3 billion Chinese learn English, I have a different view. Although, neither do I can figure it out, I think it’s good for people to learn more. Maybe your life need no English by now, you don’t know what’s gonna to happen next month, next year. We should always get well prepare before opportunities show up. Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get. Learn more, then you have a bigger chance to get more.
So long the article it is!
This semester we have discussed much about TEFL and to succeed it will take a long time and great efforts in the future.
We have to pass the CET-4 in order to get a bachelor degree and CET-6 for post-graduation education. Although it is not that hard for me to pass this two exams, I am disgusted with it. We have to pay for this unwilling exams and have no freedom to choose or lose! The purpose of English is effective communication but we have to memorize a large amount of grammars and phrases. What is more, it is sarcastic that you gain high score in the written tests but poor performance in English-speaking communication.
The administrator of education department should have been aware of, but turned one eye to this disadvantage of this English-teaching system. It will take great courage for them to go in for newly educational reform. It is not one person but groups of educators or even the whole educational circles who can finish this giant project.
I have no effective idea about this problems and I think China will gradually find a Chinese characteristic way of English Education. And just let it happen!
I really think we just repeat all the time. When we got into college, we made a repetition of what the we learned in high school. And again, the English class for postgraduates is a repetition of their college classes. That is so sad. That means we just step in the same place and do not move on a little bit. Each question touch my heart and make me decide to change my way of learning English .I will not repeat any more. I will start to talking. I will talk to everyone in English, I will crazy in English and I will fall in love with English at last. There is an old saying that practice makes perfect. Since you have courage to take the first step, you should practice more and more, and one day you will get over English.
Even if we have studied English many years , some of us still speak mute English . However, it’s not fair to just blame the students, teachers and linguists. Most Chinese are shy and unconfident, and they don’t like talking to a foreign actively. It’s ours character. What’s more , English as a tool for communicating with each other ,but we needn’t to use it in our daily life. This may be the most important reason for Chinese students’ mute English. If we want to change this ,we must change our purpose to learn English . In the past years ,We have to pass various kinds of English tests to go to college, to graduate from college and go to postgraduate. But we never think to use English as a tool to communicate with others. Even if we have the opportunity to speak to a foreigner, we are to shy to give up the chance! What a pity! In conclusion, it is imperative for us to take effective measures to change this phenomenon. We should dare to lose face , speak English out loudly. We also can communicate with classmates in English ,just like we are ABC. Of course, there are many difficulties for us to over come. We should not give up and believe that we we will have a brighter future. We will speak English fluently!
1.
First, English is the most popular world-wide language.
Second, English is the science-technology language.
Third, USA which speaks English is the most powerful country in the world.
So, most of Chinese should learn English.
2. From the scale, it can be called a success.
3. Yes, Exactly.
4. Of course no.
5. “My English is so poor, hw can I make it better?”
6. No, you can not escape from this strange situation.
7. Increasing the number of teachers and decreasing the number of students. So everyone can remember each other’s name.
8. Both are right.
Why do I learn english?I ask myself many times.Always I can not answer the issue.From I have contacted English,I do not konw the reason.Until now,I relize the important for me.Recently I read some special English literature.I find it is difficult for ne to understand the meaning.So pity!I learn English so many years,but I can not understand a literature.I think I need to learn more about on English.Perhaps,it is wrong that I think learning English is not critical for me.So I want to say we our chinese people need to learn English,it is useful,perhaps you can not see its’ important now.If you will use more English in future,please learn more about English now.
Actually,the core issue about studying English is the intrinsic motivation.In our society,every one will pursuit the interest.In other words,we just do what we really benefit from.We study English for attending to university.We study English for finding the high-pay jobs.We study English for all kinds of needs.However,just because of the English education system,to be success,you have to pass the exam.In order to pass the exam,we cost a great deal of time to do the practices.But in our English exan,there is no oral English part and some similar interaction part.As a result,no one will care about your ability of communication.We can not learn English well because we don’t need to when we are still at school.That’s the key point.
Exactly, there are so many questions about EFL/ESL teaching in China. But I always think that whether to study English well depends on the learners themselves. The ones who have talent and work hard will make good progress. But if you don’t try to do it, you’ll stand rooted on the spot even there are good schools and good teachers and advanced equipments. China is doing her best to supply well condition for English teaching. Well you know, she should supply resources for more than education, such as economic, politics, culture and so on. Everything will develop step by step. And I believe that these questions will be resolved one day.
After read the artice , I was lost in a myriad of thoughts.The process of learning English was too long .Although the time was so long ,our outcome was not so good.We can not speak to foreingers fluently even we have not the courage to talk with them.If we want to make the EFL system better ,we must coordinate each effort together.firstly,our education system must take measures to improve the situation and the system.The age of starting to learning English became earlier and earlier,but we ddi not know the neccessity to learn it at such an early age.Secondly,our learning environment.Wherever we stayed,our envirous people were Chinese mostly.we have used to speak Chinese and the wanys to communicate.So the change process was difficult that we must have the confidence and persistence to insist on.Whoever was the participant,the most improment thing was practice and fit.
Learning English is not difficult for our Chinese, but grasping English is the one hard for us. As to writing or reading English, we can well do it. But when we listen or speak English, it’ll be a tough task for us. Though we have learned English for sixteen or more years, we still acquire “Mute English”. What have we got after studying English for so long? It may be like a kind of sarcasm, we turn out not being able to talk with foreigners fluently. The success of our Chinese teaching method is that students can get the degree diplomas and pass the tests. Diplomas don’t enable us to acquire English, they actually are proof that we know the grammar or usages in written, we don’t know how to apply it.
English is used for our daily life, communicating with others and learning more about other countries, such as the culture difference, life styles and the forth. As the lapse of time, the teaching system is sure to be changed and use a new kind of effective way to teach English with a view to conform with the develop of the society and the needs of associating with people from all over the world.
Yesterday I read a old message from internet ,it said that according to a statistics of examination results of global ielts candidates in 2004 and 2005,chinese candidates’ grade point average lower than the global total grade point average significantly,and chinese candidates’ oral exams grade point average ranked last in the world .Obviously,it showed that chinese English education had no good results .I think,up to the present,chinese English teaching still has many problem:schools do not provide a good learning environment for students,teachers do not attach importance to the improvement of teaching methods ,the most important point is that students who are learning English for the second language also do not make attention to improve their oral English ability.Many of them hold the viewpoint that they hardly use English for communicating wwith others in the future.Therfore,they ignore the cultivation of oral English easily.So it is high time that the schools, language teachers, students and linguists to think much of the problem and take some measures to solve it.As a graduate student,I realy hope that chinese students could learn English well and every one could get a bright career in the future.
I have to say I am shocked by the facts listed in the article about EFL in China. We have wasted many valuable resources in an ineffective EFL. What is wrong with us? We are just doing it in an unproper way! Take myself as an example. I have been studying English since I was in middle school, Now I have 10 years of English studying history but I still can not express myself well and clearly.
In my opinion, we set wrong standards of successful EFL. CET is the gold standard of good English. However, it leads to the consequence that we are trained to pass this exam instead of using this language well. What a mistake!
The questions are sharp but practical. We are required to “master” English while only a few of us will really get a job that needs good English. We have spent much time and money on learning English but most of us still can not communicate with others in it. We pass the CET 4 and CET 6 and think that we are good at English but actually what we know is Mute English. Many problems exist in the English teaching in China. I think the eight questions are good reference for the English teaching innovation. Though we have a long way to go, we have to go, for the sake of our country and next generation.
Actually,English education is required discrepancy from other subjects,like mathematics,physics or chemical trial,due to the natural of language.Language is using for communication,however,exchanging minds also needs motivative factors which just our classroom is lack of.
I tried the website again today，yes，it is ok. When I downloaded the article，I was astonished at its length. However I read it by heart and had some ideas about one of the eight questions. For the last one，WHAT IS WORSE: STUDENTS WHO CHEAT THE SYSTEM OR A SYSTEM THAT CHEATS THE STUDENTS? I have the same sensation about the system and I think it is a question that we students can not resolve. But，in a way，the test help forces us to study English，maybe we can not sense its role. What we should do now is to walk out of the test and study English for ourselves.
In china, there are indeed many problems existing in teaching and learning English. Of course, there are a variety of reasons for these problems. The article said some reasons, some of them are that we all agree with, and some of them may confused someone.
I have studied English for 15 years, in my opinion; the main reasons can be reducing to three. First, at the beginning learning English, there are too many students in the class. Teachers only paid a little attention on every student. Second, we have few chances to use English in our daily lives. Third, the examination system makes us learning English only for exams.
Why should we learn English? Because we want to be more competitive. But without correct methodology, how can the EFL teaching lead us students? In a hostile environment, how can we acquire English? Without improvement, how can we keep on studying English with hope? We have to admit that the EFL teaching in China is now faced with a dilemma. The teaching system doesn’t have a standard to evaluate whether a student is good at English except good marks. So many students put all their concentrations on achieving high marks and ignore the importance of communication. In this way, we are misguided and produce the mute English. With more than 10 years’ hardworking on English, have we been more competitive? The answer is absolutely no.
In fact, I was shocked by the questions in the article for I seldom thought about most of them. First, I do agree that the English teaching in colleges and universities is impotent. I have learned much about words and grammars in high school. In university, I would like to acquire practical English but I was a little depressed with what I’ve had. By now, I can’t speak English freely. In other words, I can’t express myself well or make comprehensive English output. Second, I think there’s much to be done to create a friendly English acquisition environment for the English department and the universities. This is one of the external factors for English acquisition. About this, I ever heard that some friends studied in the middle school of their hometown and their Chinese English teachers couldn’t even pronounce correctly and there was no equipment for pronunciation. So they were taught wrong. Third, we must adopt a correct attitude towards English language and its role in our lives. This is about the internal factor and motivation.
In a word, we must make changes for these to create a friendly English acquisition environment and solve the fundamental problems.
The article is so long and it took me much time to read. Obviously,the eight questions are too difficult to answer.I believe these problems not only quzzle the foreign expert but also our chinese english professors and educators.In my opinion,the problem about the english education is not an easy thing.Nowadays,all kinds of english auxiliary classes are hold to help the students to pass the english examinations or someone’job need to communicate with the foreinger.In other words,the purpose of learning english is specific and clear.Maybe it is also why so many people who have studied english for many years but still not acquire.Each one knows we should learn english and done well,but when it is needed is unpredictable even whether has chance to use it.In the other hand,the inflexible teaching ways and mathods make many students loose the interest in english.In a world,the reason about the bad english education is allround.We should consider these problems comprehensive.
The content of the article “EFL/ESL Teaching in China: Questions – Questions – Questions” is thought provoking. ESL has become a 10-billion yuan business in our China; a student pays 10-20 yuan for one hour of ESL training. But we could not learn English well. English is a tool to communicate with other but our oral English are very poor after we spend lots of time and money on learning English. Who should be responsible for the problem? Is the education system or ourselves? We should learn English to enhance our abilities to communicate with foreign counties to develop our economy and culture. Though not all the people would speak English when they after graduation and read English books, we also should learn it from our primary schools because we do not whether we could use English or not. The key to the problem is that we lack enough environments to speak English. We could not speak English as well as foreigner whose mother language is English. If we want to solve the problem, the education system should reform, and the environment of speaking English should be formed. Besides to learn English well is not as easy as to learn to ride bicycle and we need a long time. In my opinion, Reform and time are the keies.
The questions should raise deep thinking among the participants of EFL/ESL. They provide an insight into the problems that behind the exuberance of EFL/ESL teaching. Although the article wants to leave the final resolution to the language teachers, graduate students and linguists, it still provides lots of useful solutions. But many times it’s easier said than done. EFL/ESL has become very big business in China, so if we do some changes, it will harm some people’s benefits, and they will jump out and refuse the changes. It is a long way to go, but I still sincerely hope the time that China wastes its valuable resources producing more EFL/ESL failures than successes comes to an end soon.
No matter in China or in other countries,I think it is iust a similar phenomenon.We-chinese try to learn a foreign language such as English in order to communicate with people who is from the other countries.And it become a trend with the development of our world economy.And at the same time there are so many foreigners who are learning chinese as we are learning their language.But we must aware that as a second language most of us can not master it well enough just as we do with our native language.Languages are tools in our communication,all that we can do is try our best to grasp it and make it easyfor both of us to comprehend each other well.Knowing this,I think there will be no existence of “who cheat who”.
At the beginning of EFL/ESL teaching in China, it always occurs numerous issues. The government, the school and the teacher, the student, even it involves everyone. People are puzzled to learn English. But it is the most serious to the students. In my point, the student, like me, they often are forced to learn it without autonomy. Sometimes, the efforts were made for pleasing our parents, teachers, even, most of students has a goal to pass the CET or IELTS, TOEFL and get many other certificates. If we do something that only based on pleasing other, we would fail.
There are many issues posed in the article—EFL/ESL Teaching in China: Questions-Questions-Questions, which usually puzzle us. As well know that, Chinese as a foreign language (CFL) teaching in U.S. it will go with the similar problems. So these troubles even bother the human being all over the world. I hope that all people on the earth make joint effort to deal with it. With the action, a harmonious world will be established in future with easy communication tool, our mutual language.
After read the article ,I thought a lot about English learning .China is a developing country now ,all of people in china can speak English very well is impossible .The purpose of study English is not very clear for most of people .Most of Chinese are very shy and not full of confidence .They do not like to talk to strangers ,especially some foreigner strangers .Because of the point ,the situation that the article mentioned appeared.In China ,many many students do not like learning English , beause almost all of examinations need English ,but in daily life people do not have opportunities to speak English .If the situation can be changed ,English learning will be improved in future .
Actually, I hate English. Why do I hate English and when did I start to hate it? I don’t know, even I can get a high score in an exam. About ten years ago, I was glad to study English and talk with others in English. Shortly afterwards, I lost the passion because I found I was forced to study it, for example, I have to remember every new word and do a lot of homework.
I think we all know there are a lot questions about English education in China, however, how to solve the questions, it’s a real question.
Long article and tough questions! I am ashamed for I can’t acquire English , some one said that :what can you do if you can’t conquest English yet ? Really people, let’s get serious. I have some words to say.
Why should 1.3billion Chinese learn English? What about you? I ask myself. I like foreigner always for some inexplicable reason, I didn’t see many foreigner before, I opined those foreigners in china are very lonely and helpless, I want to help them, so I hope myself can help them .i must to learn English well to communicate with them
And I think English is beautiful I like it ,why I want to learn it? Because I want to enjoy the English movie and the joke in English .enrich myself and , develop myself.
From the big aspects ,we must learn it for we are the future masters，the builder of society, we should learn advantage knowledge and communicate and cooperation with others
Is it inevitable that although we teach them English they will learn chinglish? Maybe just because we didn’t born and live in west, so we can’t acquire it well really and truly. We must study not only the language but also the culture. In my opinion, we should learn it with our heart and soul, and you know that if we have heart, we will realize our dreams. If you don’t see it seriously ,even there are good education system and environment ,you still can’t gain satisfactory results.
For English learning, when I got to know this example I found how much important the motives were. Have you ever heart about a guide as the “Moon Mother” in the Moon Mountain of YangShuo. She is just an old local villager and never learned English at school, but speaks good English. Why? At the beginning, she just sold some food and drink at the Moon Mountain. Once a foreigner got lost and asked her way, and volunteer gave her some money after she shew the way to him. The Moon Mother found leading the road was easier to make money than just selling, so after that she became a profession guide and during the process, she learned English from foreigners by repeat what they said again and again. Now, the Moon Mother became famous, and started a family hotel, too. As the communication with foreigners becomes more and more frequent, her English meanwhile becomes better.
From this event, we know one should know clear about the purpose of learning English, he/she would work hard on it. So it’s good to ask the question “Should 1.3 billon Chinese people learn English?” but it’s not enough. Just when we make the learners see the real need of learning English, the effect would become more obvious. So let’s start telling them by sending some foreigners besides them, and then they would find the purpose of learning English—communication.
I am now focusing my comment on the 7th point: What’s in the name?
This is a point, in my opinion, best reflects the distinguish between the Chinese and the foreigners, who should be equally treated as the contribution to the English environment. The subconciousness in most Chinese people is to excluded the foreigners, the 60s ,who is among 40 years old to 50 years old, were taught that foreigners were harmful to China during their early education. What’s more, they now got power and the management in most aspects, so they treat the foreigners as carefully and sketically. In this way, the phenomenon can be logical to them, but illogical to most of the foreigners. No wonder the nametag in Chinese and in English just reflects the distinction of the sense among most governers. They may hardly understood the usage of English. But the politics from higher level ordered them to do it. Then the deans may just do it without his really apprehension.
So many problems about English studying in our country are showed in this article. It’s true that I began studying English at 12, now I have studied English for 11 years. But I only can say some simple sentences. It is not my fault, not teacher’s, not school’s, who can responsible to it? Nobody. Why? Maybe different people have different answers. So many students in college school are having the same problem as me. I think resolve this problem is imminent, but changing this phenomenon is not easy, because the traditional English studying ways influence deeply in most of the student’s minds, and also in Chinese English teacher’s minds in china.
If we want to change it, government must make some useful measures and support for it, and also the Ministry of Education must develop an appropriate system of English language teaching. Ok, let’s do some efforts to improve our English about listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
I can not answer any of these questions, and I am not trying to either. The system is too sick to be cured. The only antidote I can see is to establish a law to forbid people learning English in china and kill the system in a sudden. After the English fever claim down for a period of time, then the government could loosen a bit of tie and start a new scientific way to perform English education.
I admit that I rarely read a long article including 30 pages, and I have to say this essay is actually interesting, thoughtful and penetrating. This essay points out certain critical and essential issues rather than being entangled in CET as before, which is a wonderful and desirable change. I was laughing when I read the part of middle school students asking questions and then advised my classmates and good friends to read this paragraph. I support the view of 2nd question so-called successful ESL/EFL teaching and 5th question favorite whine of Chinese students. The two parts penetrate the darkness of ESL problems, although provide not a systematic effective method to deal with problem. The crux of the issues as I mentioned before is a complicated subtle even taboo subject—political incorrect action. The other crux is obvious but hard-changing—students are reluctant to exert themselves to do more English whatever read, write, listen or speak. Unfortunately, there are few students to do that. But most ambitious students will follow the instructions.
Just as what the article said,”Many students can say nothing but some simple phrases. Even for some English majors, writing an article in English also means nothing other than making countless mistakes.”this is the result of ten years learning english.
i want to know why? among the ten years,i spent many time and money in english learning but got nothing in the last.after reading this article,the questions tell me the answer.
now we know why,what we can do in the next?it’s not a piece of cake rather than a hard work.i think the most important thing is why we learn english.if each people who learn english have their reason,they can learn better than those don’t know why.where there is a will ,there is a way.the reason is a will.
After reading this article, I deeply involved in thinking about EFL, especially why we must learn English. China is a huge country with a population of 1.2 billion and has contributed to the development of the entire world. Why its language, Chinese, can not be the first language in the world. The main reason is that our economic power is lower than America’s which is the strongest in the Earth. We are developing country, but He is developed country. He has grown many centuries. We only has thirty years history of reform and open to the outside world. Therefore, by learning English to associate with the world,we can rapidly progress. Let us learn English more effectively and studious.
i have read the context quickly,and know what you wanna us to get,yeah!as far as i think ,there are lots of problems with the EFL.because in the real society of china,english teaching in high school just aim for scores,because the students wanna to go to university,and they must get a high score in the exam so that they can be accepted by the college they want to study,and so the teacher just teach their students how to do with the exam. they have not cheat the english as a languagem, they just think english as a tool to enter the university,they have not emphise the pronouceation and just emphise the grammar,that is a big wrong for studying a language,and the goverment should take some actions to help our students ,english is a language just the same as chinese and it is not a tool for exam!
It is really difficult for me to answer any question in the article. I can’t tell how to solve those problems too. I am neither an educationist nor a politician. I am just a student. I only know I should notice those problems and learn my English in a different way that can make me open my mouth, talk and talk.
To be honest, none of the questions above is easy to give a suitable answer. While the lucky thing is that we chinese now can also say almost anything they want to express. It is entirely different from the past.
In my opinion, we chinese should learn English as much as possible, because the quick change world requires us have enough knowledge to realise it. When we do exchange with foreign coutries, we must kown them and understand them first. But the English learning should not be forcible, people have the right to choose what to learn for themselves, and I guess that not all the people has a excellent ability in learning a Second Language and even they are not good at the mother tongue, too. So I think learning something should according to your interest.
Nowadays, the EFL/ESL teaching in China can not be treated as successful. As we all know that the CET4 and the CET6 have taken up the market for many years. If you want to prove you English ability or you want to get a good job , you have to show the boss the CET certificate first. As a result , we are busy in preparing all kinds of examlations in order to get a pass. While at the same time, we are becoming the person who can get a high score but can not say fluent English. It is really woefully!
We need to think seriously about the questions listed in the article. Teaching English in China has become a big business in Chinese. But I don’t think we are success in this project. We only produced mute English in most cases. “Most of us begin studying English at 12 or even younger. By the time we graduate from the university, we have studied English for over 10 years. However, the result is awful. Many students can say nothing but some simple phrases. Even for some English majors, writing an article in English also means nothing other than making countless mistakes.” This is the fact. Something is wrong with our teaching process. Traditional “chalk and talk” teaching methodology with rote memorization as its core can not be successful. Students are usually spoon-fed, listening and taking notes with teachers standing at the front and doing most of the talking.” It totally opposites the original purpose of learning English. Why we learn English and for what? I don’t think every English learner has though about it. English is tool to connect China to the outside world. But most of the time English is just a prerequisite. We need to take English exam when taking the college entrance examination. When seeking a job in the job market, many jobs require the ability of using English though they may have nothing to do with English. It still requires English, so ridiculous!
After reading the article,I’d like to share my opinon about “EFL/ESL Teaching in China: Questions – Questions – Questions”.There are a lot of problems in China,hence it is easy to understand the reality-a long way to achieve mastering English and speak fluently.
Fortunately,I am a member of SYSU now and I’ve received the Holistic English.Thanks my professor ! Until now,I have thought the problems which are very serious over and looked forward to changing the situation by myself first.Moreover,I think that each of us should love the native language,which is necessary.We’d better learn something actively and not do something randomly.
In the article,it shows us many provoking and true examples.Just take Mandarin for example. Does China not yet realize the reality that the emerging China has the immediate clout to demand that those desiring to do business in China or with China should learn Mandarin, rather than expect 1.3 billion Chinese to learn English? All in all,I believe that “Nothing is difficult if you put your heart into it”,therefore the success will arrive finally.Just do it!
Well…as to me, the questions are hard to answer. I don’t like the answers because it is the system that train me into an English speaker(which I know, I am a poor speaker). However, I am afraid that most of his words are right. Actually we are not learning English in a good system. People who built up this system did not know how to make the students learn English well. But things are changing because more and more people who care the future of the Chinese students take part into the system. It will be a long way to go for you are dealing with a system that bigger and more complicated than any system you have ever met. I also willing to see the reform of the system, nobody shall be another MUTE speaker of English from this.
As Martin said:” The unqualified teaching the unmotivated in a hostile environment ”it is ture and somehow take off the vein that has covered on the EFL teaching in china and puzzled most people who working on this hard affair more than 20 year since chine began the opening and reforming policy in 1980s that made English teaching an increasingly growing industry. It is clear thai three parties are involved in this statement, the deliver, the accepter and the outer atmosphere .In my opinion, the failure of EFL teaching in china lies partly to the fact that people treat this three ingredient separately. Teachers just stuff the knowledge to students ,ignoring the process of absorbing. Meanwhile, the kindergarteners always refuse to eat ,let alone digest .and the worse fact is :the more teachers stuff, the less they accept, the more they grown antipathy. At last ,hostile environment came up naturally.
After I have read this fantastical article, I have deeply impressed by such questions. There are so many problems for English education in the current society in China. It is amazing that we are experiencing such problems so many years when we are studying English, unbelievable！
Do we really need study English in our live? sometimes, we listen many people complain that English is so hard to study ,and most are waste time. Actually, such situation may be dumped and bland, and the reason is that we haven’t found a proper way to practice our oral English. Our traditional education is reciting more and more but ignoring speaking and listening. At last the only thing we deserved is mute English. What a pity it is! We have plunged so much manpower and financial resources. Why we just deserved that name？
Those questions may make the Chinese students and the English language educators embarrassed.The problems are so obvious and I think it has been serious enough that some correlative person especial those who play a key role and own the privilege should stand up and make a series reforming policies to resole the English learning problem.This is a big problem,we shouldn’t leave it alone or be intent to ignore it.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
NOT EVEN THE CCTV 9 ENGLISH CUP CONTESTANTS SPEAK “EXCELLENT ” ENGLISH, AND THEY ARE THE BEST.
In the article professor Martin is trying to prove and discuss several questions pointed out., and gave the readers the examples to think more about them. I have to say there’s in deed lots of problem existing in the EFL/ESL teaching nowadays. We got a poor application with the learning English at average. We do need to face the problems and try to get them better gradually. However in another hand, I feel the writers do a bit exaggerate ponderance of the problems. We can still see many excellent students speaking excellent English coming out of the excellent school everyday. It’s hard to convince me that the EFL/ESL teaching is nothing rather than trash. We should criticize it with a affirmative and more objective view.
1.3 billion Chinese should learn English for sevaral reasons.
First, learning English enable Chinese to communicate effectively in the international affairs, including comercial nigociation, adcademic exchange and even cultural understanding. Just imagine that, if Chinese cannot speak English, how many oppurtunities we would loose. Learning English enable Chinese to enjoy the diversity of English Culture.
Second, some may argue that people from other country should learn to speak Chinese to communicate with us, however, I don’t agree with that. It is true that China is becoming stronger and stronger, but the situation is that English as a prevailing language has a much wider effects arround the world and it will last for a very long time. For Chinese, it is wise to learn English and take the initiative to fit for the world.
Today, more and more people know that English is important in our study and life. And most students and young people study it, but not all. China have 1.3billion people, and most of them are not young or farmers who need not study English. So I do not think that “1.3billion Chinese learn English ”. And yes we have not a good study English environment, because there are not enough foreigner teachers and most of our friends or classmates do not speak it. We study it from middle school but our oral English is not good. So I think if we want make our English better we must study it hard enough and speak more.