English losing its appeal in China | TODAYonline:
As the economy matures, many Chinese see new job opportunities that do not require English
08 November
SHANGHAI — Ms Marina Wang used English every day when she worked at a British company in the Chinese city of Hangzhou. But her use of the language dropped to virtually zero when she quit to work for a Chinese bank in her home province of Hubei.
Though she majored in English in college, she does not miss speaking it. “My new job offers greater economic stability and allows me to live near my parents,” she said. “English is not required because I communicate mainly with Chinese customers.”
Her story is one example of a broader debate taking place over China’s long-time emphasis on teaching English that experts say could prompt a rethink about why and how Chinese learn the language.
Estimates vary, but state media China Daily said there were as many as 400 million English-language learners in China at the beginning of this decade. In 2011, the market for English-language training was worth 46.3 billion yuan (S$9.4 billion), according to market data provider Beijing Zhongzhilin Information Technology.
Yet, as China’s economy matures, creating a domestic consumer class and home-grown companies to serve it, many Chinese such as Ms Wang see new job opportunities that do not require English. Meanwhile, some critics blame an overemphasis on English in schools for contributing to an erosion of Chinese skills in young people.
“We may be on the brink of a change of status in relation to English in China,” said Mr David Graddol, an education consultant based in Hong Kong. “In the past, the main driver of English has been the need to pass national exams. In the future, this may decline — but the need to be able to communicate in English may increase,” he said.
Earlier this year, a group of top Chinese universities, including Beijing Institute of Technology, dropped the English test requirement from their independent entrance examinations for study in some fields such as engineering.
Last month, education authorities in the city of Beijing announced proposals to reduce the weight given to English test scores in critical public examinations, including the college admissions tests, or gaokao.
Other provinces, including Shandong and Jiangsu, are looking at making modifications too.
Mr Wang Xuming, a former spokesman for China’s Education Ministry, had also called for an end to the teaching of English to very young children, suggesting more time to be given to the study of Chinese.
An editorial early last month in the nationalist daily The Global Times said it was time for China to cool down its English mania.
“It is time that we pour some cold water on the mania, reversing the tendency of excessive emphasis on English education and learning at an increasingly young age,” it said.
Still, Mr Christopher McCormick, head of EF Education First’s academic affairs and research network, said China is going from strength to strength in its drive to increase English language proficiency, especially considering the sheer size of the country and its population. But China cannot be complacent, he said.
Prominent English private tuition companies in China such as Zurich, Switzerland-based EF Education First and United States-listed New Oriental Education & Technology Group are following the English debate here closely.
In a recent conference call with investors, New Oriental President Louis Hsieh said the reallocation of gaokao points to Chinese and mathematics away from English was “obviously not a positive development for New Oriental”.
But he said the changes would not affect the company too much because English enhances employment chances. “How are these people going to find jobs if they don’t speak English?” he asked.
DOW JONES
