Beijing, Nov. 2, (Xinhuanet) -- It is reported that China will spend three years to set up an English grading system in middle schools. At present, new English textbooks and English grading standard are under deliberation. A training program aimed at teachers is underway
since this year's summer vacation. A student of Grade 9 at the top of the new
English grading standard is required to master 5,000 English vocabularies, which
is more than two times of current vocabulary standard for high school graduates.
High school students are required to have English of Grade 7 when they graduate.
For taking part in college entrance examinations, their English must reach Grade
8.
Chinese children nowadays have started to learn English from the
third grade in primary school, the time when they still know little about their
mother language. And they'll keep learning English during the whole period of
schooling and their English standard may even influence their jobs, promotion as
well their lives in the future. From primary school to graduate school, English
is always the must-be-tested subject. After graduation, English will also be
required for employment, promotion and professional evaluations.
Too much time spent on English
Learning English
needs a language environment. Without it, people have to spend a lot more time
on memorizing. For many of the learners, even they have tried hard, they still
achieve very little.
"I read nothing but English during my free time,"
said Xiao Zhong, a postgraduate from the Economic Department of Beijing Normal University, "but my listening comprehension and oral English remained far
behind satisfaction."
A girl had to take the graduate school entrance
examinations five times because of failure in English in the four previous
yours, although she had excellent records for her major subjects. "During the
past five years, I had spent 80 percent of my time on studying English until
finally past the examination," she complained. She said that if she had spent
the time on her major subjects, she might have great progress in her studies.
Professor Gu Haibing from the National Economic Management Department
of Remin University of China said that for most people who had finished
nine-year compulsory education, it is impossible or unnecessary to be excellent
in all the subjects, given the current circumstances that professions are all
meticulous divided. We suppose the study cost (time) on basic subjects are the
same, if a person spends more time on English and his time on other subjects
will be less. The result is that the person masters neither English nor other
subjects. It will inevitably reduce the efficiency of learning.
Measurement of talent?
Currently, no matter at
school or in companies, English seems to have become the top priority to judge
one's talent.
According to Professor Gu, the measurement of a talent
should not be based on any man-made standard. However, at present, people who
cannot speak English are considered as second-class talents; people who cannot
write in English are third-class talents; and those who know nothing about
English are not talents at all. People who know neither English nor computer are
simply blockheads. A look at Chinese school education shows that English is the
only compulsory curriculum during the 20-year-long schooling from primary school
through to graduate school.
The English grading system has deviated
from its original purpose that requires primary and middle school students
"paying more attention to practical capability in English, so that they are not
just learning the words but can listen to and speak English.
Some
professionals believe that as long as one knows 1,000 to 2,000 vocabularies,
basic grammars, simple dialogues and the way to check into a dictionary or
relevant software, he or she would be able to use English as an important tool
in their future work and studies.
Proper status and correct study methods
According to Professor Gu Haibin, for English study, especially the study
of spoken English, practice is very important. Without practice, the level of
oral English of some people who have studied English for many years may not
match those vendors at the foot of the Great Wall who often speak English with
foreigners while hawking their commodities.
Here is the dilemma: on
the one hand English is compulsory in school, on the other hand, there is no
language environment in the society.
Research shows that in English
learning, the older the student, the higher the cost, or the lower the
efficiency. The study of English, especially oral English, should be tackled
during the period of middle school rather than that of graduate school or PH.D.
programs.
Currently, the English teaching in colleges and universities
is not at a higher level, but only a repetition of what the students leaned in
high school. And again, the English class for postgraduates is a repetition of
their college classes. The students take the course only for passing the
examinations. The real meaning of English learning no longer exists.
An investigation shows over 95 percent of Chinese college students
will not use oral English in their whole lifetime nor will they read any English
materials. Most people only need to check second-handed references in their work
and the number of English-Chinese experts required nationwide is after all
limited. Enditem
(China.org.cn)
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