Impact of English on education reforms in China: with reference to the learn-English movement, the internationalisation of universities and the English language requirement in college entrance examinations

When China liberalised its economy and opened up to the (Western) world, it actively promoted the English language at schools and universities on a massive scale. This learn-English movement, riding on the back of English as the dominant international language, has powered English into China's...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of multilingual and multicultural development 2017-03, Vol.38 (3), p.192-205
Main Authors: Sun, James Jian-Min, Hu, Ping, Ng, Sik Hung
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Academic careers
Admission Criteria
China
Chinese languages
Citations
Citations (References)
Colleges & universities
Education policy
Education reform
Educational Change
English (Second Language)
English as an international language
English for academic purposes
English language
English-isation
Faculty Publishing
Foreign Countries
gaokao
Globalization
Institutional Evaluation
International Education
International languages
internationalisation of universities
Language Attitudes
Language Proficiency
Language Role
Language Usage
learn-English movement
Publishing
Reforms
Reputation
Second Language Instruction
Second Language Learning
Selective Admission
Self Concept
Social identity
Supporters
Surveys
Universities
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Summary:When China liberalised its economy and opened up to the (Western) world, it actively promoted the English language at schools and universities on a massive scale. This learn-English movement, riding on the back of English as the dominant international language, has powered English into China's education reforms. We outline the movement and discuss the impact of English on the internationalisation of China's elite universities and the college entrance examination (gaokao - 高考) based on, respectively, studies of the global ranking of China's universities and a large-scale online debate over the English language requirement in gaokao. The first study reveals the shadow of English-isation over the internationalisation of Chinese universities in an academic world where publishing and citations are dominated by the use of English. The second study uncovers, consistent with social identity theory, constructions of opposing arguments reflecting the protagonists' respective identities as pro- and anti-English supporters.
ISSN:0143-4632
1747-7557
DOI:10.1080/01434632.2015.1134551