In the 1980s China started to open up to the outside world. This is taken by many Chinese to mean "Westernisation" or "Americanisation". Now there is considerable debate about whether this is the right direction to take. How successful is the policy of encouraging the learning of English language in China? Here are some snippets taken from English-language publications in China.
From the China Daily [link no longer available] an article by Niu Chiang and Martin Wolff.
But an alarm bell has been sounded by such eminent scholars as Professor To Cho-yee of Hong Kong, who argues that the widespread study of English is a waste of valuable resources to the detriment of the study of Mandarin (cf. Shanghai Star 10-24-02, “English Dominance”).
Why does China so meekly submit to the English-based new world order emanating out of Washington, D.C., when 25% of the world’s population looks to Beijing for its leadership? 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?"
An article by Yaodong in BeBeyond [link no longer available]
1980s,at the begining of the reform and opening policy,english talents were scarcity.Speaking english fluently is glory and can make money easy.
The bulk of the English teaching is still conducted by Chinese teachers, mostly trained in a traditional way, the majority of whom have never been outside of China or talked to a native speaker.
from China View [link no longer available]
liutuo1234: China is probably one of the few countries in the world where learning English has almost become a national obsession. However, most people cost much but gain little. Our teaching and test systems have deviated from the initial purpose of English learning in that it teaches and encourages elite English instead of practical one. Beneficiaries are limited to those who intend to study overseas. Yet, to the millions who have little use of the language, it is a great waste of time, energy and resources.
Xianqijing: The problem is English is now used as a tool for various tests rather than a tool for communication. In Hong Kong, children in the kindergartens are speaking English. They are learning the language in the simplest way, by listening and speaking. Look at us in the mainland, even a graduate student cannot speak the language properly or read English newspapers after some 20 years' efforts. Why? It's because we pay too much attention on grammars.
Nanyangjun: Strongly advocating studying English while playing down thei importance of learning the mother tongue… are we going to have our education colonized? Educational authorities need to think over the issue. English is merely a tool after all…
Barry2000: Frankly, English is of little use in our daily life."
Whjlizhi: I absolutely oppose the practice of placing as much emphasis on learning English as on Chinese. It's a shame for a country with such a splendid culture to do so. It's not proper to require every Chinese to bent on learning English, especially when the learning is initiated and sponsored by government.
ylz01: I'm not very enthusiastic at English study. English is not my mother tongue. To me It's just a skill rather than knowledge. My mother tongue is Chinese. It's one of the most excellent and beautiful languages in the world. I love it!