e-magazine
A Sea of Storms
Viet Nam's provocative actions not only disrespect China's sovereignty, but also jeopardize order in the region
Current Issue
· Table of Contents
· Editor's Desk
· Previous Issues
· Subscribe to Mag
Subscribe Now >>
Expert's View
World
Nation
Business
Finance
Market Watch
Legal-Ease
North American Report
Forum
Government Documents
Expat's Eye
Health
Science/Technology
Lifestyle
Books
Movies
Backgrounders
Special
Photo Gallery
Blogs
Reader's Service
Learning with
'Beijing Review'
E-mail us
RSS Feeds
PDF Edition
Web-magazine
Reader's Letters
Make Beijing Review your homepage
Forum
Print Edition> Forum
UPDATED: June 8, 2014 NO. 24 JUNE 12, 2014
Should English Be Taken Out of the Gaokao?
Share

Guo Yingjian (The Beijing News): If English tests are to be organized by social institutions, is the test result still authoritative? When the score of English test is still used for college admission, instead of just a simple reference, is gaokao still authoritative when another subject organized by social organizations counts?

When English is tested in other ways, who is supposed to take charge of this important test? How will the test be standardized so that it will fully reflect a student's English level? How can we improve the new testing system, so as to ensure fairness?

Once English tests are organized by social organizations instead of being part of gaokao, it will trigger many issues for English education in schools, including elementary and higher education. Students may begin to pay less attention to and even neglect English as a subject. Meanwhile, although it's said that there will be more than one English test throughout the year, this may put more pressure on students, instead of relieving them of hard work on English learning. Finally, some teachers of English will begin to worry that they might lose their jobs in the future.

Problems concerning education fairness may rise as well. Although we can't see it now, sooner or later, we'll see the negative consequence. Therefore, it's important for the government to decide how to come up with measures ahead of time.

Wu Fei (The Beijing News): English will not become less important just because the test is organized by social organizations. When the tests are conducted several times a year, there will be many positive results. For instance, if a student is capable of passing the test during the second year of senior high school, then he can spend more time on other subjects like Chinese and mathematics for the rest of their time in high school. Also, if a student is concentrating on certain subject he is very interested in, he may choose not to take the English test at this time. As part of gaokao, the test can only be taken once a year. More importantly, one can choose the highest score out of many attempts for their college admission.

Over the past decade or so, Chinese students have been required to learn English since primary school, and in college, they have to pass College English Test-4 (CET-4) and some also have to sit for the CET-6. They spent too much time learning English. It's great for the ordinary people to learn one or two foreign languages as it is also part of being a modern citizen of the world. However, more important is to improve teachers' English teaching capability, so that students will know how to use the language they've spent so much time learning. Students also have other subjects and skills they must learn aside from English.

Reforms on the education system must be conducted carefully, as it might affect a student's whole life. Their personal interests and further development of students in the future cannot be neglected.

Mao Jianguo (Shanxi Evening News): While English is becoming increasingly popular in China, voices critical of the craze for English learning are also rising. In general, Chinese students spare no efforts to learn English, but their practical ability of using the language has not improved much after years' of hard work. A large number of students are still at the stage of being able to read and write, but they cannot speak well. Against this backdrop, the new round of reform on English education and tests is started.

Some people are afraid that the reform will increase tuition fees. These worries are not groundless. When English tests are done by social organizations, test-organizing institutions may well become a huge interest group. Tutorial or cram classes will develop fast. As a result, the expense of English learning and tests will exceed current amount.

Another worry is that instead of being relieved of schoolwork, students may have to face up to even heavier pressure. Although English tests are to be done by social organizations, test results will still be referred to in college entrance examination. In this case, students will keep taking tutorial class and keep taking English tests until they achieve the most satisfactory result. This will add more pressure on students.

For so many years, the way English education in China has been criticized. One of the big reasons is that under the examination-oriented education method, the importance of English is raised repeatedly, and students are almost driven to take too many English tests, big and small. That is why, although they have achieved high scores, many students are ultimately incapable of communicating in English. However, if they are able to take English tests more than once, students will feel less pressure, as they will have more opportunities.

There surely will be some problems, but it's unacceptable to give up the reform just because of these issues. There are always solutions for problems, as long as relevant departments really work hard to cope with them.

Email us at: zanjifang@bjreview.com

   Previous   1   2  



 
Top Story
-Viet Nam's Worrisome Stance
-A No-Win Situation
-Examining English
-On the Reform of English Testing
-Special Coverage: Taking Out Terrorism
Most Popular
在线翻译
About BEIJINGREVIEW | About beijingreview.com | Rss Feeds | Contact us | Advertising | Subscribe & Service | Make Beijing Review your homepage
Copyright Beijing Review All right reserved