The New York Times reported on a recent social media post by a math teacher in China, Tang Jiafeng, who made a case for English being optional; not required of Chinese students. As AI translation tools improve, and young people face uncertain job prospects, Jiafeng’s post revived a recurring debate: Should schools reduce mandatory English instruction?
Since the late 1970s, China has made English a core subject alongside math and Chinese in an effort to prepare students to engage with the world. English receives significant classroom time as well as weight on China’s college entrance exam.
Some parents and teachers praised Tang’s post, arguing that the test-heavy English curriculum often fails to produce proficiency and adds to students’ already demanding workloads. For others, making English less of a priority would be a step backward, the article reports.
Gina Tam, Ph.D., an associate professor of history at Trinity University told the Times in an email interview that the debate about English education hints at a larger question: What does the current economy have to offer Chinese students after they graduate?
“When young people are feeling particularly economically precarious,” Tam wrote, “is the ability to engage with global audiences with English going to be a marketable skill for Chinese young people? Or is it going to be superfluous?”
Tam went on to say that the debate reflects two visions of China: a global leader or a powerful nation state. “Whether excited or anxious, people realize we are at a global crossroads,” she said.
You can read the entire article here.