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Review of English as a medium of instruction in Chinese universities today: current trends and future directions

New language policies to promote multilingualism and language support for EMI will be needed in Chinese tertiary contexts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 August 2017

Fan (Gabriel) Fang
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Extract

The use of the English language in China, and especially in Chinese education has been increasing for several decades, despite various attitudes towards its use (Hu, 2009; Niu & Wolff, 2003; Wang, 2015). In the traditional perspective of world Englishes (Kachru, 1992), China lies in the expanding circle, where English is regarded as a foreign language. However, since China's implementation of the opening-up policy, the teaching of the English language has gained momentum by becoming a key subject in China's education system. Currently, policies in China make English a subject of study from grade three at primary school and as one of the three compulsory subjects in the national university entrance exam (Gaokao), and a compulsory course for university students of all majors (Hu, 2003; Li, 2016).

Type
Research Article
Information
English Today , Volume 34 , Issue 1 , March 2018 , pp. 32 - 37
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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