A Critical Analysis of Debates on the Role of English in China’s English Education Policy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1610.31Keywords:
English language policy, globalization, language ideology, English-medium instruction, multilingualismAbstract
Ideological debates concerning English in relation to indigenous language and culture have triggered controversies in China for over a century. While China embraces the economic benefits of English, discourses framing it as a threat to local culture persist, creating a dichotomy between nationalist perspectives and neoliberal instrumentalism. This paper evaluates these perspectives by analyzing key debates on English language policies, including the status of English in the Gaokao, English-Medium Instruction (EMI), and the value orientation of tertiary English education. It argues that such debates often rely on a false zero-sum mentality. Drawing on recent developments in the sociolinguistics of globalization, specifically English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) and multilingualism, this study proposes a paradigm shift. It suggests that English policy must move beyond the neoliberal-nationalist dichotomy, recognizing English as a global communicative resource that can coexist with, and even enhance, Chinese cultural identity when decoupled from native-speaker norms.
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