English learners need to speak out
Yu WentaoChina Daily  Updated: 2005-06-16 05:51

As soon as the National College Entrance Examination ended on June 9, a local newspaper in Hubei Province's Wuhan city invited five foreigners, including three native English speakers, to take the English section of the exam. None of them completed the test and their average mark was a disappointing 79 out of a possible 100.

What does this show? Does this mean Chinese students have a better grasp of the English language than even native speakers? Clearly this is not the case.

A Chinese student may score highly in an English test, but fail to have even a simple conversation with a native speaker. This may seem like a strange situation, but in fact it is quite common in China.

For years, Chinese schools have neglected practical training in their English teaching. English learners often spend too much time memorizing every single word and analyzing every single sentence. As a result, many Chinese students know everything about grammar, but cannot express themselves even in simple English. What they have learned is not "living" English, but "deaf-and-mute" English.

In most English tests, including the most influential CET4 and CET6 exams, more than half of the questions are multiple choice problems dealing with vocabulary and grammatical analysis of sentences. Aural comprehension covers only a small proportion of the important exams.

To prepare for the various examinations, students must read much guidance material and do countless guidance exercises. Though they get high marks in various English examinations, even higher than native speakers, they are at a loss when talking to foreigners. Even if they can speak a little, their expressions are not idiomatic and are often "Chinglish," or are simply incomprehensible.

Li Yang, a promoter of "Crazy English," points out that most Chinese learners are shy when speaking for fear of losing face when they make a mistake. He says students should practise speaking English in a loud voice, and even shout an English sentence in a crazy, exciting and high-pitched voice, alone or together with others.

Li Yang's now famous slogan, "I love losing face" has become the new but unusual way for young students to think about studying. His mantra encourages English learners not to be afraid of making grammatical mistakes, to disregard any mocking laughter, to be brave and even be a bit cheeky while speaking English.

Some Chinese professors and linguists have criticized Li Yang for going to extremes. For Chinese language students, grammar is vital, they claim. How can a student speak fluent English if he knows nothing about subjects, verbs and objects? If a student keeps speaking grammatically incorrect sentences, he will gradually get into bad habits, which will be difficult to change in the future.

Each side presents its evidence, but both are one-sided. Of course, grammar is important, even for native speakers. An English learner must have a clear idea of present and past tenses, active and passive voices, single and plural numbers. The key question is how to master grammar, to bury oneself in a grammar book or to learn grammar by listening and speaking.

Chinese teachers used to teach English with the "chalk plus talk" method. Students simply sat still in their seats, listening and taking notes. Teachers and students lacked interaction. As a result, English became an antique merely for appreciation, instead of a tool for communication and exchange of ideas.

But what is actually the best way for a Chinese to master English? "The short cut is to marry a native speaker," one foreigner from the United States joked. For many students the opportunity to study abroad in an English-speaking country is simply impossible. And many Chinese students will study English without the tutelage of a native speaker. But still, they can learn "living English" with audio-visual aids.

Well-equipped language laboratories in nearly every Chinese university are a promising step. Even in primary and middle schools, more useful foreign language teaching materials and equipment are slowly making their way into the classroom. Therefore, Chinese students are coming closer to mastering the foreign tongue.

The Ministry of Education has decided to reform the CET4 and CET6 exams. The future tests will emphasize aural comprehension, fast reading comprehension and creative English writing. Following the test reform, the teaching principles and methods will be adjusted accordingly in Chinese schools. Students will no longer just learn grammar and bookish English. They will pay special attention to listening and speaking, to idiomatic English, and to the language's application in social discourse.

(China Daily 06/16/2005 page4)

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