Shats’ka О. P. Teaching Foreign Languages in China

Shats’ka О. P., Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Teaching Assistant, Foreign Languages Department, National Transport University (Kyiv)

Abstract
The article is devoted to the teaching of foreign languages in China from ancient times to the present days. It describes the emergence of first educational institutions devoted to teaching foreign languages and outlines domineering approaches to teaching foreign languages in different historical epochs.
The author showcases a curriculum of a Chinese higher education institution to demonstrate the range of subjects relating to foreign languages. An example of the integration of electronic communication into the process of teaching foreign languages (web sites, language educational software, online journals, electronic libraries, etc.) is given. The advantages of information and communications technology in learning and teaching English are shown. The assessment of foreign language learning outcomes of undergraduate and postgraduate students in China is reported to be conducted on the basis of a national English as a foreign language test, known as College English Test (CET 4 and CET 6).
The article points to the fact that Chinese students take elevated interest in studying foreign languages. Author’s analysis suggests that they enjoy access to a wide range of English-language websites. The introduction of different means of the development of educational activities of students using new technologies (media, TV, Internet, online lessons, etc.), which have proved to be effective means of teaching/leaning foreign languages, marks the shift from “teacher-centered” to “student-centered” educational models.
Further research in this area can be devoted to the investigation of the peculiarities of learning foreign languages by engineering and technical students in Chinese universities.

References

1. Min Weifang. Sovremennye Tendentcii Razvitiya Vyshchego Obrazovaniya v Kitaye [Modern Trends of the Development of Higher Education in China]. Al'ma Mater. 2001.  No. 1. Pp. 38 – 40. (rus)
2. Guofeng Wang. The Application of E-mail to College English Teaching in China. English Language Teaching. 2010 (June).  Vol. 3, No. 2. Pp. 129 – 134.
3. Ke Zhang. China’s online education: rhetoric and realities, retrieved from:
   http://www.corwin.com/upmdata/7412_1_China's_Online_Education.pdf
4. Liang Wang, James A. Coleman. A survey of Internet-mediated intercultural foreign language education in China realities, retrieved from: http://oro.open.ac.uk/ 18779/ 1/ A_Survey_of_ Internetmediated_ intercultural_ foreign_language_ education_ in _China.pdf
5. Ling Jiang, Kai Sun. Task-based Approach in College English Teaching of Digital-based Context. Modern Education and Computer Science. 2010.  No 1. Pp. 32 – 39 from: http://www.mecs-press.org/
6. Miroslav Trajanovic, Dragan Domazet, Biljana Misic-Ilic. Distance learning and foreign language teaching, retrieved from: http://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/docs/00/19/00/64/PDF/441-452.pdf
7. Qiang Zhu. China Academic Library and Information System: Current Situation and Future Development, retrieved from:
   http://www.uri.edu/personal/ yanma/ 597cl/ chinaacademiclibrarieszhuqiang.pdf
8. Teaching English for Special Purposes Aided by E-learning Platform, retrieved from: http://elexforum.hbmeu.ac.ae/Proceeding/PDF/Teaching%20English%20for%20Special%20Purposes.pdf
9. Xiao Long-Fu. Teaching English. Cultural Background: introducing the target culture into the Chinese Secondary School English classes, retrieved from: http://acta.uta.fi/pdf/951-44-5034-5.pdf
10. Ying Fu, Lixia Zhao, Fei Ye. Construction and Application of Virtual Teaching Platform of Special English for Applied Chemistry. Education and Management Engineering.  2012. No. 2.  Pp. 54 – 58, retrieved from: http://www.mecs-press.net/ijeme
11. Yunsheng Zhong. A Study of Autonomy English Learning on the Internet. English language teaching. 2008. Vol.1, No. 2. Pp. 147 – 150.
12. 

Full text (PDF)...>>