Language Priority Shift in Chinese Universities?

While Chinese students have long focused on mastering the English language to get a competitive edge for academic and professional success, there is a new, wider push in China to highlight South East Asian language courses. In a strategic move to bolster ties within the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Community by 2015, with the goal of producing a globally competitive and regionally integrated, single-market trade venture, the Chinese government has encouraged universities to open dozens of new courses in ASEAN member countries’ languages.

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For example, in the Yunnan province bordering Myanmar (Burma), Laos, and Vietnam, an ambitious South East Asian language initiative was recently launched that comprises all of the province’s 28 universities and approximately 100,000 students. The Yunnan province initiative is also novel in that it represents a shift in focus for the Chinese government, which has a penchant for exporting Chinese language learning to South East Asian neighbors rather than the other way around. ASEAN country languages will be marketed as alternatives to English in a country where some members of  the government are reportedly discomfited by the rise in English language dominance.

Although border provinces may be on board, the language shift is less likely to be felt in central urban areas any time soon. Education stakeholders note that besides the possible benefits of niche publicity for universities and extra space for intrepid, struggling students to secure a coveted university spot by committing to a minor language, English will likely remain the ASEAN lingua franca. According to a recent blog post from The New York Times, parents and students, not to mention entire municipalities, go to great lengths to assure success on China’s annual college entrance exam — from special oxygen canisters and supplements for students and the promise of elaborate gifts from parents to carefully orchestrated cheating rings and  city-wide limitations on noise and traffic. Moreover, a Chinese national newspaper recently reported data showing that  the number of  Chinese students wanting to study abroad in Western countries has increased by over 20% each year since 2008. With a reported 70% of Beijing’s high school students stating they would prefer to get a more competitive education overseas, the Chinese government may have reason for concern.

In light of this, government-funded, comprehensive education reform at the tertiary level might be a better focus than any particular language shift. Another joint New York Times story said that many Chinese students arriving at U.S. universities with high TOEFL (language test) scores had employed an unusual study method to get there: the rote memorization of thousands of vocabulary words and scripted test responses, which allows students with limited English proficiency to pass with flying colors. Thus, in China, the language of success remains in flux.

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Written by Lauren Riggs