3.4 Suggestions on English teaching modes in China:
Through the comparative study in Chinese and American Educational Mode, we considered that we should pay attention to improving our English teaching mode in China by following suggestions:
(1) More money and attention should be put into English teaching.
Funding for teaching is always a weak point, especially in English teaching: (a) Lack of language labs and multi-media classrooms, means students have not enough time to practice English ;(b) the quality and quantity of English teachers need to be improved. At present, public college English teachers are mostly young postgraduates who need to improve their teaching methods and quality. Universities should pay more attention to teachers’ training, and their subsidies.
(2) More studies should be done on the reform of public college English teaching. For example, studies on teaching and hearing methods, facilities on the Internet, test systems, new textbooks and excellent textbooks from abroad, English teaching systems and reforming of courses.
(3) Evaluation and test systems need to be improved.
Recently, all kinds of evaluation and test systems have appeared, among which TOEFL and GRE from America, CET Band 4 and CET Band 6 from China are very popular. Passing TOEFL and GRE is the key for Chinese students to go abroad to continue their studies. With the opening of some special training schools, grades may not reflect the students’ true English level. These tests do not influence students’ graduation and job selection, so they are not severely criticized. As for CET Band 4 and CET Band 6, two opinions exist. People who approve of them believe that they function as a bridge which links students’ English level and their future. Meanwhile, these tests encourage teachers to improve their methods so as to achieve higher grades. In short, these tests help improve teachers’ teaching methods and students’ English levels, thus benefiting both. In the long run, they will benefit society.
People who oppose these tests argue that teachers and students pay so much attention to preparing for CET Band 4 and CET Band 6 that they neglect to cultivate the students’ communication skills. They complained that some students passed CET Band 4 and even 6, but they couldn’t speak and write well in English. Although they knew how to pass these tests, they did not digest what they had learned.
(4)English education through the introduction of its culture.
What we need behind English education is to open the students’ eyes through the introduction of western culture. English as a language is derived from its root culture. First of all, we should learn the history of English. Then, we can understand how English developed into what it is today. History also helps us understand the elements of English itself, such as synonyms. “Culture” is such a big concept, as it covers literature, art, religion, philosophy, science, social science, etc.
Through introducing culture, we can see a picture with a background. As for teachers, they should introduce the cultural background first, and then teach some knowledge of English. This will help students understand what they learned deeply and arouse their interest in exploring knowledge behind the language, so students may develop the habit of learning through the background.
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