A Critical Review of ‘English’ in China’s English Education: How Far Can Chinese Teachers Embrace ELF?

Authors

  • Ying Wang University of Southampton
  • Yang-Yu Wang University of Southampton

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13133/2239-1983/17134

Abstract

While ELF research offers implications for English pedagogy in non-native English contexts, research needs to be done to understand the feasibility of ELF-oriented classroom practices in specific local contexts to concretise a proposal for ELF pedagogy. We consider classroom teaching in the educational context where language policy interacts with language perceptions and practices, seeking to understand the extent to which Chinese teachers can embrace ELF. With a focus on teacher agency, the study explores language policy, classroom practice and teacher perspectives on English as a subject matter of English education. The findings point to the discussion of the interaction between teacher agency and policy constraints. The article ends with the suggestion that the approach to English in China's education policy should be reconsidered and that the debates on ELF in relation to Chinese speakers are necessary for possible changes in education policy.

Author Biographies

Ying Wang, University of Southampton

Ying Wang is Lecturer Applied Linguistics (Global Englishes) in the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics at the University of Southampton. Her research interest includes ELF, Global Englishes, language ideologies and English education in the context of China. She has a monograph entitled Language ideologies in the Chinese context: orientations to ELF to be published by De Gruyter Mouton in 2020.

Yang-Yu Wang, University of Southampton

Yang-Yu Wang completed her PhD recently in the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics at the University of Southampton. Her research interest includes ELF, Global Englishes, language policy and English education in China.

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Published

2020-11-01

How to Cite

Wang, Y., & Wang, Y.-Y. (2020). A Critical Review of ‘English’ in China’s English Education: How Far Can Chinese Teachers Embrace ELF?. Status Quaestionis, 2(19). https://doi.org/10.13133/2239-1983/17134

Issue

No. 19 (2020): An Interdisciplinary Approach to English as a Lingua Franca

Section

Articles

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