外媒看中國:北京高考英語改革
Beijing education authorities plan to de-emphasise English scores on standardised tests, a sign that China's obsession with the language may be waning.
北京的教育官員計劃降低英語在高校標準入學考試中的重要性,這一舉措或標誌着中國的英語熱開始降溫。The Beijing municipal commission of education plans to reduce the English section of the all-important college admissions test, the Gaokao, from 150 points to 100 points in major cities by 2016, China's official newswire Xinhua reported.
據中國官方媒體新華社報道,北京市教育委員會計劃減少英語科目在高考中的分值,從150分下降到100分,這一政策將自2016年起在全國主要城市開始實施。It will boost the value of the Chinese section from 150 to 180 points. Currently, the test weighs English, Chinese and maths equally.
高考改革還會將語文科目的分值從150分提高到180分。目前,英語、語文和數學三門科目的分值是相同的。
Officials have spun the proposal as both a practical decision and a matter of national pride. "The change highlights the fundamental importance of mother tongue in the curriculum," a representative from the commission told Xinhua.
中國官員稱此舉既是從實際需要出發,又可以弘揚國粹。北京市教育委員會一位發言人對新華社記者說,“這個改革將凸顯高中課程中語文學科基礎性的重要地位。”Education authorities are also considering scrapping mandatory English lessons before the third grade. They currently begin on the first day of primary school.
教育官員還考慮去掉小學階段三年級以前的英語課程。目前小學課程中的英語課是從入學第一天就開始的。Shandong and Jiangsu provinces, as well as Shanghai, may remove English from the Gaokao entirely. Public consultation on the proposal began on Monday, Xinhua reported.
據新華社報道,山東、江蘇、上海等省市可能將英語考試從高考中徹底去除。關於這一舉措的公衆諮詢將於下週一開始。Xinhua called the proposals "no more than a minor tweak", emphasising that they would change the way that English is taught without diminishing its importance.
新華社稱高考英語改革“僅僅是一個小調整”,並強調英語教育方式的改變並不會減少英語教育的重要性。