Language Education in China: Policy and Experience from 1949

by Agnes S. L. Lam

Overview

Language Education in China: Policy and Experience from 1949 is unprecedented as a comprehensive study of the multilingual circumstances in China.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789622097513
Publisher:	Hong Kong University Press
Publication date:	11/08/2005
Series:	Education in China: Reform and Diversity Series
Pages:	292
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Agnes S.L. Lam is an associate professor at the University of Hong Kong. She has published in the areas of bilingualism, multilingualism and language education.

Table of Contents

Illustrations     vii
Tables     ix
Preface     xiii
Introduction
Introduction     1
China in Recent History     2
Education in China     6
Language Policies in China     8
The Language Education in China Project     10
A Multilingual Approach to Language Education     17
Four Learners' Experiences     19
Relating Learner Experience to Policy Implementation     28
Summary     31
Propagating Standard Chinese
Introduction     33
The Standardization of Chinese     33
The Overall Experience of Han Chinese Learners     43
Four Case Histories     51
Teaching Chinese in China Today     59
Summary     70
Promoting English and Other Foreign Languages
Introduction     71
Foreign Language Policy from 1949     71
The Overall Experience of Han Chinese Learners     84
Four Case Histories     102
Foreign Language Teaching in China Today     113
Summary     121
Developing Minority Languages and Bilingualism
Introduction     123
Language Policy Towards Minorities     123
Codification of Minority Languages     130
The Overall Experience of Minority Learners     139
Seven Case Histories     155
Summary     173
Conclusion
Introduction     175
The Experience of Learners in China from 1949     175
Implications for the Study of Multilingualism     180
Current Language Education Trends in China     186
Directions for Further Research     196
Summary     198
Appendices
Questionnaire for the Survey of Han Chinese Learners     199
Interview Questions for Han Chinese Learners     224
Questionnaire for the Survey of Chinese Panel Heads (Primary Schools)     226
Questionnaire for the Survey of Foreign Languages Department Heads (Universities)     235
Interview Questions for English Panel Heads (Secondary Schools)     254
References     257
Index     269

Editorial Reviews

"... Language Education in China serves as a fitting introduction for anyone interested in multilingualism and bilingual education... It provides a refreshing balance to the large number of works devoted to bilingualism in English-speaking countries." – T

From the Publisher