October 5, 2004

Trend: China changes English study methods to bring in business

China is so keen to play on the world business stage that it is revamping English teaching at all educational levels, says a Purdue University professor who often lectures there.

While Chinese students have studied English grammar for years, they have primarily relied on memorizing grammatical rules and constructing accurate written sentences, which is how the Chinese language's complex character system has been learned for generations. But such methods of study give those students little knowledge of how to speak conversational English, which can put Chinese businesses at a disadvantage during negotiations, according to Purdue's Margie Berns.

"The Chinese are adopting these new methods because they realize spoken English can improve their ability to conduct international business," says Berns, professor of English as a second language (ESL) and director of Purdue's ESL graduate program. "They realize that during face-to-face discussions, verbal communication is critical for success, and they must improve their speaking skills if they are to increase their market share."

Practical changes in the classroom include opportunities for spontaneous speech in English rather than repetition of memorized dialogues, the adoption of reading materials taken from American print media rather than texts written just for language learners, and the incorporation of skills necessary for cross-cultural communication, Berns said.

Berns has been traveling to China for the past six years to help ESL teachers there adopt the new methods. She says her audiences are receptive despite the cultural challenge that the new ideas present.

"Chinese schools are frequently organized around lectures alone, during which students do not interact much with the teachers or each other," she said. "It may take some effort for them to change an educational style that has become so ingrained, but their willingness to adapt is marvelous."

CONTACT: Berns, (765) 494-3769, mberns@sla.purdue.edu

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