USMC,

Posters on this forum, including myself, when criticizing elements of the Chinese education system are not generally trying to suggest "implementation of Western education systems within China". What is being generally suggested is that there are some serious, fundamental flaws within EFL education (and by extention the education system as a whole) that are glaringly obvious. Also, it has been suggested that it is in China's interest to fix these flaws in order for its young people to be able to reach their true potential. Measures taken to fix the obvious, glaring flaws in the system here, would also in the long term assist in the development and prosperity of China.

The main problems stem from the fact that Chinese education encourages students to focus on passing exams to almost the complete neglect of gaining knowledge, skills, and ability that will help young people to prosper in their future lives. This is a classic example of putting the cart before the horse. How much progress can be made with the horse BEHIND the cart? (not much unless you want to move backwards. lol).

In "Alcoholics Anonymous" meetings, the first thing that each substance abuser has to do after stating their name at the beginning of each gathering, is to publically acknowledge that they have a problem. For example, they might say "I am an alcoholic". If you had a good friend who you cared about very much, who was an alcoholic, plainly on his way to an early grave because he felt that he didn't have a problem, what would you say to him?

1. Don't worry, your downing of three bottles of whiskey a day, washed down with two bottles of brandy and a gallon of beer is no problem. You've always done this so you'll be ok. Carry on, there's nothing to worry about!

Or would you...

2. Tell him in no uncertain terms (preferably in a sober moment if possible) that he's a raging alcoholic who needs to give up alcohol if he wants to carry on living.

Now which reply would indicate that you genuinely cared about your friend?

In the same way, those FTS who criticize what is going on in Chinese education, particularly where it pertains to English learning are doing so with a view to HELPING China, and more specifically its young people, whose parents are paying a fortune to, hopefully, see their child educated.

A five-year old child, could, within a fortnight of arriving in China, quickly work out that there are some huge problems in Chinese education that need to be rapidly addressed. The symptons of these problems are obvious too. The fundamental problems are:

1. Priority given to passing exams over actual learning.
2. Too MANY exams.
3. Too little practical application of what is learnt in theory.
4. Too much emphasis on cramming a lot of information into student's heads in order to just pass exams.
5. Too little practice of communicating in English outside of the classroom.
6. Too much use of Chinese while students are supposed to be learning English.
7. Much to many classes, and exams, and much to much homework given to elementary, middle and high school students.
8. Too heavy a workload given to Chinese teachers; this often rendering them of little use in helping their students learn.
9. An effort in many cases to overwork FTs as well.
10. Many of those who are in a position to improve things because they generally have more freedom and less reason to be fearful (FTs), discouraged from coming over here, because real teachers often don't appear to be welcome.

The symptons of these glaring problems are also glaringly obvious; many students after ten years of "learning English" not being able to carry on basic IMPROMPTU conversations with native speakers of English. A huge number of young Chinese people who don't just hate ENGLISH but also EDUCATION as a whole. Tired, burnt-out, listless students who often can hardly keep awake in class. A huge proportion of young men and boys who are dangerously addicted to computer games (something that they often run to for refuge and escape). Students who have been so pushed through the system that they graduate with very little ability or skill, but mountains of certificates. Employers who are being increasingly frustrated to find students with degrees up to their eyeballs, yet finding said to be of little practical use in helping their companies to prosper. Scores of students who think that it's a waste of time to really learn, and that they should instead just focus on the superficial attainment of degrees. Scores of students who not only cheat in exams and class, but believe that it's acceptable to do so. There is more, but I'd better stop there.

The evidence that serious changes need to be made in Chinese education is overwhelming. If anybody who has taught English in China tells the education leaders "Don't worry. You're doing a great job. You don't need to change much. Just carry on what you are doing" surely that person cannot claim to be a friend of China, especially its students. This is not about implementing elements of Western education into the Chinese system, it's about addressing huge, obvious problems that need to be fixed. It's got nothing to do with East or West. You're right in a sense, though. A mixing of approaches used by FTs with the standard Chinese model, often doesn't work. That is mainly because those models are not being welded in the correct way, though.

FTs who want to address the problems of education in China are not trying to impose Western standards on China. They are simply offering obvious, commonsense, UNIVERSAL solutions, that do not BELONG to Western institutions. By doing this FTs are not China bashing, but showing that they care about the future of China and its young people. These solutions are needed to help more young people in China to really learn and gain useful, practical knowledge and ability that will help them and their country, China, truly blossom.