The Evolution of Language Knowledge in China’s Compulsory Education English Curriculum Standards (1986–2022): Changes, Insights, and Implications

Qiong Chen; Pan Pan

doi:10.25159/1947-9417/18467

Authors

Qiong Chen Chongqing Normal University https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1967-1820
Pan Pan Chongqing Normal University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8128-1590

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25159/1947-9417/18467

Keywords:

Compulsory Education English Curriculum Standards (CEECS), NVivo, language knowledge (LK), English as foreign language instruction (EFLI), qualitative text analysis

Abstract

English as foreign language instruction (EFLI) in China has experienced an extended period of development and refinement, progressively advancing a higher level of sophistication. Due to the amplified global reach of English, China has instigated several educational policy reforms to enhance the quality of English instruction. This study identifies Compulsory Education English Curriculum Standards (CEECS) documents in China from 1986 to 2022 as research materials to comprehensively discern the holistic trajectory and essential impetus of the evolution in language knowledge (LK). Through qualitative textual analysis, it adopts NVivo software to code diachronic and structural changes in LK requisites across diverse levels and curricula, discern thematic elements, and visualise the evolution. The findings indicate that, in response to societal changes, the CEECS have evolved in both content and structure, with a gradual shift in the focus of LK from mere knowledge acquisition to the practical use of language. Drawing extensively from official documents, this study seeks to elucidate the changes of LK across successive iterations of the CEECS, explore underlying considerations, and furnish insights that can steer future directions in curriculum reform and support the upgrading of EFLI in China.

Author Biography

Pan Pan, Chongqing Normal University

I am an assistant professor, mainly undertaking the teaching of basic courses for the English major at the School of Foreign Languages, Chongqing Normal University. I am currently pursuing a PhD in Applied Linguistics at Nanjing University, a C9 university in China. My research focuses on second language teaching and evaluation, and I have extensive experience in designing and implementing research related to English as foreign language teaching and educational evaluation.

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