我国基础教育阶段英语教育回眸与思考(一)——政策与目的

China's English language education at schools (PartⅠ):A review and reflections on its policies and goals

本文概述近半个世纪我国中小学英语教育以及宏观外语教育政策的演变,指出中小学英语教育的发展是在国家政治、经济、外交及社会等各种因素影响下不断调整和适应的过程。结合当今国外外语教育政策及国际政治生态,作者肯定目前我国外语(英语)教育政策的大方向,并讨论了基础教育阶段外语(英语)教育的目的,指出素质教育要求把外语(英语)教育的出发点和归宿放在促进学生心智发展、提高其人文素养上面,不应只考虑其实用目的。

This paper reviews China's English language education at schools sincc 1949,with special focus on its policy shifts.The authors point out that policy shifts are often motivated by the political,economical and social consider- ations of the time.By looking at the foreign language education policies of other nations and the international political environment,the authors argue that China's current foreign (English) language education policy is justi- fiable,but further longitudinal and systematic research is called for to confirm or modify the policy.The authors contend that in foreign (English) language education in China, multiple goals should also be set.Apart from de- veloping learners' ability to communicate with peoples of other cultures,priority should be given to developing their ability to understand,interpret and analyze critically information and ideas beyond the borders.Humanistic virtues of studying a foreign language should be appreciated.