高考科目改革:为什么首先是英语?

Why Is English Course Pushed Ahead during the Call for the Reform of the National College Entrance Examinations?

英语在高考中的地位经历过跌宕起伏,在高考中的分值经历了一个逐渐增加的过程。1999年高考开始推行3加X科目改革之后,中国的高考进入有史以来最重视英语的时期。高考高度重视英语,导致占用学生过多的时间和精力、加速学生中性别比的不平衡、出现重英语轻母语的现象、不利于城乡教育公平等问题。目前对英语的重视已经到了无以复加的程度,物极必反,有必要对高考英语科目进行调整。对高考英语科目进行改革是大势所趋,顺应民意。英语是最有条件或有可能试行一年多考的科目,改革高考英语科目不足为奇,我们还是应该用平常心看待,不必作过度的解读。当英语考试不再成为众矢之的,而是回归其应有地位的时候,也就是高考英语科目进入良性发展阶段的时候。

English, as a test subject in Gaokao(College Entrance Exam), has experienced ups and downs, and its score value has undergone a gradual increase process. Since the '3+x' reform program commenced in 1999, English has been in its prime time in Gaokao. Due to its great importance in Gaokao, students have budgeted too much time and energy, thus resulting in imbalance in gender ratio, unfairness in urban and rural education, and giving priority to English over their mother tongue. At present, it is necessary to make some adjustments in this test subject to rectify the phenomenon, because English is the most probable subject to be tested several times a year. We should deal with this issue in a calm manner and not make much ado.Only when the English exam does not become a target for all and only when it returns to its proper track will it be the time for the test subject to be in the benign stage.