The Lowdown on China’s Higher Education

Book excerpt: “Obviously, you are not chanting the exultations of China which many of my country people are used to listening to.” A Chinese scholar recognizes that this book is not a further attempt to curry favor with China by tickling its leaders’ ears. This book examines what is right and the truth about what is wrong with English language education in Chinese colleges and universities. As our Chinese colleague further states, “Most Chinese are learning English like one learning swimming ashore.” We have been writing about these shortcomings for ten years. It arises because administrators posted to their positions due to party affiliation and good standing, are basically ignorant of administration and educational matters. “The VIPs of EEC believe that they know, while they don’t, what are under their supervision; the professionals of EEC believe that what they are doing academically is helpful while it’s not. The two types are making the common non-professional people believe that they are knowingly reliable while they are not. . . . The educated, as well as the illiterate, do not know what to do and what not to do, what is correct and what is wrong, what is worthy and what is not, etc. The weakness, from the historical perspective, is also a consequence of modern Chinese history whose knowledge most Chinese people are poor at but reluctant to admit.” This book could not be published within China due to its truthfulness.