Mapping Development and Challenges of Teaching Mandarin Chinese in England

Mandarin is a fast-growing language in England in the last decade. Although the development of the language is still at its initial stage, the establishment as one of the mainstream foreign languages promotes the learning of Mandarin, in particular in secondary schools. This paper is part of a wider research project about motivational strategies in Mandarin classrooms in England and presents the education policy in England since the 1990s, including changes of foreign language policies in the last three decades. It aims to provide a concrete foundation for the discussion of how the language policies have an impact on the development of teaching Mandarin Chinese in England. It also addresses the challenges of teaching Mandarin Chinese in the context of foreign language classrooms. Lastly, it concludes with suggestions for the future development of Mandarin Chinese in the next decade in England.

Keywords

England National Curriculum Modern Foreign Language (MFL) Mandarin as a foreign language language policy

source

International Journal of Chinese Language Education; Jun 2020; Issue No. 7; p.17 – 42

Publisher

Department of Chinese Language Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong
Chinese Language Program, Columbia University
Chung Hwa Book Co. (H.K.) Ltd.

Language

English

ISSN

2520-7733 (Print); 2521-4241 (Online)