外媒看中國：北京高考英語改革

Beijing education authorities plan to de-emphasise English scores on standardised tests, a sign that China's obsession with the language may be waning.
北京的教育官員計劃降低英語在高校標準入學考試中的重要性，這一舉措或標誌著中國的英語熱開始降溫。


The Beijing municipal commission of education plans to reduce the English section of the all-important college admissions test, the Gaokao, from 150 points to 100 points in major cities by 2016, China's official newswire Xinhua reported.
據中國官方媒體新華社報道，北京市教育委員會計劃減少英語科目在高考中的分值，從150分下降到100分，這一政策將自2016年起在全國主要城市開始實施。


It will boost the value of the Chinese section from 150 to 180 points. Currently, the test weighs English, Chinese and maths equally.
高考改革還會將語文科目的分值從150分提高到180分。目前，英語、語文和數學三門科目的分值是相同的。
Officials have spun the proposal as both a practical decision and a matter of national pride. "The change highlights the fundamental importance of mother tongue in the curriculum," a representative from the commission told Xinhua.
中國官員稱此舉既是從實際需要出發，又可以弘揚國粹。北京市教育委員會一位發言人對新華社記者說，「這個改革將凸顯高中課程中語文學科基礎性的重要地位。」


Education authorities are also considering scrapping mandatory English lessons before the third grade. They currently begin on the first day of primary school.
教育官員還考慮去掉小學階段三年級以前的英語課程。目前小學課程中的英語課是從入學第一天就開始的。


Shandong and Jiangsu provinces, as well as Shanghai, may remove English from the Gaokao entirely. Public consultation on the proposal began on Monday, Xinhua reported.
據新華社報道，山東、江蘇、上海等省市可能將英語考試從高考中徹底去除。關於這一舉措的公眾諮詢將於下周一開始。


Xinhua called the proposals "no more than a minor tweak", emphasising that they would change the way that English is taught without diminishing its importance.
新華社稱高考英語改革「僅僅是一個小調整」，並強調英語教育方式的改變並不會減少英語教育的重要性。