Category Archives: China

Language and social distance

  Most traditonal language teaching focused on grammar, tests, and structures – the forms, in other words - often to the exclusion of the way that people actually spoke the target language.  This practice remains very much the focus of language teaching in China. … Continue reading

Posted in China, Language | 16 Comments

Stunted

In this New York Times article, David Brooks describes the relationship between China’s ruling elite and its school system. The ‘phenomenal feats of memorization to learn the Chinese characters’ are symptomatic of the ends and means of Chinese education – churning … Continue reading

Posted in China | 5 Comments