At present, in the compulsory education in the mainland, language, mathematics and English are the three main subjects that must be learned, but with the controversy over English teaching in recent years, many people have called for the abolition of English as the main subject. However, if we think deeply about this issue, we will find that the relegation of English to a minor subject may make English the "aristocratic language" of today's society, exacerbating educational inequality and the solidification of social classes.
First of all, the downgrading of English to a minor subject means that students will spend significantly less time in school for English education. For those students whose families are financially well-off and can afford extracurricular English training, this will not be too much of a problem. However, for students whose families are financially disadvantaged and cannot afford extracurricular English training, this will put them at a greater disadvantage in English learning. In the long run, English will become the exclusive advantage of the wealthy and privileged, exacerbating social inequality.
It is also believed that changing English to a minor subject can help reduce the burden on students and give them more time to focus on other subjects. If we overemphasize the importance of one subject and ignore the value of others, it can lead to an imbalance in the knowledge structure of students. Therefore, the key issue is not whether to make English a minor subject, but how to balance the status and role of various subjects in students' education.
Secondly, the downgrading of English to a minor subject may lead to a decline in the level of English teaching. English is an international language, and it is essential for talents in the era of globalization to be proficient in English. However, if English is no longer the main subject, there is a high risk that schools will reduce their investment in English language teaching, resulting in a decline in the quality of English language teaching. This will affect the future international competitiveness of mainland students, putting them at a disadvantage in the international arena.
Finally, the downgrading of English to a minor subject may affect the mainland's international exchanges and cooperation. English is the lingua franca of the international community, and proficiency in English is the basis for communication and cooperation between the mainland and other countries in the world. If the status of English education declines, it may lead to the weakening of the mainland's ability in international communication and cooperation, and affect the mainland's international status and image.
Abolishing the status of English as a major subject and downgrading it to a minor subject may seem like a wise move to reduce the burden on students, but in fact it may put mainland education in a difficult situation. We should attach importance to English education and ensure that all students can receive English education equally, so as to cultivate more internationally competitive talents for the mainland and promote social progress and development.
Source: New Beginnings
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