作者:校园英语杂志社 字数:3119 点击:

  【Abstract】College English Curriculum Requirements is a policy to keep up with the new developments of higher education in China. In this paper, we are concerned about the general overview of this policy and how the key policy points are related to digitally-mediated learning. More specifically, we are focused on the strengths and weaknesses of implications of the policy for digital practices.
  【Key words】College English Curriculum Requirements; Digitally Mediated Learning; strengths and weaknesses
  1. Overview
  College English Curriculum Requirements is a policy formulated by the experts organized by Chinese Ministry of Education and published by Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press in 2007. It is regarded as the main basis for universities to carry out English teaching for non-English major students in China. The main aim of this policy is to promote the reform of college English education, to improve the quality of English education in Chinese universities, and to meet the needs of talent cultivation in the new era in China.
  2. The key policy points related to digitally-mediated learning
  Many key points which related to digitally-mediated learning are included in the policy. Firstly, it requires colleges and universities to make full use of modern information technology and to improve teacher-oriented teaching model based on the computer teaching model. Secondly,, colleges and universities should explore a Web-based listening and speaking course based on students’ proficiency and schools’ condition. In addition, in order to carry out the new model, an e-learning system should be improved, including language teaching, language learning, feedbacks, and a complete process of management.
  3. An analysis of the implications of the policy for digital practices
  3.1 Strengths
  Thomas and Thomas (2012) highlighted the rapid development in communication technology in the three late decades in China, especially Web 2.0 and other social media platforms, have an influential effect on the international communication among people. This is why more and more technologies are used in language education, such as PowerPoint, e-mails, and etc (Hawawini, 2005). One of the advantages of these new technologies is that they provide a much more flexible learning approach. In the recent years, after China entering World Trade Organization and holding the Olympic Games, there is an urgent need for “a more modern educational system that prepares people to interact with a global society” (p. 303, Fang & Warschauer, 2004). I think students could have a much broader global view of the modern world by using different media platforms, such as YouTube, Facebook, and etc. In addition, it saves teachers’ time if they can answer the questions and guide students’ performance online, regarding to the large class fact in China, online guidance is more flexible in time and place.