Research On The Development Of College English Education Policy In China

The research on the development of College English education policy,which conforms to the requirements of the current reform of higher education in China,is an important means of implementing national education developing plan,cultivating international talents with high quality,and promoting international cooperation and exchanges in education.In theory,it may enrich and develop the theoretical system of College English education policy,guide and promote the discipline construction of College English education in China.In practice,it may improve and develop the policy of College English education,as well as standardize and guide the reform of College English teaching in China.Scholars at home and abroad have carried out some research on College English education policy.Foreign research involves many topics,such as the study of policy evolution,the study of policy problems,and the comparative study of policy between different countries and regions.From 2010 to 2018,foreign scholars have paid continuous attention to the "arid zone" of language education policy,such as identity,discourse,language planning,and globalization management.Literature in China covers the history of policy,the problems of policy development,and the impact of cultural environment,meanwhile the research on policy problems and countermeasures has attracted much attention.Generally speaking,there exists some limitations in relevant exploration on this topic,such as lack of dynamics of research objects,lack of openness of research horizon,lack of systematic research content and lack of diversity of research methods,which just leaves a broader breakthrough space for this study.Following the logical train of finding problems,analyzing problems and solving problems,this study adopts the methods of literature review,historical research,investigation and comparative research to sort out the development process of policy,investigates the cognition and practice of policies,explores policy development trends and offers suggestions in the context of cultural globalization.College English education policy is a code of conduct and action for college English education formulated by the government authorities for realizing the goals and fulfilling the tasks of College English education,coordinating various educational relations,regulating the distribution of educational interests,and aiming at the practical problems of College English education.In the light of operational logic,a new theoretical analysis framework is proposed in this study,which includes:diachronic analysis of policy development process,ontology analysis of the basic content of policy,and correlation analysis of policy influencing factors.Thus,the cultural ecosystem of College English education policy is constructed.This system is a subject-centered,service-oriented,sustainable developing system,which integrates macro and micro perspectives.In the process of development and evolution,the system structure is constantly adjusting,which directly affects and restricts the effect of College English education.The value focus,function scope and operation mechanism of College English policy are different in different periods.They all play different roles objectively in the operation of cultural ecosystem.Considering the "political" and "professional" attributes of College English education policy,taking major political events as "critical point of time" and major policy documents as "core markers",this study roughly divides the development process of College English education policy into three periods and six stages.During the period of establishment and slow-moving(from the beginning of the founding of the PRC to the end of the Cultural Revolution),the policy fully embodied the "political" color.During the period of transformation and integration(from the Reform and Opening Up to the end of the 20 th century),the policy highlighted the "economic" function.During the period of optimization and prosperity(from the early21 st century to the new era),the policy has given more play to its "educational" value.Each period can be further divided into more specific stages.No matter in what period or stage,the characteristics of culture always seem slightly inadequate.Based on the cognition,execution,effect evaluation,problem attribution and expectation of College English education policy,this study has designed a Questionnaire on College English Education Policy,conducted a network survey of1243 College English teachers from all over the country,and has done in-depth interviews with six experts from the Steering Committee of College Foreign Language Teaching of the Ministry of Education.The study finds that there exists a significant correlation between teachers' perception,implementation,attribution and the effect evaluation of College English education policy.Meanwhile,some problems are found,such as the policy is unrealistic and lack of student-centered awareness,as well as hysteresis and lack of coherence in policy making;the publicity and learning of policy is inadequate and the implementation in different colleges is lack of consensus;the evaluation mechanism of policy is inappropriate and the cultural orientation of policy is not prominent and significant.It is expected that policy making and revision should be scientifically standardized and handed over to professionals;democratization in the process of decision-making should be strengthened and policy orientation should be optimized;the policy should be more refined in text and more diversified in implementation;the policy should possess high-end position and focus on academic frontier;the policy literacy of English teachers should be improved;and the cultural taste of the policy should be strengthened to highlight its cultural value.Based on the complementary coexistence of Chinese culture and English culture,as well as the influence of utilitarianism and cultural conservatism,College English education policy in China is now facing the situation of "strengthen up" and the predicament of "culture export",which urgently needs to promote cultural awareness and add cultural contents.The most urgent task is to get out of the confusion in the relations of inheritance and innovation,unity and pluralism,import and export,competition and cooperation,coexistence and exchange,and achieve awakening through cultural understanding.More importantly,we should choose the "middle way" orientation of policy development amid three basic cultural paths of independence,conflict and integration,and construct a College English education policy with "globalized value" from four dimensions: cultural respect and enlightenment,understanding and acquisition,exchange and reference,cooperation and win-win situation.Improving College English education policy is an inevitable trend of the times.On the premise of clarifying the guiding ideology,grasping the basic principles,familiarizing with the legal basis and emphasizing the academic field,the four main improvement strategies can be adopted: strategy of stereoscopic thinking and pursuing excellence,strategy of culture embedding and spiritual guidance,strategy of improving system and clarifying responsibility and power,strategy of perfecting mechanism and optimizing process.At the same time,five improving suggestions can be consulted: the first is to seek professional development of College English education policy under the guidance of experts.Secondly,laws and regulations should be stipulated to enhance the decisiveness of College English education policy.Thirdly,to speed up the democratic process of College English education policy through participation at different levels.Fourthly,stereoscopic publicity should be practiced to promote the recognition level of College English education policy.Fifthly,joint efforts should be made to strengthen the implementation effect of College English education policy.