A Comparative Study On Syllabus For English BA Program And Curriculum For Business English BA Program

With the development and deepening of globalization, economic cooperation and communication become inevitable and crucial, and English has gradually become much popular. More and more people can use English freely and effectively. However, language as a communication tool, it can not provide with competitive strength. Accordingly, business English comes into being along with the expansion of the global trade activities.Business English is a branch of ESP (English for Specific Purposes), belonging to applied linguistics. It has developed for more than 50 years in our country, especially in recent years it has made great progress. Business English course has been included in the compulsory courses for English specialty and it has become the essential course for cultivating the interdisciplinary talents. Currently, there are more than 800 universities or colleges offering business English courses or orientation in China. The Ministry of Education approved the Business English BA (Bachelor of Arts) Program in 2007. Business English, under the foreign language disciplines, parallels the existing English specialty (with emphasis on English and American literature, linguistics, and studies of English-speaking countries). In order to strengthen and standardize the national English and Business English teaching, our nation formulated the Syllabus for English BA Program (Syllabus hereafter) and National Curriculum for Business English BA Program (For Trial Implementation) (Curriculum hereafter) in 1999 and 2009 respectively.This thesis makes a comparative study on Syllabus and Curriculum from the perspective of The 5Cs Standards, which is the short form of Standards for Foreign Language Learning: preparing for the 21st century, promulgated in 1996 and revised in 1999 by the United States. The document presents a consensus on foreign language learning to some extent, and it is also the guidance for foreign language teaching and learning. The 5Cs Standards will give some reference and inspiration to our foreign language education and reform in China as well.This thesis analyzes the Curriculum substantially, including its background and theoretical underpinnings, components of knowledge and abilities, course design, teaching principles, teaching model and teaching method based on the review of the relevant theories. Then it makes a comparative study on Syllabus and Curriculum on the base of their similarities and differences. Finally the thesis puts forward some tentative suggestions for improving business English teaching and research.