The Image Of English In Chinese College Students' Eyes

The present study examines Chinese college students'attitudes towards the English language in China. To be more specific, the study examines how the college students think and feel about the function, importance, spread, impact and status of the English language in China and their behavior preference. Moreover, the present study attempts to reveal the relationship between the social factor of family background and college students'attitudes.The direct measurement is used to study language attitudes, including both the questionnaire survey and interview. Copies of the questionnaire are distributed to fifty subjects and five of them are interviewed. Data collected from the questionnaire is processed by SPSS, with the calculation of the mean value and Standard. Derivation as well as the value of t-test significance. Data collected from the interview is to provide the background and complementary information for the analysis of the results.The present study finds that Chinese college students have mixed and balanced attitudes towards English in China. On the one hand, they show positive attitudes towards the practical value that English would bring to both the country and individuals. On the other hand, they refuse to accord the symbolic power to English. Moreover, their affection towards English is also mixed and complex. The study also finds that the social factor of family background is related to their attitudes. What is more, their attitudes suggest that the dominance of English in China, in Chinese college students'eyes, is linguistic opportunism.