THE MAIN STAGES OF TEACHING FOREIGN LANGUAGES IN CHINA

Abstract

Despite the long history of Chinese civilization, schools established by English-speaking missionaries are considered to be the origin of formal English language instruction in China, and we must agree with this approach. As a result of the Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895), government officials increasingly began to realize that learning from Western societies and sharing their experience, close
contacts with them was the only way to develop and even to combat foreign aggression. English-language education was thus encouraged to meet the demand. In 1903, English was included in the national high school curriculum. There were periods in the nation's history when teaching a foreign language was considered against the country's national interests, but as a result of wise policies, China overcame unilateralism and today it appears as an innovator with novel approaches to English as an educational
course .