A Survey Study of Middle School English Instruction in Four Rural Districts in Beijing

• In Event: Roundtable 3 (Chinese Language and Literacy Learning)

Abstract

This survey study provides a holistic picture of English teachers’ qualification and the status quo of English instruction in secondary school classrooms in four lowest-achieving rural districts in Beijing, China. A survey was administered to 120 middle school English teachers randomly selected from middle school English teachers in Beijing, China. Results shows how inequality in resources and the lack of teaching standards and qualifications can negatively impact students, further hindering their academic and professional opportunities. Additionally, several common barriers in English reading instruction in Chinese middle schools were identified by the participating teachers and areas for improvement were also pinpointed. This study provides valuable information to the teacher preparation and professional development in these districts.

Authors

• Ran Hu, East Carolina University

• Guili Zhang, East Carolina University