Chinese military urged to overhaul English teaching to improve language skills

The People’s Liberation Army has been urged to overhaul English language teaching at its military schools and recruit professionals to improve soldiers’ communication skills on the international stage.Three senior lecturers from the PLA Air Force Early Warning Academy made the call in an article published in the February edition of official Military-to-Civilian in China magazine, which is administered by the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence.Li Yan, Dai Sishi and Zhang Yong, all associate professors from the military school, argued that English teaching in China’s military schools was outdated and unbalanced. They said there was too much focus on vocabulary, grammar and reading and writing but not enough on communication and presentation.They argued that this approach meant that while graduates could understand English-language military textbooks and terminology, they could not speak naturally, write standardised tactical reports or discuss technical matters.The authors said PLA English classes followed a model where “teachers talk and students listen”, resulting in low participation rates from students and a relative lack of discussion in the classroom.Specialised training in listening, speaking and translation accounted for less than 20 per cent of the curriculum, the authors warned. They said that in one military academy’s programme, reading documents occupied 60 per cent of the content, while practical matters – for example the language skills needed to take part in joint exercises or discuss international regulations – only accounted for 15 per cent of the course.