Abstract
There is a growing tendency in Asia for English as a foreign / second (EFL/ESL) programs to be implemented in the early years of primary schooling. Government policies supporting teaching primary school English are often framed in terms of globalization and the need to compete with other Asian neighbors. In the case of Taiwan, this notion increasingly has led government to support primary school English teaching curricula for all students and to parents spending large sums of money on private tutoring or out of school tuition. Arguments for this position are often based on the “earlier is better” ESL evidence, rather than on sound language policy settings and EFL research. As a consequence, problems and controversies have arisen related to inconsistencies that exist between the macro- and micro-level implementation forces. The purpose of this study is to explore these implementation issues and problems from a language planning and policy perspective through an examination of the language-in-education policy types required for the development of successful programs. This study concludes with some implications for the possible reforms of primary EFL education policy that aim to improve implementation in order to better serve the EFL learning needs of students in Taiwan.
Highlights
Since the beginning of 21st century, Taiwan has been undergoing a political and economic transformation with the aim of upgrading its international competitiveness
The purpose of this study is to explore these implementation issues and problems from a language planning and policy perspective through an examination of the language-in-education policy types required for the development of successful programs
While positive parental support for the language planning process plays a critical role in the success of the language planning (Breen, 2002), too much pressure and too high expectations from Taiwanese parents can be an obstacle to good primary English language planning (Su, 2006)
Summary
Since the beginning of 21st century, Taiwan has been undergoing a political and economic transformation with the aim of upgrading its international competitiveness Evidence for this can be found in the government’s active participation in various international organizations like the Asia-Pacific Regional Operations Center and the World Trade Organization, which has led Taiwan to increased international interactions in the past decade. This has contributed to creating an increasing demand for English as the language of choice for international communication, given its current status as a global language or lingua franca (Crystal, 2003). As Bruthiaux (2002) indicated, the role of English in the employment market has pushed parents in all societies to demand provision for learning and to demand that government education systems respond
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
