The role of English education in China’s shifting national identity

ABSTRACT

Language is a vital part of an individual’s cultural identity. Language education policy is also an important part of a country’s national identity construction. This qualitative historical study situates the discussion of China’s foreign language education in the broader socio-historical context of national identity negotiation. The Chinese history of English education over a span of two centuries is critically reviewed as a case study to show the dynamic relationship between national identity and foreign language policy. Foreign language policy has been used as a tool in China to construct a desired national identity in different historical and geopolitical contexts of nation development and international relations. The Chinese case also serves to show the correlation between an open liberal foreign language policy and the achievement of national prosperity.

KEYWORDS:

• English education
• China
• national identity
• foreign language policy
• history

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.