Why China Is Abandoning English Education | AB Explained

Summary

The video examines why English education is being questioned in China. It discusses a Weibo post by math teacher Tang Jiafeng arguing that English should no longer be a core subject, as well as universities that have cut or closed English and other foreign-language programs. One university is experimenting with replacing conventional English classes with cross-cultural communication courses.

The video argues that this is not simply the end of English learning. Instead, it reflects changes in China’s priorities, job market, and technology, alongside longstanding problems with how English has been taught.

The rise of English education

China’s enthusiasm for English grew after the country began opening up under Deng Xiaoping. English became increasingly important in the gaokao, while public initiatives such as English-language television lessons and informal “English Corners” encouraged people to learn and practice.

The trend continued through the 2008 Beijing Olympics, when authorities promoted basic English among service workers and other residents. Li Yang’s popular “Crazy English” method—having learners shout sentences aloud—embodied the desire to overcome students’ reluctance to speak.

The problem of “Mute English”

Despite this enthusiasm, many students developed what is known as “Mute English”: they could memorize vocabulary and do well on exams but struggled to speak naturally. The video identifies three factors behind this outcome:

• High-stakes exams: English scores affect access to schools and universities, so teachers and families tend to prioritize tested skills such as grammar, reading, and writing over conversation.
• Unequal resources: A nationwide curriculum was difficult to implement consistently, particularly where schools lacked qualified teachers and resources. Regional disparities and university admission quotas add to students’ unequal educational pressures.
• Tutoring and parental competition: Families sought private lessons to improve children’s exam prospects, sometimes beginning English instruction at a very young age. China’s 2021 crackdown on for-profit tutoring reduced the number of formal institutions, but the video says some tutoring continued through workarounds and could become more expensive.

Why English may seem less valuable

The video points to three changes that may be reducing the perceived value of English:

1. China’s changing role in the world: China’s rise as an economic and manufacturing power has changed the original rationale for learning from Western countries. English textbooks have also shifted toward teaching students to explain Chinese culture to foreign audiences, rather than focusing primarily on the English-speaking world.
2. A changing job market: English degrees once offered strong employment prospects, but the video cites lower average earnings for foreign-language graduates than for graduates in engineering and some technology fields. As employment at foreign companies has declined and domestic companies offer more attractive careers, many graduates may have less reason to pursue English as a standalone qualification.
3. The growth of AI translation: AI translation is becoming faster and more capable, making it easier to read foreign material and communicate across languages without advanced language skills. However, the video cautions that translation is not the same as communication. Diplomacy and business rely on context, cultural nuance, and interpreting what is implied as well as what is said. Routine translation may be automated, while people with deep linguistic and cross-cultural understanding could remain especially valuable.

The future of English learning

The video’s overall argument is that China may be moving away from treating English as a universally necessary subject or degree, rather than abandoning foreign-language learning altogether. The future may place less emphasis on exam performance and routine translation, and more on practical communication and understanding other cultures.

Presenters and contributors

• Stephen Park — Presenter and narrator.
• AB VOICES livestream contributors — Unnamed Chinese guests, including an English tutor and a graduate who studied English translation before pursuing a master’s degree at Tsinghua University.
• Tang Jiafeng and Li Yang are discussed in the video but are not identified as presenters or contributors.