Abstract

Facing the world curriculum reform, the Chinese Mainland issued English Curriculum Standards for Compulsory Education in 2001. After ten years of implementation, it was revised and English Curriculum Standards for Compulsory Education (2011 Edition) was issued. Likewise, in the Chinese Taiwan, Grade 1-9 Curriculum was started to implement in 2000, and the English curriculum standards of the Chinese Taiwan, which is entitled Grade 1-9 Curriculum Guidelines (English Subject), was issued in 2000. The new version of the Taiwan English Curriculum Guidelines came out in 2008 after several amendments. 

The Chinese Mainland and Taiwan share the same culture background, including the similar foreign language learning environment. In compulsory education period, English is a core subject in both the Chinese Mainland and Taiwan. Therefore, comparing the Chinese Mainland English Curriculum Standards with the Taiwan English Curriculum Guidelines may help us have a deeper understanding of the English education of both sides of the Straits.

This paper mainly takes as research objects English Curriculum Standards for Compulsory Education (2011 Edition) in the Chinese Mainland, and Grade 1-9 Curriculum Guidelines (English Subject) in the Chinese Taiwan. After introducing the research background, the thesis mainly compares the two “Standards/Guidelines” in five aspects, the overall structure, the curriculum rationale, the curriculum goals and objectives, the performance standards and the implementation proposals. The research finds that similarities of the two “Standards/Guidelines” exist. For instance, the overall structure of the Chinese Mainland “Standards” is basically similar to that of the Taiwan “Guidelines”, namely. Both of them are student-centered, and focus on individual development and the connection between English learning and the real world. However, there are differences between them. For example, the requirements for language skills and knowledge are different. The Chinese Mainland “Standards” emphasizes the language knowledge while the Taiwan “Guidelines” focuses on the basic communicative ability.

Key Words: English Curriculum Standards; the Chinese Mainland; the Chinese Taiwan; Compulsory Education; Comparison

Contents

Abstract

摘  要

1. Introduction-1

2. English Curriculum Standards-2

2.1 Research on English Curriculum Standards-2

2.2 Comparative Studies on Curriculum Standards-3

3. The Historical Development of English Curriculum Standards/Guidelines in the Chinese Mainland and Taiwan-6

3.1 Development of English Curriculum Standards in the Chinese Mainland-6

3.2 Development of English Curriculum Guidelines in the Chinese Taiwan-7

4. The Comparison of English Curriculum Standards/Guidellines between the Chinese Mainland and Taiwan-8

4.1 Overall Structure-8

4.1.1 The Overall Structure of the Chinese Mainland “Standards”-8

4.1.2 The Overall Structure of Taiwan “Guidelines”-9

4.2 Curriculum Rationale-10

4.3 Goals and Objectives-13

4.4 Performance Standards-13

4.4.1 Language Skills and Language Knowledge-14

4.4.2 Emotion and Attitudes, Learning Strategies-15

4.4.3 Culture Awareness-15

4.5 Implementation Proposals-15

4.5.1 Suggestions for Teaching-16

4.5.2 Suggestions for Evaluation-17

5. Conclusion-19

References-21

Appendix I English Curriculum Standards for Compulsory Education (2011 Edition)-23

Appendix II Grade 1-9 Curriculum Guidelines-35