Those Arguing against Learning English Should Do Their Homework

The study of foreign languages in China's schools has recently become the focus of much public attention. English, the most popular foreign language being learned in the country, has borne the brunt of the scrutiny.

A former spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Wang Xuming, went so as far to propose canceling English classes in primary schools, and the Beijing city government is planning to de-emphasize the importance of English for high school and college entrance examinations in 2016. Then news came that officials in the capital will reduce the weight of the English component in the high school entrance exam. That for the college entrance exam will be cut, too.