Language policy in Chinese higher education: a focus on international students in China

Wang, Ying

European Journal of Language Policy (2017), 9, (1), 45–66.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3828/ejlp.2017.4
Language: English
Pages: 22

Abstract

This paper is motivated by the observation that relatively little research has been done to investigate language policy in Chinese higher education oriented towards international students, in the context that China welcomes an increasing number of international students in its higher education sector in response to globalisation. The paper integrates Spolsky’s (2012) three-component framework of language policy with Ricento and Hornberger’s (1996) approach that examines language policy in multiple levels. It also considers the implications for language policy of research into English as a lingua franca. Empirical data are collected through document analysis, interviews and classroom observation to explore what language policies are available to support Chinese higher education for international students and how language policies are operationalised in institutional settings, with a focus on one university as a case study. The investigation reveals a policy vacuum in Chinese higher education for international students and concludes with a discussion of ways of addressing the vacuum.

Cet article est motivé par l’observation que relativement peu de recherches ont été faites pour étudier la politique linguistique dans l’enseignement supérieur chinois orienté vers les étudiants internationaux. Cela peut surprendre dans le contexte que la Chine accueille un nombre croissant d’étudiants internationaux dans son secteur de l’enseignement supérieur en réponse à la mondialisation. L’article intègre les trois dimensions de la politique linguistique proposées par Spolsky (2012) avec l’approche de Ricento et Hornberger (1996) qui examine la politique linguistique à plusieurs niveaux. Il considère également les implications pour la politique linguistique de la recherche en anglais comme lingua franca. Les données empiriques sont recueillies par l’analyse de documents, les entretiens et l’observation en classe. Cela permet d’explorer les politiques linguistiques disponibles pour soutenir l’enseignement supérieur chinois en direction des étudiants internationaux et montre comment les politiques linguistiques sont mises en action dans le cadre des établissements, avec une étude de cas. L’enquête révèle un vide politique dans l’enseignement supérieur chinois en ce qui concerne les étudiants internationaux, ce qui conduit à la discussion sur les moyens d’aborder le vide dans la conclusion.

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Wang, Ying

European Journal of Language Policy