Government Promoting English Language in Schools|政院指示研議 中小學英文課"全英語授課"

The Executive Yuan is currently promoting a plan to turn English into Taiwan's second official language. According to recent reports, the Ministry of Education is planning to increase the number of English classes for upper grade elementary school students to three times a week. Laws will also be amended to allow schools to set up bilingual classes.


This class is conducted entirely in English. Students learn the language through interactive games. There are several schools in Taipei that offer English classes to fifth and sixth graders three times a week to help them develop their foreign language skills. These schools have to create environments conducive to learning.

A single weekly English class, for example on Wednesdays, is not enough. We don't live in an English-speaking environment, such as Singapore, so all we can do is construct an environment that piques interest in learning, such as lessons related to daily activities or dance.

This lesson schedule shows some schools use English to teach many classes, including physical education, starting in the first grade. Current regulations require students to begin taking English classes in the third grade. The new curriculum for the compulsory 12-year education program maintained one English class a week for third and fourth graders, two English classes a week for fifth and sixth graders and three English classes a week for junior high school students. Now, the Executive Yuan is promoting a plan to turn English into Taiwan's second official language. The Ministry of Education is assessing the feasibility of increasing the number of weekly English classes for upper grade elementary school students to three. Moreover, the government will promote "complete English" classes for elementary and junior high students, and laws may be amended to allow schools to set up bilingual curriculums. The government also intends to grant subsidies to 720 schools to allow them to set up foreign geography and history courses where bilingual education can take place.

My personal viewpoint is that it should take place during the fourth, fifth and sixth grades, and they shouldn't continue to move it to lower grades like first or second grade. Will adjustments have to be made to the planning of the entire literature curriculum, including its structure, to return to the number of classes of the 12-year compulsory education program?

Some scholars advocate continuous and long-term study of English, which will require increasing the number of classes and creating environments conducive to learning. However, there are many factors to consider, including teaching materials, syllabi, qualified teachers and the gap between urban and rural areas. All these will require long-term study and discussion, and can't all be achieved at once.

We are approaching English through internationalization and the easing of (regulatory) restrictions. There is a consensus on this direction. However, the implementation details require further discussion.

The Ministry of Education is also considering adding an oral English test to the college entrance exam and setting up workplace English classes at technical schools. It will promote short-, mid- and long-term plans, and continue to discuss the details with academia and make any necessary adjustments.