2007/11/08
who decide what language to learn (via)?
While reading Frank Vigneron's contribution to James Elkins ed., Is Art History Global?, saw from one of his footnotes something about CUHK language in class guideline.
He says:
In a recent (Feb 2005) clarification on what language to use when there are non-Chinese speakers in the classroom, the pro vice-chancellor of the university had this to say:" The actual language of instruction can be changed from that indicated in the undergraduate teaching timetable if agreed by the teacher an all students registered for the course (by secret ballot) after the last day for adding courses."
and Frank's comment on this is (a bit surprising to me):
This is, to my knowledge, a very rare type of democratic decision making in the tertiary institution and a remarkable example of multiculturalism that should be picked up by more and more universities in the world.
this has lead me to think back of the Lingnan Cultural Studies talk on language and politics, and how the old way of 搏懵主義 by many secondary schools in using Chinese to teach English subjects, being really acting out in university. Does this demonstrates its superiority (approved by university head), while denied to secondary school. Or democracy what language what should learn via, should be in one own hands to decide?
He says:
In a recent (Feb 2005) clarification on what language to use when there are non-Chinese speakers in the classroom, the pro vice-chancellor of the university had this to say:" The actual language of instruction can be changed from that indicated in the undergraduate teaching timetable if agreed by the teacher an all students registered for the course (by secret ballot) after the last day for adding courses."
and Frank's comment on this is (a bit surprising to me):
This is, to my knowledge, a very rare type of democratic decision making in the tertiary institution and a remarkable example of multiculturalism that should be picked up by more and more universities in the world.
this has lead me to think back of the Lingnan Cultural Studies talk on language and politics, and how the old way of 搏懵主義 by many secondary schools in using Chinese to teach English subjects, being really acting out in university. Does this demonstrates its superiority (approved by university head), while denied to secondary school. Or democracy what language what should learn via, should be in one own hands to decide?
