A Comprehensive Study Of Syllabus Design

Syllabus design is a dynamic field. Syllabus specification reflects opinions aboutthe nature of language and of language learning and even of education held bysyllabus designers. Different syllabuses reflect different aspects of the nature of language and of language learning. An eclectic attitude towards syllabus design leads the most effective language instruction.The College English Curriculum Requirements established in 2007 reflects anapparent transformation of opinions about English teaching in China. The CurriculumRequirements authorizes colleges and universities to design teaching syllabus according to specific conditions, on the premise that the teaching syllabus is based on Curriculum Requirements. It is can be understood that there is a hidden syllabus in Curriculum Requirements, as a basic model of syllabus designed by different colleges and universities. There are many articles to elaborate the College English Curriculum Requirements and to value it from other aspects rather than from the aspect of itsnotions about college English syllabus design. The transformations of Curriculum Requirements also include its notions about syllabus design; therefore it is necessaryto analyze the hidden syllabus, providing a meaningful reference for colleges and universities to design English syllabus. Consequently, purpose of the current study is to figure out the construction of the hidden syllabus. Then it will be appraised from the perspective of effectiveness and the perspective of feasibility.This study is mainly based on the method of literature review. Articles inauthoritative journals and several master dissertations are used for comprehensivestudy of the College English Curriculum Requirements. The master dissertations are mainly epirical studies to provide validevidence. According to the study, the hidden syllabus can be elevated in a further way. Feasibility of the hidden syllabus is proved.This study elaborates the College English Curriculum Requirements from the perspective of its notions about syllabus design. Syllabus designers of different colleges and universities are expected to get some illumination from the current research.