Middle School Teachers’ Percention Of The Unity Of Instrumentalism And Humanism In English Education

The idea of humanism in education and the essential understandings of foreign language learning and teaching have far-reaching influence on the design of English curriculum standards for compulsory education. The significant reform and development of the English curriculum standards indicate the rise of education in China. Meanwhile, the development of the English syllabus over the past thirty-five years gradually sheds light on the value of humanism and highlights the unity of instrumentalism and humanism, which has become the irreversible trend in the English curriculum reform. According to English Curriculum Standards(2011 Edition), the English course is featured with the unity of instrumentalism and humanism, which not only keeps up with the time but is conducive for English teachers to incorporate recognized views of language with teaching approaches. Thus, the quality of English teaching will be improved and the scope of this field will be further extended.This thesis traces different versions of English syllabus and curriculum in China since late 1970 s, identifies the changes and advancements, and compares them with the curriculum standards of the European Union, Hong Kong and Singapore. Based on the analysis of questionnaires and interviews of middle school teachers taking part in the National and Provincial Teacher Professional Development Training Programs and the classroom observation as a pre-service teacher, the thesis explores in-service teachers’ perceptions and attitudes of English education and the English Curriculum Standards, stresses the importance of unifying instrumentalism and humanism in teaching practice, and outlines some proposals to achieve this goal. In accordance with the research, three major findings can be figured out. Firstly, humanism in English education shows the steady and gradual development from no clear indication since 1970 s to definite expression in the English Curriculum Standards(2011 Edition). Besides, the majority of the participants have realized and agreed to that English is the course united with instrumentalism and humanism, which not only improves learners’ comprehensive language application ability, but promotes their thinking ability, form the positive affective attitudes and good personality so as to further the full development of learners. Moreover, although the majority of the participants believe that English education is responsible for the unity of instrumentalism and humanism, they share the common view that it is hard to implement the humanism in the present English teaching and learning so that more exploration and practice are needed.