English learning still figures prominently in education

Among the most talked-about topics in foreign language education in China in 2014 were the reform of English requirements for college entrance tests, the proper priority for English and the drafting of a national standard setting a value on foreign language education, according to a recent report.

National Research Center for Foreign Language Education at Beijing Foreign Studies University compiled the annual report of China's foreign language education and released it earlier this month.

The debate on English test reform in college entrance exams ended in September 2014, when the State Council outlined a plan under which the Chinese language, English and math would be equally weighted. Before, some worried that English was losing its status in the country's educational thinking.