Analysis of Reasons for Chinese College Students’ Lack of Oral English Proficiency

Abstract

Chinese college students’ lack of oral English proficiency has aroused many attentions during the College English Reform in recent years. The purpose of this article is to (a) summarize findings from the literature of challenges existed in oral English teaching in Chinese higher education and (b) find reasons for Chinese college students’ lack of oral English proficiency. The overarching question of this article is what are reasons for Chinese college students’ lack of oral English proficiency. Several reasons for Chinese college students’ lack of oral English proficiency including teacher knowledge, students’ willingness to communicate, assessment factors, and contextual constraints have been identified from the literature. This study hopes to provide references to the development of Chinese College English Reform in respect to oral English teaching.