Covid-19's impact is being felt beyond China and those concerned about public health. As the epidemic persisted, all IELTS tests scheduled in February and March in mainland China had been canceled. This is bad news for the affected students, but also for British universities, whose coffers heavily rely on degree-hungry, cash-rich, English-unskilled Chinese students.
In response, according to The Times, a London-based daily newspaper, vice-chancellors of British universities turned to the Home Office to discuss the possibility of waiving the English language requirement for Chinese students who plan to start their course in autumn. The article comes with some juicy data about how much money Chinese students spend on their coveted British education and what that means for universities and the British economy.
students or cash cows?
It is discomforting to see that the article discusses the matter from a purely economic perspective, in terms of pounds and percentages, as if education is just another commodity no different from a cup of Costa or a Burberry coat. If the language requirement is to be waived, what will be done, if at all, to ensure that incoming students have the right language skills to navigate through their academic life in Britain? Should university readers and professors dumb down linguistically to cater to the needs of the students? Further, will this affect the overall academic quality of all the students, British and foreign?
The answer is blowing in the wind. Or maybe it doesn't matter at all, and never did.
On average a minimum IELTS band for UK undergraduate programs is 5.5, with band 6.5+ for a few elite ones. The scores are shockingly low. Take a mock IELTS test yourself and you will know what the scores mean. I am skeptical that programs with such basic requirements are academically serious and competitive.
A linguistic advantage translates into an academic edge. Conversely, the linguistically ill-prepared students are academically unsuited. It is unthinkable that students who find themselves academically challenged will have the opportunity or confidence to take advantage of what the host country has to offer.
In my own experience, the graduate school I attended required (and still does) a minimum TOEFL score of 112—equivalent to an IELTS band 8—which may strike many as unreasonably high. Perhaps, but I found it just about adequate. If anything, I wish my English were closer to the native level. The benefits, academic, personal, economic, of English proficiency are massive.
Probably the UK universities will eventually have Chinese students' IELTS scores waived, but if you are looking to set your foot on the empire on which the sun never sets, and if you are not just looking for a diploma but a genuine, satisfying, life-changing educational experience, set a higher goal. It will not hurt you.
P.S. Have you obtained your bachelor's or master's degrees in the UK, or are you working towards your qualifications now? Which city did you study in, or where are you studying now? What was/is your experience like? If there were one thing that you could have done differently with regard to pre-UK preparation, what would it be?
Stories from other English-taught courses are welcome, too.
孟慶偉 Justin
個人微信 ID：justinqmeng
現象級英語聯合創始人
《經濟學人》11 年研究者
雅思寫作 8 分，口語 8 分
題圖：Oxford, Corpus Christi college. Credits: Diliff
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