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Balancing Change and Tradition: A Chinese English Teacher’s Experiences of Curriculum Reform

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International Perspectives on Teachers Living with Curriculum Change

Part of the book series: International Perspectives on English Language Teaching ((INPELT))

Abstract

Yan explores the feelings of a dedicated English teacher attempting to come to terms with the mismatch between the goals of a new English curriculum and the unchanged national examinations, which remain the measure by which the education system and wider society evaluate teacher and learner achievement. Yan identifies the personal difficulties that the teacher encountered, as she worked to achieve a degree of consistency between teaching in ways appropriate for enabling curriculum goals, and the teaching valued by those around her in her working context. Yan discusses how, over time and at cost to her personal and professional well-being, the teacher managed to establish a modus vivendi that has allowed her to maintain a positive attitude to her work.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China

    Chunmei Yan

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  1. Chunmei Yan
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Correspondence to Chunmei Yan .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom

    Martin Wedell

  2. School of Education, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom

    Laura Grassick

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© 2018 The Author(s)

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Yan, C. (2018). Balancing Change and Tradition: A Chinese English Teacher’s Experiences of Curriculum Reform. In: Wedell, M., Grassick, L. (eds) International Perspectives on Teachers Living with Curriculum Change. International Perspectives on English Language Teaching. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-54309-7_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-54309-7_4

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-54308-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-54309-7

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

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