New textbooks compiled according to new criteria will be used in the country's primary and middle schools within five years, says Wednesday's China Youth Daily.

At present, a number of English textbooks of this kind have been used in some Chinese schools on a trial basis since last autumn, the paper says.

In the past, Chinese schools paid more attention to teaching students how to read and write English and encouraged them to memorize English vocabulary rather than communicate directly.

One result is that many people cannot speak even everyday English fluently despite having learned the language for more than 10 years.

China has drafted a standard for English teaching during the nine-year compulsory education period from primary school to junior middle school, to replace the former teaching program, authoritative sources said.

The new teaching program divides English proficiency into nine grades with English courses beginning from grade three in primary school. The English levels of secondary school graduates is expected to reach grade eight. Grade nine is a standard for graduates of foreign languages schools.

The new English teaching program requires teaching materials that are adapted to the knowledge level and psychological development of primary and middle school students, and with more interesting content that's relevant to life today.

(Xinhua News Agency August 7, 2002)