The challenge of academic writing for Chinese students within ...

in traditional Chinese philosophies and traditions. For instance Confucian teaching is
interpreted as regarding learning not only as self-cultivation or a pleasure but also as a means
to social ascendancy (to become an official). China has universalized 12-year compulsory
education and is on the way to universalize 3-year senior high school education. Students are
required to sit the highly competitive NCEE to obtain admission to higher education. With
high levels of pressure and parental expectation they have to work hard for entry into a good
university.
Having a long history of contact with the English language, China understands its importance
in its modernization. English language education is taught at all levels of education and is a
core subject at secondary schooling and a compulsory subject in the NCEE. Traditionally
English language was taught with a concentration on grammar and vocabulary learning.
There has been a development of incorporating communicative language teaching into the
traditional methods of teaching. Attention is now given to the development of students‘
competence in using English for communication (Adamson & Morris, 1997). However many
Chinese students tend to have a good grasp of English grammar and vocabulary but find it
difficult to communicate in English. Chinese students who have achieved satisfactory scores
in IELTS or TOEFL required by HEIs overseas find themselves disadvantaged by the
unfamiliar academic culture and conventions of western universities (e.g. Edwards & Ran,
2006). In the next chapter, the context of destination is discussed, in order to provide an
insight into the HEIs in which international Chinese students undertake their studies.
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