ABSTRACT
The last thirty years have witnessed the rise of China as a global power. More and more importance is placed on education as a means to build an intellectual engine for the purposes of nation building and global competitiveness. Toward that end significant resources have been allocated to the sector and comprehensive policies have been put into place, including English language policies. As mentioned in earlier chapters, since 2000, English has become a mandatory subject in the curriculum throughout the Chinese educational system from elementary to tertiary education. Despite these efforts, the quality of English teachers in ethnically diverse and rural areas of China remains challenging and problematic, necessitating the involvement of agencies at multiple levels to find ways to improve it. This chapter will highlight the efforts by a non-governmental agency, the Sowers Action (SA) (苗圃行动, Miapu Xingdong), a Hong Kong–based non-religious, non-political, and non-profit registered charity, to assist English teachers in one of the most ethnically diverse areas of southwestern China.
