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1、Chinas Brain Drain The GuardianJune, 2007China suffers the worst brain drain in the world, according to a new study that found seven out of every 10 students who enrol in an overseas university never return to live in their homeland. Despite the booming economy and government incentives to return, a
2、n increasing number of the countrys brightest minds are relocating to wealthier nations, where they can usually benefit from higher living standards, brighter career opportunities and the freedom to have as many children as they wish. Bai Xue, who is enrolled in the University of Minnesota, says mor
3、e than 80% of her Chinese classmates are trying to remain in the US. There are a few of us who are thinking of returning, but nothing is fixed,” she says. “If we get married or have babies or get used to the life here, maybe we will change our minds. 1) Please explain in your own words the term, “br
4、ain drain.”2) Why is it surprising that such a small number of students return?3) Why, on the other hand, is it not so surprising?The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences revealed 1.06 million Chinese had gone to study overseas since 1978, but only 275,000 had returned. The rest had taken postgraduate
5、 courses, found work, got married or changed citizenship. Unlike illegal migrants from the countryside - many of whom are poorly schooled - the students are usually welcomed with open arms by western institutions, which gain high scholarship fees and academic excellence. Chinese students have been t
6、he biggest group of foreign nationals at UK schools and universities for several years.4) Do you think that most students who wish to go abroad plan never to return?5) Explain the contrast in the welcome given to students and unskilled workers. 6) Why are universities so eager to accept students fro
7、m overseas?This shows that Chinese students overseas, especially those with extraordinary abilities, are a real hit in the global tug-of-war for talent, Yang Xiaojing, one of the authors of the report, was quoted as saying in the China Daily. “Against the backdrop of economic globalisation, an exces
8、sive brain drain will inevitably threaten the human resources, and eventually the national, economic, and social security of any country.”7) What reasons can you give for the popularity of Chinese students overseas?8) Why is the Chinese government alarmed by the fact that so few return?9) Which coun
9、tries are getting the most benefit from overseas study programs?To reverse the trend, Beijing is offering bigger incentives for returnees. Under new regulations issued in March, senior scientists, engineers and corporate managers are exempted from the household registration system, allowed higher sa
10、laries and promised places for their children at top universities. Xia Qing will start postgraduate study in California this September says, China is developing very fast and by 2030, its GDP will probably surpass the USA, but America may suit me more because of the importance of background and conn
11、ections in China. 10) What incentives have been offered in order to encourage students to return?11) Do you think these incentives will be effective? Will others think they are fair?12) What would you say to a Chinese citizen who is considering staying abroad?Chinas recent rise has brought with it a
12、 new conventional wisdom: that everyone must learn Mandarin. Beijing guesses that more than 40 million non-native speakers now study Mandarin worldwide. But that pales next to the number of those learning English. In China alone, some 175 million people are now studying English in the formal educati
13、on system. And an estimated 2 billion people will be studying it by 2010, according to a British Council report last year. The impression is that Mandarin fever is rampant and spreading, but a close look shows this is an exaggeration, says Stephen Krashen, a second-language-acquisition expert at the
14、 University of Southern California. The dominance of English as an international language is growing.13) Which languages are currently seen as essential for language-learners?14) Which languages have achieved dominancy in the history of the world? 15) What is different about the position that Englis
15、h has attained at present?To be sure, Mandarin has become increasingly useful, particularly in Asian business circles. And its utility will rise as Chinas clout grows. But English isand, for the foreseeable future, seems set to remainessential for those hoping to compete in the globalized world. Fro
16、m Brussels to Beijing, English is now the common language spoken in multinational firms, top universities and the scientific community. 16) How big an advantage is the knowledge of Chinese in todays business world?17) Do you agree with the writers predictions for the foreseeable future?18) How likely is it that Chinese will be the international language of the future?A recent survey
