China adds Xi Jinping's life story in English textbooks to promote 'correct worldview'

As tens of thousands of students begin their college freshmen year in China, the authorities are pushing for an in-depth study of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s article “Never Forget Why You Started”. The article covers the Chinese President’s working life and his journey from impoverishment to where he is today. As a part of this mandatory course, students were tasked to find adjectives that would best describe the Chinese leader’s time as a “youth worker in Liangjiahe”, The Financial Times reported. The Chinese leader spent seven years in the village during the Cultural Revolution. 

As per the report, two people close to the Chinese Ministry of Education stated that over 300 universities across China have started teaching a textbook titled, “College English for New Era”. The textbook examines dozens of quotes and speeches by the national leader. According to The Financial Times, the Chinese authorities view the English language classes as an opportunity to promote Beijing’s increasing assertiveness. “If we pick up any major [western] publication, the headlines are all about China, China, China and they are all targeting us [negatively]. China is fighting a war against the US in not only trade, finance, technology, but also ideology,” Shi Jian, a professor at Sichuan University told the news outlet. “Western [language] theory could no longer account for Chinese experience. We need to incorporate national consciousness into foreign language education which should help students build confidence in Chinese culture . . . and tell a good China story,” he added. 

China witnessed a reversal

In the early 1970s, Chinese college freshmen used to begin their English classes by learning the slogan. “Long live Chairman Mao”. However, under Deng Xiaoping, Beijing started opening up to the outside world and the universities began to adopt a more “Western approach” to English education. This door to the outside world is closing slowly and steadily under the Xi Jinping administration. 

Earlier this year it was reported that Xi Jinping Thought has been incorporated into numerous university disciplines ranging from business administration to physics to biology. In 2020, the Ministry of Education stated that the textbooks should “purposefully” incorporate “core socialist values” to ensure that the students in the country have a “correct worldview”. This school of thought eventually led to the introduction of New Era Series textbooks. According to The Financial Times, the new textbook features a speech by the Chinese president against “US aggression”. It even stated that many US-educated Chinese students struggled to find jobs back home because of their “Western attitudes,” instilling fears among the next generation.