Abstract:

English Curriculum Standards for Compulsory Education (2022 Edition) postulates that cultural awareness is one of the key competencies for students. Although this is understandable, considering the critical role of scientific literacy in compulsory education, we suggest that the key competencies should include scientific literacy education, which is an active response to the government decision that the scientific literacy of young boys and girls should be greatly improved during the 14^th Five-Year Plan. Scientific literacy is the basis of cultural awareness and cross-disciplinary studies. Without the fundamentals of scientific knowledge and methodology, youths will lack the intellectual tools and social responsibility needed for true cultural awareness. After analyzing the causes underlying the dearth of attention paid to scientific literacy education in compulsory and even higher education, we suggest reforms are needed in the development of teaching materials, the methodology of English instruction, and the organization of various scientific activities.

Keywords: English Curriculum Standards for Compulsory Education; cultural awareness; scientific literacy; English-teaching guidelines; textbook compilation

摘要：

新近颁布的《义务教育英语课程标准（2022年版）》将文化意识列为英语学科核心素养之一，并将其放在十分显著的位置，这本无可厚非。然而，我国公民科学素质水平仍有待提升；同时，我国政府也提出在“十四五”期间实施青少年科学素质提升行动。因此，笔者建议将科学素养的培养纳入义务教育阶段的英语课程标准。科学素养是文化意识的基础，是跨学科连接的中心。学生如果没有科学常识和科学态度，文化意识素养中“提升文明素养和社会责任感”的目标就不大可能达到。本文在分析科学素养不被外语界重视的原因后，提出中小学英语在教材和教学方面应进行相应改革并在校园内外积极开展科学活动等建议。

关键词: 义务教育英语课程标准, 文化意识, 科学素养, 英语教学指南, 教材编写