Why Many Chinese Struggle with Spoken English Despite Years of Learning

While pursuing my master’s degree in Sweden, an Italian classmate once asked me a seemingly simple question:

“Why do Chinese students often keep to themselves and not socialize much with others?”

It took me a moment to respond. Then I said something he didn’t expect:

“Because many of us don’t speak English very well.”

He looked surprised. Not because it wasn’t obvious, but because he had never thought of language as the core reason for social withdrawal.

The Illusion of Learning: What English Education in China Really Looks Like

English is introduced early in Chinese education — often from primary school. By the time students graduate, they’ve spent over a decade learning it. On paper, this sounds like a solid foundation. In reality, the focus is almost entirely academic:

Vocabulary lists
Grammar drills
Reading comprehension
Standardized test prep

But spoken communication? That’s a different story.

In my school, “speaking practice” often meant standing in class and reading passages aloud — not dialogues, not debates, not casual interactions. There was little room for improvisation or genuine conversation.

It was performance, not practice.

A Lack of Exposure: Language in a Monolingual Environment

One key difference between students in China and those from many European countries is exposure.

In Europe, many students grow up around different languages, cultures, tourists, media, and informal contact with English. English is not just a school subject — it’s a living part of everyday interaction.

In contrast, most Chinese students grow up in a linguistically uniform environment. Outside of the classroom, they rarely hear English being spoken naturally. Even foreign films and media are often dubbed. There is little incentive or necessity to speak the language in real contexts.

So despite years of study, actual usage is minimal.

Not a Lack of Skill — A Lack of Confidence

When Chinese students go abroad, they may carry impressive scores and certificates. Many have excellent reading and writing skills. But when it comes to speaking — spontaneous, unrehearsed speaking — many fall silent.

Why?

Because they are afraid.
Afraid of making mistakes.
Afraid of being laughed at.
Afraid of not being understood.

It’s not about not knowing the language.
It’s about not being used to failing in it — and not being taught that it’s okay.

This fear makes them hesitant to speak at all. It’s safer to stay silent, or to stay within familiar groups, than to risk the embarrassment of “bad English.”

The System Punishes Mistakes Instead of Embracing Them

In China’s education system, making a mistake is often seen as a failure. Students are trained to avoid errors, not to explore through them. This mindset carries over into language learning.

As a result, many students prefer silence to imperfection.
They never learned that fluency is built on broken sentences.
They never learned that hesitation is normal, and that awkward conversations are part of the journey.

Language Is More Than a Skill — It’s Courage

We often think of language as grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary. But at its core, language is about courage — the courage to be misunderstood, to sound funny, to speak even when it’s hard.

Unfortunately, that kind of courage was never on the syllabus.

So the next time you see Chinese students keeping to themselves abroad, don’t assume they’re unfriendly.
They might just be trying to find their voice — one imperfect sentence at a time.

Location:

SPACE VIEW