Two Perspectives on 'Crazy English'

Crazy English (CE) is a radical and popular §English training program in China. It has been §controversial since advent. The Founder claims that §CE is a revolution in learning English. Academics, §however, have been critical of CE s unorthodox §teaching practices, extravagant claims of learning §outcomes and unabashed pursuit of commercial §success. Yet a decade on, it is clearly more §than a passing phenomenon. Indeed, CE seems to §have formed a subculture in China. But the §existing knowledge about CE is inadequate. To seek §for this knowledge, the book examines CE's espoused §concepts and values of foreign language learning,its§pedagogical practices and motivational influences. §Results show that CE classroom activities are §underpinned by a blend of theoretical approaches and §practices. As well, CE is sophisticated and §conscious of applying motivating strategies at §different stages in learning. The book is §significant in that it contributes to a better §knowledge and an adequate understanding of the CE §phenomenon, and making CE practices known to other §practitioners will enable them to find §something of value in their approach and methods.