Beijing education authorities plan to de-emphasise English scores on standardised tests, a sign that China&0#39;s obsession with the language may be waning.

北京的教育官員計劃降低英語在高校標(biāo)準(zhǔn)入學(xué)考試中的重要性，這一舉措或標(biāo)志著中國的英語熱開始降溫。

The Beijing municipal commission of education plans to reduce the English section of the all-important college admissions test, the Gaokao, from 150 points to 100 points in major cities by 2016, China&0#39;s official newswire Xinhua reported.

據(jù)中國官方媒體新華社報道，北京市教育委員會計劃減少英語科目在高考中的分值，從150分下降到100分，這一政策將自2016年起在全國主要城市開始實施。

It will boost the value of the Chinese section from 150 to 180 points. Currently, the test weighs English, Chinese and maths equally.

高考改革還會將語文科目的分值從150分提高到180分。目前，英語、語文和數(shù)學(xué)三門科目的分值是相同的。

Officials have spun the proposal as both a practical decision and a matter of national pride. "The change highlights the fundamental importance of mother tongue in the curriculum," a representative from the commission told Xinhua.

中國官員稱此舉既是從實際需要出發(fā)，又可以弘揚(yáng)國粹。北京市教育委員會一位發(fā)言人對新華社記者說，“這個改革將凸顯高中課程中語文學(xué)科基礎(chǔ)性的重要地位。

Education authorities are also considering scrapping mandatory English lessons before the third grade. They currently begin on the first day of primary school.

教育官員還考慮去掉小學(xué)階段三年級以前的英語課程。目前小學(xué)課程中的英語課是從入學(xué)第一天就開始的。

Shandong and Jiangsu provinces, as well as Shanghai, may remove English from the Gaokao entirely. Public consultation on the proposal began on Monday, Xinhua reported.

據(jù)新華社報道，山東、江蘇、上海等省市可能將英語考試從高考中徹底去除。關(guān)于這一舉措的公眾咨詢將于下周一開始。

Xinhua called the proposals "no more than a minor tweak", emphasising that they would change the way that English is taught without diminishing its importance.

新華社稱高考英語改革“僅僅是一個小調(diào)整”，并強(qiáng)調(diào)英語教育方式的改變并不會減少英語教育的重要性。