BY NEIL HARDIE 刘 鹏 朱一童 编译 "WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SUBJECT?" I HAVE PUT THIS QUESTION TO HUNDREDS OF CHINESE CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS. MY MOTIVE WAS NOT RESEARCH AS SUCH BUT A DESIRE TO GET STUDENTS SPEAKING ENGLISH IN RESPONSE TO A TOPIC IN THEIR TEXTBOOKS. THE MOST POPULAR CHOICES HAVE BEEN PHYSICAL EDUCATION, ENGLISH AND MATH. LESS THAN 5 PERCENT OF STUDENTS OPT FOR CHINESE AND ONLY ONE, IN MY FIVE SEMESTERS OF TEACHING, HAS ANSWERED "HISTORY." THE APPARENT POPULARITY OF ENGLISH MAY