In 1979, after decades of isolation, China launched the “Opening and Reform” Policy that would, over the next 30 years, see China develop into the 3rd largest economy in the world. The immediate goal of this policy was modernization, and the government understood that in order to modernize they needed to master the technology of the West. Further, in order to master Western technology, they needed to master the language of the West, namely English. It was to meet this need that the Chinese government invited ELIC to begin providing English teachers for Chinese universities, paving the way for the first team of six teachers to serve in China in 1982.

Since that time, China has changed in numerous ways. In the 1980s, only 5% of high school graduates were able to attend college; now it is upwards of 15%. In the 1980s, Chinese people were largely isolated from the outside world. Now there are 298 million internet users, 600 million cell phone subscribers, and Chinese travel abroad in ever-increasing numbers. In the 1980s, 80% of the population lived in the rural areas and 20% lived in the cities. Now that ratio is 60/40, and is predicted to be 50/50 by 2015. ELIC has grown as well. Instead of 6 teachers, ELIC now has hundreds of teachers serving in dozens of cities all across China.

What has not changed, however, is the vital importance that the government and the people continue to place on learning English. Because of the excellent reputation that ELIC has within China, ELIC is well-positioned to continue being a source of qualified English teachers who are committed to serving the education needs of the students of China.