Conceptions of the role of culture in foreign language education in China
Interest in foreign language, in particular English, education in China has grown considerably in the past three decades, not only in terms of linguistic aspects, but also, more recently, its cultural dimension. The recent syllabuses for non-English and English majors have placed emphasis, to varying extents, on the development of studentsâ cultural knowledge and/or intercultural communicative competence. The purpose of the research reported in this dissertation is to provide a panoramic picture and a characterisation of the conceptions of culture and its role in English language teaching and learning in China. The research was designed as two discrete, but related, studies: a survey of academic publications; and a field study. The survey aimed at providing a systematic account of the main themes and emphases of writings about culture teaching and intercultural communication studies. Its aim was to discover the research interests, beliefs about culture and the role of culture in foreign language, mainly English, education, and culture teaching techniques. The field study employed semi-structured interviews and non-participant classroom observations to investigate Chinese university EFL teachersâ conceptions
Qian, Lihua
Language and culture ; Languages, Modern
Conceptions of the role of culture in foreign language education in China. Interest in foreign language, in particular English, education in China has grown considerably in the past three decades, not only in terms of linguistic aspects, but also, more recently, its cultural dimension. The recent syllabuses for non-English and English majors have placed emphasis, to varying extents, on the development of studentsâ cultural knowledge and/or intercultural communicative competence. The purpose of the research reported in this dissertation is to provide a panoramic picture and a characterisation of the conceptions of culture and its role in English language teaching and learning in China. The research was designed as two discrete, but related, studies: a survey of academic publications; and a field study. The survey aimed at providing a systematic account of the main themes and emphases of writings about culture teaching and intercultural communication studies. Its aim was to discover the research interests, beliefs about culture and the role of culture in foreign language, mainly English, education, and culture teaching techniques. The field study employed semi-structured interviews and non-participant classroom observations to investigate Chinese university EFL teachersâ conceptions
role culture foreign_language education china interest foreign_language particular english_education china grown considerably term linguistic aspect also recently cultural dimension recent non english english major place_emphasis vary extent development student cultural knowledge and intercultural communicative competence purpose report provide picture characterisation conception culture role english_language teach_learn china design discrete relate study survey academic publication field study survey aim_provide systematic_account main_theme writings culture teach intercultural_communication study aim_discover interest beliefs culture role culture foreign_language mainly english_education culture teach technique field study employ semi_structured_interview non participant classroom_observation investigate chinese university efl_teacher conception