Life’s Language Lessons Ghanaian students look toward learning Chinese as a way to find opportunities

While some struggle to find their path in life. for others, nature aligns things for them. This is what happened to Edward .loseph Yawson, a 26-year-old teaching assistant at the Chinese Section of the Department of Modern Languages, Uni versity of Ghana, Legon, who trusted his intuition when a Chinese language course was offered to him.

A Case Study on the Mapping of Gender in Euphemisms Used by Chinese and American College Students

This study focuses on the differences in use of euphemisms by college students in China and the United States with empirical approach along with anthropological theories.450 college students in two Chinese and American universities participate in this study.The data are analyzed before differences in use of euphemisms are deducted by three groups.The results reveal that gender does play a role in euphemism use.Female college students speak more euphemistically both in China and America;while Chinese college students are more euphemistic in speaking than their American counterparts.

Survey and Analysis of Chinese Learning Needs of International Students-A Case Study of International Students Majoring in MBA and MPA in a College of The Belt and Road

This study investigated the Chinese learning motivation,learning goals and learning strategies of 26 international students majoring in MBA and MPA at a university with The belt and road college,mainly by questionnaire and interview method,supplemented by classroom observation method.The survey found that 20 of the 24 international students were zero-start Chinese learners,and their learning motivation was mainly"instrumental"and"intrinsic",and they had high enthusiasm for Chinese language and Chinese culture.They have a high enthusiasm for Chinese language and culture,and will actively solve the difficulties they encounter in learning Chinese.At the same time,this study conducted a questionnaire survey on the needs of international students in terms of curriculum and content,teaching materials,teaching assessment and extracurricular activities,combined with the results of individual and group interviews and classroom observations,to summarize the real needs of international students in various aspects of Chinese language learning,so as to provide teaching reference for teachers teaching international students,and to provide a reference for colleges and universities to develop Chinese teaching programs.The survey will provide a basis for the colleges and universities to formulate Chinese teaching programs and coordinate teaching activities,so as to help international students learn Chinese better.

Using Technology-Supported Enrichment Activities to Extend Student Learning in a Chinese as a Foreign Language

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether exposing middle school students to content above their ability level produced significant differences in students’confidence in their Chinese as a foreign language competence in each of the following four areas:reading,listening,speaking,and learning vocabulary.Participants(N=30)were sixth and seventh graders.Results of paired t-test analyses indicated that there was no significant difference in student confidence in Chinese reading competence,t(30)=0.78,p=0.22;in Chinese speaking competence,t(30)=-0.50,p=0.31;or to learn Chinese vocabulary,t(30)=-0.80,p=0.21.However,there was a significant difference in student confidence in ability to learn Chinese listening,t(30)=-1.78,p<0.05.It is suggested that exposing students to content well above their ability level can increase their confidence in ability to learn Chinese listening.

Intercultural Competence Development of Chinese Students After a Short-Term Study Abroad Experience

This study investigated Chinese students’ intercultural competence and linguistic growth during a six-week study abroad program. The students and their professor participated in pre- and post-tests covering written and oral language competency as well as intercultural competence. The Global Scale of English assessed student language development to determine linguistic growth and the Assessment of Intercultural Competence of Chinese College Students (AIC-CCS) was used to determine student growth of intercultural competence skills, specifically related to cultural knowledge, skills, attitudes, and awareness as a result of their experiences in a non-Western context. Results indicated that students experienced a change in the salience of intercultural knowledge themes over their period abroad, as well as improved their individual language abilities. This study provides suggestions for future programming focused on the development of Chinese student intercultural competencies during short-term study abroad experiences in Western university environments.

An Analysis of Lexical Errors in Chinese Senior One Students' English Writing

Lexical errors made by language learners frequently in the language learning process play a significant role in language teaching and learning. This paper, based on the theory of error analysis, mainly analyzes lexical errors made by Chinese senior one students in their writing and aims to find out the main types of lexical errors and the most frequent lexical errors in their writing. The results are of great significance and importance for language teaching and learning.

Producing Podcasts in a Chinese Classroom: A Digital Humanities Project

This action research which situates itself in the context of Digital Humanities focuses on engaging students of Introductory Chinese course with an assignment to create podcasts in the form of an interview.Requiring students to integrate the aural,oral,and textural information via technology so as to carry a conversation with an interlocutor challenges them to convey their thoughts from the language they think in into meaningful ideas using the target language.In this way,students are“pushed”to convert their listening,speaking,and writing from being isolated components into a more dynamic and cohesive mode of communicating.As they explore expressing their ideas in the language they are learning,they develop the skills and sensibility needed to critically analyze their own work.Although limited in scale,the podcast format urges students to transform what they need to learn into a familiar product.

Literature Review on Factors Contributing to the Silence of Students in University-Level English Class

College students tend to be quiet when it comes to practice their spoken English,and therefore it is a challenging task for language teachers to involve all students in speaking activities.Not only are teachers frustrated,the students are disappointed.Despite teachers’classroom management skills and the abilities to organize speaking activities,the general reasons that lie behind student’s reluctance needs to be explored.Though various studies have been carried out,a lack of thorough review on the existing literature has prevented teachers from exploring some main reasons.Therefore,a complete literature review on factors contributing to college student’s silence is needed.It will be able to provide insights into some possible potential reasons.

Research on Effect of Age Parameter in Second Language Acquisition

In the filed of Second Language Acquisition (SLA),language learners'final competence and learning efficiency could be greatly influenced by individual differences,including language aptitude,learners'motivation,first language context and age.These individual differences mentioned above are always regarded as the remarkable parameters in the study on SLA.As one of the most influential parameter,age newly has been re-fetched by contemporary SLA researchers and in this research field critical and sensitive period hypothesis are set as highly valuable research target to explore the problems of learning rate,teaching method ology and language policy.This article firstly introduces the basic theoretical framework of critical and sensitive period hypothesis,and then explores the relation of these two hypotheses and the SLA by existing experimental results.Based on detailed theoretical introduction and exploration of recent research experiment,implications of critical and sensitive period hypothesis are further ap plied in the Chinese teaching context,i.e.the feasibility of age-based multi-methodology teaching method.Meanwhile,exist ing limitations of current major research in this filed also will be presented in order to assist the future experimental study in Chi nese teaching context,especially university ESL teaching.

The Application of TBL Using Role Play to Introduce Vocabulary in China's Private Language School

A specific application of task-based learning in teaching vocabulary to young learners and a complete task cycle using role play to present vocabulary in China's private language school would be described in the study. The participants aged between 7 and 9 are thought to be starters according to their language competence in Common European Framework of Reference for language. The rationale for stages in the task cycle will be fully explored with reference to Piaget and Vygotsky's theory in teaching young learners. The advantages of the adoption of TBL with young learners will be illustrated and some possible problems in implementing TBL in China, a representative country of Confucian-heritage culture would also be discussed in the paper. The study indicates that young learners in China are quite welcome this new approach in their English classes, but the targeted learners' age and background information need to be taken into consideration when actually implement this approach.

A Review of Research on Technology-Assisted Teaching and Learning of Chinese as a Second or Foreign Language from 2008 to 2018

More and more studies are examining the use of technology in the teaching of Mandarin Chinese as a second or foreign language(L2 Chinese).The current study involved a systematic review of the literature in the field published outside China from 2008 to 2018.A total of 33 studies met the inclusion criteria.The current review study aimed:(1)to examine the research topics and technologies used in the literature;(2)to identify the benefits of,and challenges involved in,the use of technologies in L2 Chinese teaching and learning;and(3)to suggest implications for practitioners and directions for further research.The review study provides educators and researchers with an overview of recent developments in this field,which could be helpful in informing teaching practice and further research.

The Teaching and Learning of Chinese as a Second or Foreign Language:The Current Situation and Future Directions

In this opening commentary,we highlight the development of the teaching and learning of Chinese as a second or foreign language(CSL/CFL),which has attracted much attention from researchers,language educators,and other stakeholders worldwide.To contribute to this ongoing examination and discussion,this special issue documents the collective efforts of scholars in different educational contexts to review six critical issues in teaching and learning CSL/CFL:learning and instruction of reading Chinese as an additional language,Chinese character teaching and learning,learner identity in CSL/CFL education,teaching and learning Chinese through immersion,technology assisted CSL/CFL teaching and learning,and mobile assisted learning CFL.We contend that all efforts to address these critical issues require constant examination to facilitate further development in CSL/CFL education around the world.

二语汉语词汇习得的三维耦合互动模式探析

从多学科视角分析二语汉语词汇学习中所涉及的三个重要的非自主认知维度,即语言知识、社会文化和情感态度。汉语词汇习得的过程就是将这三个维度下的非自主认知元素不断进行认知内化的过程。互动是实现汉语词汇习得的有效途径,包括人际互动和语层互动,两者的结合能够将三维非自主认知元素进行有机联结。人际互动和语层互动的融合可能会产生一种加快词汇认知内化的促进效应,根据汉语学习者最近发展区的预设进行持续性地反馈互动是这种促进效应产生的关键。本文对多语层语境下三维耦合互动的具体实现路径进行了详细阐述。

游戏化虚拟情境在国际中文教育中的应用——语篇认知与情绪动机的效用视角

随着中国全球影响力的不断提升与国际中文学习需求的日益增长,利用信息技术促进汉语二语学习成为研究热点。研究旨在探究游戏化虚拟情境对国际中文学习者的语篇认知水平和情绪动机的影响。研究采用准实验研究方法,分析了65名学习者在游戏化虚拟情境和常规做题情境下的基础词汇、语篇理解、语言交流意愿和语言学习焦虑的前后测的分数差异。结果显示,实验组在基础词汇和语篇理解方面的后测成绩显著高于对照组,且实验组的词汇和语篇理解后测成绩均显著高于前测。在情绪动机方面,实验组在游戏化虚拟情境中的语言学习焦虑显著降低,而对照组则无显著变化。研究为数字化技术在国际中文教育领域的应用提供了有力的研究证据。

美国外语教育培养目标剖析与启示——以AP汉语与文化课为例

美国AP汉语与文化课以5C为指导,以语言沟通三种模式（人际沟通、理解诠释和表达演示）为核心,在汉语学习中注重“交际”,强调“文化”,重视“活动”,对我国的外语教学有着很好的启示作用。

基于SLA理论的少数民族汉语写作教学探讨

文章以Ellis和Gass的第二语言习得(SLA)研究的观点以及Krashen的语言输入假说、情感过滤假说为依据,尝试着突破原有汉语写作教学框架,结合个案教学实验,从语言输入角度提出背诵、阅读与写作三者相结合的训练方式,并认为这种方式是少数民族汉语写作教学行之有效的训练方式。同时指出在重视语言输入的重要性时,还应强调重视学习者的个体因素与认知水平,因为它将影响语言输入与输出的有效性。