The Role of Acculturation in Chinese Reading Ability Development of CSL Learners

Based on acculturation mode, the purpose of this study is to examine the correlation between Chinese as a second language / Chinese as a foreign language (CSL/CFL) learners’ culture adaption and their Chinese reading ability. Most acculturation research has been conducted in immigrant settings and oral ability is commonly selected as an indicator. However, this study is characterized by examining acculturation mode in reading ability. The sample consisted of 96 CSL/CFL learners, who enrolled intensive Chinese language course in Taiwan. The result shows that there exists a positive correlation between the acculturation to Taiwanese culture and the development of Chinese reading ability. According to correlation analysis, there is a positive correlation between “social interaction” and “vocabulary and grammar”. A positive correlation also exists between “cultural practice” and “reading comprehension”. This study is significant by two contributions. The first is to extend the research scope of acculturation mode from CSL/CFL learners and from oral competence to reading ability. The second is to explore the essential cultural factors that have a significant relationship with the development of Chinese reading ability, aiming to providing a reference for the course design of Chinese language programs.

Keywords

acculturation culture adaption Chinese reading ability teaching Chinese as a foreigner language

source

International Journal of Chinese Language Education; Dec 2017; Issue No. 2; p.29 - 44

Publisher

Department of Chinese Language Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong
Chinese Language Program, Columbia University
Chung Hwa Book Co. (H.K.) Ltd.

Language

Chinese

ISSN

2520-7733 (Print); 2521-4241 (Online)