Teaching and learning Chinese as a foreign language : a pedagogical grammar

335 Pages·2016·3.65 MB·English

by  Janet Zhiqun Xing

Teaching and Learning Chinese T
e
a
as a Foreign Language c
h
i
A Pedagogical Grammar n
g

a
n
d
This book provides a research-based account of how to teach and learn Chinese L
as a foreign language. In addition to the discussion of relevant second/foreign e
a
language research, this volume gives detailed information on ways to develop a
r
pedagogical model that is uniquely suited to teaching Chinese in five key areas: n
i
pronunciation (tones and p%ny%n), characters and words, sentences (when and why n
different sentence structures are used), discourse and pragmatic competence g

(coherence and genre), and cultural competence. Specially written for Chinese C
language teachers, student teachers and applied linguists, this is the first book h
written in English that systematically addresses all major aspects involved in in
teaching and learning Chinese as a foreign language. This book covers all the e
s
fundamental grammar elements in Chinese, explains their functions in discourse
e
and communication, and explores different strategies for teaching and engaging
a
students in learning the language. s

a
Janet Zhiqun Xing is an associate professor of Chinese and linguistics at Western

F
Washington University. She specializes in discourse analysis, historical linguistics,
o
and teaching Chinese as a second language. r
e
i
* * * * * g
n
“Xing builds upon an impressively broad base of research in language acquisition L
and pedagogy, as well as some of the most important Chinese linguistic studies. a
n
From the dual perspectives of a learner and teacher of Chinese, it is a book that
g
is of great use to both types of audiences.” Scott McGinnis, Associate Professor,
u
Defense Language Institute, Washington Office a
g

“This highly valuable reference book for Chinese language professionals and e
students is impressive product of the extensive knowledge and experience of Dr
Xing, who is an accomplished discourse grammarian, outstanding teacher and
J
a
experienced language program director.” Yen-hui Audrey Li, Professor of East n
e
Asian Languages and Cultures, University of Southern California t Z
h
iq
u
n
X
in
Chinese Language Education g
ISBN 962-209-763-4
www.hkupress.org 9 789622 097636
Printed and bound in the United States
Teaching(Cover)(2) 1 3/12/10, 3:23 PM
Teaching and Learning Chinese T
e
a
as a Foreign Language c
h
i
A Pedagogical Grammar n
g

a
n
d
This book provides a research-based account of how to teach and learn Chinese L
as a foreign language. In addition to the discussion of relevant second/foreign e
a
language research, this volume gives detailed information on ways to develop a
r
pedagogical model that is uniquely suited to teaching Chinese in five key areas: n
i
pronunciation (tones and p%ny%n), characters and words, sentences (when and why n
different sentence structures are used), discourse and pragmatic competence g

(coherence and genre), and cultural competence. Specially written for Chinese C
language teachers, student teachers and applied linguists, this is the first book h
written in English that systematically addresses all major aspects involved in in
teaching and learning Chinese as a foreign language. This book covers all the e
s
fundamental grammar elements in Chinese, explains their functions in discourse
e
and communication, and explores different strategies for teaching and engaging
a
students in learning the language. s

a
Janet Zhiqun Xing is an associate professor of Chinese and linguistics at Western

F
Washington University. She specializes in discourse analysis, historical linguistics,
o
and teaching Chinese as a second language. r
e
i
* * * * * g
n
“Xing builds upon an impressively broad base of research in language acquisition L
and pedagogy, as well as some of the most important Chinese linguistic studies. a
n
From the dual perspectives of a learner and teacher of Chinese, it is a book that
g
is of great use to both types of audiences.” Scott McGinnis, Associate Professor,
u
Defense Language Institute, Washington Office a
g

“This highly valuable reference book for Chinese language professionals and e
students is impressive product of the extensive knowledge and experience of Dr
Xing, who is an accomplished discourse grammarian, outstanding teacher and
J
a
experienced language program director.” Yen-hui Audrey Li, Professor of East n
e
Asian Languages and Cultures, University of Southern California t Z
h
iq
u
n
X
in
Chinese Language Education g
ISBN 962-209-763-4
www.hkupress.org 9 789622 097636
Printed and bound in the United States
Teaching(Cover)(2) 1 3/12/10, 3:23 PM
Hong Kong University Press thanks Xu Bing for writing the Press’s name in his Square Word
Calligraphy for the covers of its books. For further information, see p. iv.
Teaching Prelim(i-iv) 1 12/15/05, 11:36 AM
For Tom, Jenny and Julie

Teaching Prelim(i-iv) 2 12/15/05, 11:36 AM
Teaching Prelim(i-iv) 3 12/15/05, 11:36 AM
Hong Kong University Press
14/F Hing Wai Centre
7 Tin Wan Praya Road
Aberdeen
Hong Kong
© Hong Kong University Press 2006
ISBN 962 209 762 6 (Hardback)
ISBN 962 209 763 4 (Paperback)
All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without
permission in writing from the publisher.
Secure On-line Ordering
http://www.hkupress.org
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Printed and bound by Lightning Source, the United States
Hong Kong University Press is honoured that Xu Bing, whose art explores the
complex th emes of language across cultures, has written the Press’s name in
his Square Word Calligraphy. This signals our commitment to cross-cultural
thinking and the distinctive nature of our English-language books published in
China.
“At first glance, Square Word Calligraphy appears to be nothing more unusual
than Chinese characters, but in fact it is a new way of rendering English words
in the format of a square so they resemble Chinese characters. Chinese viewers
expect to be able to read Square word Calligraphy but cannot. Western viewers,
however are surprised to find they can read it. Delight erupts when meaning is
unexpectedly revealed.”
— Britta Erickson, The Art of Xu Bing
Teaching Prelim(i-iv) 4 12/15/05, 11:36 AM
Contents

Preface ix
1 Preliminaries 1
1.1 Aims of This Book 1
1.2 Chinese Grammar and Pedagogical Grammar of Chinese 3
1.3 Prior and Current Work on Language Pedagogy and Acquisition 5
1.4 Where and Who? 11
1.5 Standards and Assessment 18
1.6 Mandarin vs. Other Dialects 26
1.7 Summary and Outline of the Book 27
2 Pedagogical Grammar of Chinese: Content 29
2.1 Introduction 29
2.2 Curriculum 30
2.3 Teaching Materials 40
2.4 Stratification of Pedagogical Grammar of Chinese 52
2.5 Authenticity 58
2.6 Conclusion 59
3 Methodology 61
3.1 Introduction 61
3.2 Chinese Methods (in China) 63

3.3 Non-Chinese Methods (outside China) 65
3.4 Suggested Model 71
3.5 Characteristics of Classes 82
3.6 Accuracy 84
3.7 Conclusion 86
4 Pronunciation 87
4.1 Introduction 87
4.2 Common Teaching and Learning Models 90
4.3 Difficulties in Acquisition 92
4.4 Suggested Model for Teaching and Learning 94
4.5 Conclusion 99
vi Contents

5 Characters and Words 101
5.1 Introduction 101
5.2 Structure of Characters 106
5.3 Characteristics of cí 116
5.4 Difficulties in Acquisition 125
5.5 Suggested Teaching and Learning Models 125
5.6 Words and References 130
5.7 Conclusion 132
6 Sentences 133
6.1 Introduction 133
6.2 Acquisition of Basic Sentences 134
6.3 Acquisition of Unique Sentences 144
6.4 Acquisition of Nominal Clauses 160
6.5 Conclusion 164
7 Discourse and Pragmatics 165
7.1 Introduction 165
7.2 Discourse Devices 166
7.3 Discourse Modes 201
7.4 Discourse Style 216
7.5 Interpretation and Pragmatics 233
7.6 Conclusion 234
8 Culture in Teaching and Learning Chinese as a Foreign Language 237
8.1 Introduction 237
8.2 Cultural Content and Language Proficiency 238
8.3 Teaching and Learning Chinese Culture in Language Classes 242
8.4 Learning Activities 259
8.5 Teaching Strategies 260
8.6 Assessment 262
8.7 Conclusion 263
9 Conclusion 265

9.1 Introduction 265
9.2 (Un)commonness of Chinese 265
9.3 Further Remarks on Teaching and Learning 267
9.4 Resources for Learning Chinese 268
9.5 Directions for Future Work 272
Contents vii
Appendices
Appendix I 275
Appendix II 278
Appendix III 281
Appendix IV 282
Appendix V 285
Appendix VI 286
Appendix VII 288
Notes 291
References 295
Index 319
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