An Investigation On The Present Situation Of Chinese Teaching In Confucius Institutes At Chiang Mai University In Thailand

Since December 2006, the Confucius Institute at Chiang Mai University in Thailand began teaching Chinese. After nine years ’development, its Chinese teaching scale expands year by year with the increasing academic types of Chinese course, the improving faculty quality and the rising number of students. However,there exist some problems in the Chinese language teaching due to some objective factors like curriculum provision, faculty and teaching materials. Based on related study theory, this thesis intends to investigate the temporary status of Chinese teaching in Confucius Institute at Chiang Mai University with the use of personal interviews, questionnaires, etc. Thus to put forward problem-referential strategies after analyzing the situation of the Chinese curriculum provision, Chinese teachers,learners and teaching materials,etc.The thesis is divided into five chapters:The first chapter describes the development of Chinese teaching in Confucius Institute at Chiang Mai University, and introduces the location and the Chinese language teaching status of Chiang Mai. Then it analyzes the reasons why Confucius institute must strengthen Chinese teaching to meet the needs of students learning Chinese language.The second chapter describes the situation of Chinese curriculum provision of the Confucius Institute at Chiang Mai University in Thailand. By evaluating and analyzing Chinese curriculum provision, it comes to a conclusion that the amount of hours of normal Chinese courses and Chinese talent courses should be increased, and the continuity of Chinese courses, the links between the Chinese courses are to be strengthened.The third chapter applies the method of questionnaires and interviews to analyze status of Chinese faculty and combines with problems exist in Chinese teaching to suggest that school should have a stable faculty within which that teaching experience could be shared and the language teaching quality could be improved.The fourth chapter bases on the questionnaire to analyze Chinese learners’ basic situation, learning motivation, autonomy and continuity. Combing with the problems of the learners themselves, the paper puts that full consideration should be paid to individual differences to meet the needs of different students. Also the small class model and hierarchical teaching should be stressed.The fifth chapter found the lack of coordination between the textbooks and teaching targets by investigating Chinese textbooks used in the Institute. The Chinese textbooks need to take the "localization" roads. Attention should be paid to the preparation for the local Chinese language teaching materials and the continuity of knowledge among Chinese textbooks and etc.