Investigation And Analysis Of The Chinese Pronunciation Learning Needs And Materials Evaluation Of Malaysian Undergraduates

The purpose of teaching Chinese as a foreign language is to cultivate and improve the ability of the learners to communicate using the Chinese language. Since communication and pronunciation are closely related, having an effective method to teach the Chinese pronunciation would reduce the difficulties encountered by the learners and consequently enhance their interest in learning the language. Furthermore, understanding the learning needs of the students is a must before an instructional design as it directly affects the teaching and learning process.Needs analysis has been viewed as a key factor in foreign language teaching since the1970s. It has directive significance to teaching Chinese as a foreign language in terms of syllabus design, teaching program, teaching materials and teaching methods. Hence a clear understanding of the learning needs of Malaysian Chinese language learners is not only useful in helping the students in learning and using Chinese effectively, but is also instructive for the teachers in delivering the lessons.With reference to both local and overseas literatures related to needs analysis, this thesis reports the investigation and analysis of the research done to understand the learning needs and textbooks evaluation of Malaysian undergraduates based on questionnaire and interview. With focus on the learning of Chinese pronunciation, it is found that the learning needs of Malaysian undergraduates are closely related to their reasons for studying Chinese language and also their multilingual and multicultural background. Through analysis of the results, corresponding proposals in terms of curriculum arrangement, teaching focus, teaching activities and teaching materials have been made to enhance the quality of Chinese language teaching as a foreign language in Malaysia.