A Study Of Chinese Local Culture Teaching & Learning For Vocational College Students

Higher Vocational-technical Education (HVTE) is an important component of higher education in our country. The objectives for HVTE is to train practical talents in production, technology, service, management, etc. Therefore, to better the students' abilities to use English and to promote Chinese local culture so that foreigners can get a better understanding of China during cross-culture communication is a crucial task in vocational college English teaching. With China's entry into WTO, the host of 2008 Olympic Games, numerous international companies in China will afford not only more employments for vocational college students but opportunities to communicate with foreigners as well. However, during those activities, because being lack of knowledge, students can't express Chinese traditional culture correctly. That is called "中国文化失语症(Zhang Youping, 2003) " The study of Chinese local culture definitely shows the necessity in vocational college English teaching according to the Basic Requirements for HVTE English Course in 2000.To solve the learners' problems and to overcome their difficulties, this research on how to teach & leam Chinese local culture in vocational college English classroom is carried out.Firstly, the survey which the author made on teaching & learning local culture in vocational colleges and the problems is analyzed. Compared with Chinese traditional culture, students are more capable at describing western culture. One reason for this is that little attention has been devoted to Chinese local culture both by teachers & students. The other reason is most students aren't aware that culture especially Chinese traditional culture plays an important role in their college English learning and their profession in the future, therefore, teachers don't give enough explanations and emphasis in and out of English class. Luckily, most learners are positive to learn Chinese local culture in English lessons.Secondly, the author elaborates how some ways are applies to local culture teaching. First, to make both the teachers and students realize the importance of local culture and develop their local cultural awareness is the key factor to improve the students' abilities. Students should get better understanding of the relationship between language and local culture. Second, evoke local culture with textbooks by making comparisons between English and Chinese culture, drawing students' attention to Chinese traditional culture and to give stronger emphasis on it.Then, it's necessary to supplementary materials because of the limitation with textbooks only. The contents involves 10 typical topics on Chinese traditional culture. the teachers' & students' standards of local culture should be taken into consideration as well as students' when the content of the textbooks is enriched. Meanwhile, the difference between students' majors can't be ignored.Finally, be sure to help the students to take advantages of computer-based education, collecting Chinese traditional resources on the internet for group discussion ,etc.Based on the discussion above, the author tries to raise teachers' & students' local cultural awareness in the end of the dissertation. Besides, the author points out one suggestion and one problem. The suggestion is to make Chinese local culture teaching & learning clear in the Basic Requirements for HVTE English Course. The problem is how to evaluate what the learners have gained on local culture. It is hoped to be helpful to other teachers.