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Introduction Of Christian Culture To College English Teaching As Optional Courses

Posted on:2008-12-15Degree:MasterType:Thesis
Country:ChinaCandidate:G R X ShangFull Text:PDF
GTID:2155360242968691Subject:Foreign Linguistics and Applied Linguistics
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Culture has played a more and more important role in modern foreign language teaching. College English Curriculum (revised version) issued in 2003 clearly stated that "College English courses do not only concern with the basic language knowledge, but also serve as quality education courses to help students broaden knowledge horizon and comprehend worldwide cultures. " so college English curriculum should focus on students' cultural cultivation and impartment of foreign cultures, make the best use of culture carrier language, and help students get more knowledge about western culture, such as custom, science and technology and religious believes and etc to enhance their human concern and cultural cognition.In the long history of human development, religious culture as an important component of human culture has exerted great influence on language. As the dominant moral standards in western world, influence of Christian culture on English language is far more fundamental and essential. Although more and more scholars and English teachers have written many papers and works in terms of cultural teaching in English teaching from different aspects. But the teaching of Christian culture has evoked little attention of majority of scholars and English teachers, let alone specialized research on this aspects, In classroom teaching, priority is being given to accuracy of language forms and the formation of students' ability, rather to the cultural elements that are hidden behind the language and neglected deliberately or unconsciously, especially religious topics on which vast English teachers closely guard as a secret. With increase of international communication, to comprehend religious culture of the target country and respect their religious belief has been the important base of mutual understanding and communication.College studying is a critical period to cultivate cultural awareness of college students. English curriculum covers quite a lot about Christian culture, for example, many festivals derived from Christian culture, idioms originated in Bible, all of which are presented in the students' textbook in various forms of studying materials in reading comprehension, listening comprehension and oral practice. Therefore, it is vital to introduce some Christian culture into College English teaching. Introducing Christian culture into college English teaching is helpful to evoke students' interests to learn English, deepen their cultural comprehension, improve their cultural cognition standards and enhance their comprehensive English ability. Actually, few people have tried doing this and few students try to get information about Christian culture through self reading. Thus, the religious culture is missing in language teaching.This paper explores necessity and practical implication to introduce Christian culture into college English teaching. Firstly, this paper defines relationships between culture and language, Christian culture and English language. In the long history, Christian basic beliefs, daily religious activities and rites, Christian festivals and etc have formed particular language circle, while Christian values has exerted great influence on English language. Bible influence on English proverbs, illusions, idioms and names of people and places are illustrated as well as the influence Christian thoughts have exerted on English language. The paper also explores on some theories of culture teaching followed by the specific teaching approaches. The following chapter explores on the practical teaching methods of introducing Christian culture into college English teaching. In terms of particularity and complexity of Christian culture, the paper mainly introduces some teaching methods employed in cultural optional courses. The teaching methods mainly mentioned here include culture lecture, story telling, mini-drama, reading comprehension, audio films, art appreciation, multi-media teaching. Although with many limitations, the paper is aimed to arouse the attention of majority college English teachers towards religious culture and to let them face problem of religious culture absence in college English teaching. Simultaneously, the paper proposes some teaching methods which are hoped to shed light on actual college English teaching.
Keywords/Search Tags:language, culture, Christian culture, culture teaching, college English teaching
PDF Full Text Request
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