A Study On The "Chinese" (Northern Edition) Of The Chinese Textbook In The North Of Thailand

The Chinese people of Yunnan origin living in northern Thailand account for only a small proportion in the total population of the ethnic Chinese in Thailand (less than10percent). Nonetheless, they have been upholding the faith in inheriting Chinese culture. Chinese schools in Yunnan villages in northern Thailand have been engaged in Chinese education for sixty years. But they are still short of various resources, including running funds, teaching staff, and textbooks etc.In the four major links in a teaching process, the textbook plays an extremely important role. The author of this thesis intends to analyze the adaptability of the textbook Mandarin (Northern Thailand Version) by a study on Book9to Book12of the textbook series. Chapter One serves as an introduction to the reasons for selecting the subject, the contents, purpose, significance as well as the method of the study. Relevant theories and the definition of particular terms are also presented in this chapter. Chapter Two gives a review of the status quo of textbook study and the evolution of Chinese textbooks used in northern Thailand. Chapter Three is devoted to analyzing the four parts of text, vocabulary, sentence patterns and exercise in Book9-12of Mandarin (Northern Thailand Version), followed by an introduction to the features of this textbook series. In Chapter Four, the author gives an account of a survey as to the assessment of Mandarin by teachers and students in five schools in northern-Thailand Chiang Rai Province. An analysis of the result of that survey is also carried out in this chapter by using the software package IBM SPSS Statistics19.0as the tool of statistical analysis. Chapter Five contributes to an account of the actual use of Mandarin, including the adaptability of the textbook in terms of the teaching context, an analysis of the learner needs in textbooks, and an analysis of the layout as well as the actual use of Mandarin. In Chapter Six, an evaluation of the textbook Mandarin is given before offering suggestions for improvement, which covers such aspects as the localization of text contents, scientific and systematic enhancement of vocabulary and sentence patterns, more importance attached to listening and speaking practice, the design of matching textbooks in listening and speaking training, the development of reading skills so as to lay a solid basis for writing ability, and the necessity to keep multimedia contents updated and vivid.The publication of Mandarin (Northern Thailand Version) is a sign of progress made by the Chinese education in northern Thailand. The study conducted in this thesis is based on the principles of compiling textbooks and theories on textbook assessment. Recommendations for improvement are proffered in accordance with the problems existing. It is the author’s very motivation of writing this thesis that what should be done to better the Chinese textbook used in northern Thailand so as to promote Chinese education in this area. It is hoped that this study can serve as a modest spur to induce teachers and scholars in northern-Thailand Chinese schools to reflect on the issue of textbook compiling.