Chinese As A Foreign Language Classroom Instruction, Multimedia Courseware Design And Applied Research

With the rapid development of Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (TCFL) in last decades, more and more people are focusing on how to improve the quality of TCFL. Meanwhile, the rapid growth of technology, especially the wide application of the computer, has made Multimedia Computer-Assisted Instruction (MCAI) a hotspot in the field of TCFL. The relevant research of this topic started late but has developed quickly in China, and there are many different angles from which one could approach it. Multimedia-courseware is the core of MCAI. Owing to this, and based on related research in China and abroad, this paper discusses design principles of MCAI courseware from the theoretical and applied aspects. This paper explores principles and methods of designing MCAI courseware, lists its existent problems in practical operation and application in classes, sums up its principles of application, proposes some suggestions about how to measure the validity of MCAI courseware, and discusses its application in different TCFL classes.First of all, this paper looks back on the development of MCAI in China and abroad, summarizes and expounds on its application, especially in teaching language and TCFL. MCAI will continue to grow in popularity. After that, this paper provides a series of methods on how to design and use MCAI courseware.From the theoretical aspect, this paper is based on the cognitive law of learning Chinese. In examining how foreign students learn Chinese, it was found that combining visual, oral and aural material and activities significantly improved students'proficiency. Further more, this paper, proceeding from learning theories and teaching theories and based on the particularity of TCFL, deeply analyzes fundamental principles of using MCAI courseware in class, and tries to build up a solid and effective theoretical foundation for teachers in using MCAI courseware. Cognitive Learning Theory, Constructivist Learning Theory and Second Language Acquisition Theories were referenced as learning theories. About teaching theories, this paper traces the development from teacher-centered to student-centered theories, and then from student-centered to student-centered plus teacher-introduced theories of teaching. All of the above have direct influence on MCAI courseware. At the same time, according to the Gestalt theory, this paper puts forward some basic rules in designing the layout of courseware.From the applied aspect, this paper focuses on the design of MCAI courseware and its application in class. Regarding courseware design, this paper details the process of analyzing the requirements and goals of the course, designing the script and structure of the courseware, collecting material and making the courseware, and finally debugging and maintaining the courseware. Further more, this paper explores some characteristics all MCAI courseware should have, such as being normative, assistant, valid, scientific, etc. Based on the above, the writer analyzes a typical example of MCAI courseware. Regarding the usage of MCAI courseware, this paper presents some principles based on practical classroom experience. Next, a model of MCAI courseware was developed based on results of pedagogical research, which can effectively evaluate the quality of courseware and the result of its application, and so provide feedback to teachers. Meanwhile, the paper also predicts some issues we should pay attention to in its application. Finally, the characteristics of different MCAI courseware and their application are systematically analyzed.All in all, in this paper, skills in designing and applying MCAI courseware have been developed for TCFL instructors, which can bring MCAI into real practice, so that teaching quality can be greatly improved.