Reflections On Teaching Chinese Culture To Speakers Of Other Languages: Lessons From AP Chinese Course

Since1980s, China has made great achievements in areas of politics, economy, culture, and technology. In the21st century, China has been making even more striking progress and has become an important power in the world. With the enhancement of national power and the increase in national status, Chinese language has gained popularity around the world in recent years. The first "International Conference on Chinese Language" in2005marks that Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (TCSOL) has entered an new phase, which features the promotion of Chinese language worldwide. And the teaching of Chinese culture definitely plays a salient role in achieving this goal.The establishment of AP (Advanced Placement Program)-Chinese Language and Culture is a milestone in the history of Chinese language education in the US. The design of AP reflects cutting-edge philosophy on foreign language education. And the most significant characteristic of AP Chinese course is the emphasis on Chinese culture during language acquisition. Without doubt, language and culture are interrelated and interdependent. Learning Chinese is not only about the language itself, but also concerning the culture that imbedded in Chinese language. Therefore, this article reviews the current status and pressing issues of Chinese culture teaching; analyzes the principle and successful experience of AP Chinese course, and proposes feasible recommendations for culture teaching in TCSOL.