An Analysis Of Chinese Teaching In Thai Chinese Schools Based On Educational Narrative Research

Thailand is one of the most important countries along the maritime Silk Road in the new Era as well as an important cooperative partner of China to build the "Belt and Road".With the rapid and further expanding of the Chinese language in Thailand,is it true to draw the conclusion that Chinese language teaching has already reached an ideal stage in Thailand?To seek the answer,the author chooses Jianhua school as a case for study.Jianhua School has long established itself as a leading Chinese school with its distinctive characteristics in teaching the language.I choose it as the representative for Chinese language teaching and research all over Thailand based on the following considerations:Firstly,Chinese language teaching has taken root in Jianhua School for almost 100 years.It undoubtedly belongs to one of the earliest batch of Chinese schools emerging from Thailand;secondly,Chinese language teaching in Jianhua has gradually developed into its own model,namely,the "Jianhua model";and thirdly,Chinese language teaching in Jianhua School covers a broad range of learners,all the way from kindergarten to senior high school,where Chinese classes are taken as required courses.Jianhua School students' Chinese proficiency ranks first all year round among all the other schools in the middle and western regions of Thailand.Language teaching is a dynamic process.If we use only the quantitative method for studying it,as many researchers have been accustomed to doing,we will probably miss a real sense of presence in the teaching process.The author here attempts a different approach by using the qualitative research method(that is,the method of Education Narrative)to analyze various aspects of Chinese teaching in an effort to present the actual status of Chinese teaching existing in local Chinese schools of Thailand.To summarize the Chinese teaching model of Jianhua School and reflect on the enlightenment of this model to other Chinese schools in Thailand,I now come to the following points:First,"The Jianhua Model" mainly demonstrates itself in the following four aspects such as class teaching,curriculum setting,classroom exercises and test evaluation.And the strict Chinese learning retention system that is now operating in Jianhua School makes it possible for the teachers to teach classes by level;second,three tendencies are highlighted in the setting of curriculum;third,in terms of exercises,mainly mechanical ones are emphasized,while communicative drills rarely appear;last,due to the high frequency of tests and evaluations,the reliability and validity of the tests are almost hard to guarantee.In all,the "Jianhua Model" can be viewed as the epitome of Chinese teaching among all Chinese schools in Thailand.Two problems have been found in regard to this model:one is the absence of syllabus for the teachers to follow in teaching,the other is the uneven level of the teachers.In spite of all these,the "Jianhua Model" still retains its own shinning points and we cannot deny the fact that Chinese teaching in local Chinese schools in Thailand has constantly been improving.