A Comparative Study Of The Cultural Activities Of The Confucius Institute In The United States And The Language Communication Organizations Of The Four Countries In China

The promotion of national soft power is an important means to enhance the comprehensive national strength in the world.The spread of language and culture around the world is crucial to improve a country's soft power.France,the United Kingdom,Germany,Spain have set up the French alliance,the British council,the Goethe-Institut and the Instituto Cervantes as the main institutes to promote their own language and culture.These institutes were established early and developed for a long time,and got enormous achievement of language and culture promotion in the world.As a young language and cultural communication institute,Confucius Institute has developed rapidly and made remarkable achievements.However,in the process of development,insufficient effects of cultural activities also appeared,which affected the promotion of Chinese culture around the world.History of literature and data analysis are the main research methods used in this paper.French alliance,British Council,the Goethe-Institut,the Instituto Cervantes in China and 10 Confucius institutes in the United States are the research objects.Five data bases are established by collecting cultural activities information of language communication institutes of four countries in China and 10 Confucius institutes in the United States,Cultural Activities of the French Alliance in China in 2017,Cultural Activities of the British Council in China in 2017,Cultural Activities of the Goethe-Institut in China in 2017,Cultural Activities of the Instituto Cervantes in China in 2017 and Cultural Activities of 10 Confucius Institutes in the United States in 2017.These data bases include the time,place,language,consumption type,details,form,content,series,participants of cultural activities.Based on the five databases,the commons and differences are concluded through the comparisons and analysis of the five language and cultural communication institutes.Commons are as follows:1.Various forms;2.Rich and diversified contents with prominent advantages and characteristics;3.Rely mainly on its own site;4.Free attendance.Differences are as follows:1.Emphasis on different forms;2.The language communication institutions of four countries in China work closely with all parties in the community and focus on online activities;3.The language communication institutions of four countries in China enhance their attractiveness with different forms of incentives;4.The language communication institutions of four countries in China mainly focus on large-scale serialized activities,while the 10 Confucius institutes in the United States mainly focus on small-scale independent activities.Based on the comparison results,this paper analyzes the problems existing in organizing and carrying out cultural activities of 10 Confucius institutes in the United States:1.Unbalanced and polarized development;2.Focus on the surface of the content,lack of depth;3.Low digital level and limited communication space;4.Few series of activities and weak brand awareness;5.Limited cooperation among all parties and limited social image.In view of the problems existing in 10 Confucius institutes in the United States,suggestions are proposed for improving the effect of cultural activities of Confucius institutes in the United States based on the successful experience of cultural activities of the language communication institutes of four countries in China:1.Accelerate the localization process to find cultural resonance;2.Extract cultural essence to improve brand effect;3.Follow the trend of the times and enhance innovation capability;4.Focus on modern development and human destiny.