Wu Dialect Teaching Research On Foreign Students Of Soochow University In1920s

Suzhou is a city with long history and it has various and unique traditional culturalheritages, such as gardens, stone bridges, Kunqu Opera, storytelling and ballad singing inSuzhou dialect, and so on. However, all of these traditional cultural heritages need to beinherited by Wu dialect. Thus it can be seen that Wu dialect is the most precious culturalheritage of Wu culture. Wu dialect is developing with the development of the society andchanging with the transition of the eras since it was born. During the transition, Wu dialectgets rid of the stale and brings forth the fresh and sets up its own special features. Due toprotection and inheritance of this precious kind of cultural heritage, learning Wu dialect isbecoming more and more popular. As early as1920s, Wu dialect subject was establishedfor teaching foreign priests when Soochow University set up. It is significant ofresearching many aspects of the Wu dialect subject, such as, the motivation, arrangement,teaching content, teaching activities, teaching material and so on. No matter the Wu dialectsubject or modern Wu dialect teaching, it is no doubt that both of them will bringenlightenment and reference of teaching of Chinese as a foreign language.Although teaching of Chinese as a foreign language is training the language skills ofmandarin as the main purpose, mandarin has innumerable links with Chinese dialects.Knowing some dialect knowledge and mastering several kinds of dialects will be able tolift communicating ability of learners. Also, it is the learner’s subjective desire and therequirement of teaching of Chinese as a foreign language. In this way, not only mandarincould be taught, but also could help foreigners know the essence of Chinese culture muchbetter and touch the profound cultural deposits of Chinese nation. Soochow University is located in Suzhou. It has advantaged territorial dialect cultureand rich Wu cultural atmosphere. It is really necessary to bring in Wu dialect and Wucultural teaching in the teaching of Chinese as a foreign language. The overseas center ofschool of humanity Soochow University has set up the optional course:“Wu culture anddialect” for foreign students and found the Chinese traditional cultural workshop. Theaction and effect has proved that Wu dialect teaching is very helpful for teaching ofChinese as a foreign language and teaching of Wu dialect as a foreign language is feasiblein this era.