A Comparative Study Of Introductory Teaching Materials For Teaching Chinese As A Foreign Language

The “first gradient” textbook that Chinese learners are exposed to is the entry-level textbook for teaching Chinese as a foreign language.The contents such as Chinese phonetics,basic knowledge of Chinese characters,and basic vocabulary of Chinese characters that are learned in entry-level textbooks have a profound impact on learners' Chinese language learning in the future.Most of the textbooks nowadays have included the content of the introductory phase in the first book of the series;however,there are also some textbooks that individually writes introduction contents.For example,the two textbooks analyzed and compared in this article: "Road to success·Threshold" and "Chinese Language Classroom·Threshold".At present,the number of comparative studies on entry-level textbooks is still relatively small.This paper will mainly utilize comparative analysis methods,focusing on the structure of two textbooks,the preparation of speech elements,the distribution of vocabulary numbers and grades,the number of Chinese characters,the number of grammar items,and the text topics and length were compared;and with the guidance of the four principles of teaching materials proposed by Zhao Xianzhou(1988)—targeted,practical,interesting,and scientific,this article analyzed how the two textbooks reflect the four principles.After the comparison,there are many similarities between the two textbooks and the entry-level textbooks.However,Road to success·Threshold is a teaching material centered on the learning of Chinese phonetic elements.All other elements are written for practicing pronounciation.Prepared by the Center,it is also a generally applicable entry-level teaching material for foreigners.It suits for Chinese beginners with proficient English who are studying Chinese.Textbooks have a prominent embodiment of the principles of science and practicality,but they lack some of the principles of pertinence and interest.Chinese Language Classroom·Threshold is an introduction to the use of Chinese as a second language.Level 1 textbooks,the first part of the “pronunciation” focuses on phonetic learning,and the second part of the “basic chapter” focuses on conversations.It is also a highly concentrated entry level teaching material for foreign students.While the applicable population of this textbook is limited,it is more ideal for students who speaks Japanese as mother tongue and come to Shanghai,China for work.Finally,for the purpose of compiling concentrated entry-level teaching materials in the future,the author puts forward suggestions from the aspects of the purpose of writing,the compilation of speech elements,the writing of Chinese characters,the preparation of texts,and the selection of annotation languages.