American Exchange Students’ Media Use,Interpersonal Communication And Perception On China

China-US relation is one of the most complex and important bilateral relations.According to Ministry of Education,in 2018,the United States,among other western countries,has the largest number of American people going to China.There is already a wide range of academic research of American groups’ perception on China,but there are still lots of rooms for further and in-depth observation.This thesis takes the American youth group in China from Johns Hopkins University-Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies as a sample.This group,with high level of Chinese language,knowledge and interest of China,theoretically is a better choice for observation.This thesis attempts to explore and answer the following questions: what is this group’s perception on China before and after coming to China? Through what approaches are they established? Has it changed and how? What has changed? What are the roles of media and interpersonal communication in shaping perception? There are mainly six findings.First,American exchange students’ perception on China was based on the hegemony of modernity in western discourse.China’s entry into the American public’s vision is lagging behind,with limited interest and attraction,and mainly focusing on political,economic and other social issues.Second,after coming to China,the group has increased its choice and use of local news media,mass media and social media.However,their media preferences and focus are still dominated by previous habits.The use of local media is featured by instrumental characteristics,but weak entertainment function and attraction.Third,the rise of China has shaken the order of modern western world ideas represented by the United States.The need for self-confirmation has aroused the "missionary" complex of American students in China,and further consolidated the image of China in the western discourse system with the "self-orientalism" of Chinese students.Forth,in the process of perception formation,various media play an important role in transmitting knowledge on "modern" China,but it is subject to the influence of political situation.Interpersonal communication helps to "correct" and “balance” biased media information.Fifth,due to other American people’s limited interest in China and lack of Chinese knowledge,this group plays limited role of "passing" information on China,which makes it difficult for the two sides to have real dialogue and effective exchange,and further limits the possibility of influencing others’ perception.Sixth,the acquisition and renewal of Chinese knowledge is not necessarily related to the attitude of Chinese image.More information does not necessarily mean more just or better perception.Later knowledge may serve as evidence for earlier prejudice.The purpose of this study is to further explore details and possibilities of the perception formation of American students.However,cross-cultural communication and national image perception are very complex and long-term issues,and there is still much room for thinking.