A Study On The Learning Of Polyphonic Characters By Advanced Level Students In Teaching Chinese As A Foreign Language

Polyphonic characters in Chinese have become one of the difficulties for Chinese learners because of their large number and complex sound-meaning relationships.Although the research on the teaching situation of polyphonic characters in teaching Chinese as a foreign language has made some achievements in recent years,the research results on the teaching of polyphonic characters in a nationalized way are relatively limited.This paper compares the similarities and differences of polysyllabic characters in "Experiencing Chinese(Lao Version)"(hereinafter referred to as "Experiencing Chinese")and "International Chinese Language Education Chinese Proficiency Standards"(hereinafter referred to as "Standards")by compiling the textbooks of "Experiencing Chinese(Lao Version)" 1-4(hereinafter referred to as "Experiencing Chinese")currently used by the Confucius Institute of the National University of Laos and comparing the similarities and characteristics of polysyllabic characters in "Experiencing Chinese" and "Standards" in terms of phonetics,quantity,frequency of use and level.It is found that there is an imbalance in the frequency,collection rate phonetic items and order of inclusion of polysyllabic characters in "Experiencing Chinese".After that,a questionnaire survey was conducted among 130 students and 20 Chinese teachers working at the Confucius Institute of the National University of Laos.to collate and analyse the feedback from students and teachers on the learning and teaching of polysyllabic characters.It was found that students’ mastery of polysyllabic characters varies,and that the main reasons for this phenomenon can be attributed to the learners’ weak knowledge of polysyllabic characters and their utilitarian motivation;the different teaching methods used by teachers in class;and the lack of explanation of polysyllabic characters in school textbooks.In response to the above phenomenon,this paper analyses the causes of students’ difficulties in mastering polysyllabic characters from the perspectives of the ontology of polysyllabic characters,students,teachers,teaching materials and the curriculum.It also makes some suggestions in terms of Chinese learners’ learning attitudes and methods,teachers’ teaching design,school textbook selection and curriculum development.It is hoped that this paper will provide an effective reference for Lao students’ learning of polysyllabic characters and improve their level of mastery and ability.