Dr Lily Chen received her Ph.D in linguistics from the University of Durham in the UK in 1999. She was for many years a lecturer in the School of East Asian Studies at the University of Sheffield, UK. Her research interests included developing functional linguistic models for the analysis of written media texts. Her work has appeared in international journals including Language in Society,  the International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching, and the Journal of Language and Politics.

Another of Dr Chen’s major areas of interest was the Teaching of Chinese as a Foreign Language. She set up the MA in TCFL at the University of Sheffield, and was director of the programme for many years.

Since retiring from the University of Sheffield, she has been teaching translation at the Open University.

Keynote Speech and Abstract

Cultural Elements in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language  

国际汉语教学中的文化因素 

Language and culture are mutually inseparable: the one involves the other. Given that, when teaching Chinese as a foreign language, some Chinese culture will inevitably be imparted along with the language being taught. However, culture on its own is a hugely complex concept. It is important therefore to be aware of what aspects of culture are being transmitted through language teaching; of how cultural elements can be used to enhance language learning; and also of the problems that can be caused if culture is inappropriately attached to the language learning process. In the latter case, it can hinder language learning. In her presentation, Dr Chen will aim to discuss what cultural elements it is appropriate to include in language teaching, and how best to present these.

语言是文化的载体，文化又植根于语言。不了解语言所承载的文化， 就不可能掌握所学的语言。因此，国际汉语教学既是语言教学，又是文化教学，外语教学必须是语言教学与文化教学的统一。对国际汉语教学中文化因素的定性，定位与定量是一个既具理论价值，又具实践意义的重要课题，本发言意在介绍对此课题的一些思索与探讨。