Teaching and Learning Chinese in Global Contexts

Dr Linda Tsung is at the University of Hong Kong, China Dr Ken Cruickshank is at the University of Wollongong, Australia.

"This book has, for the first time, brought together specialists from around the globe to discuss issues related to the topics of learning and teaching Mandarin Chinese (Putonghua/Guoyu/Huayu) in the global contexts. Most current language-related questions, most recent discussions in Chinese L2 research, most government language policies, and most geographical areas are covered in 14 chapters. The discussions bring out the differences in Chinese L2 learning and the complexities of learning due to recognition of Mandarin Chinese as a second language--or additional/heritage/community language in various Chinese speaking communities. They point out the different needs of ethnic minorities in China, the Chinese dialect speakers in Hong Kong and Singapore, and the Chinese heritage students in various continents. Discussions in the 14 chapters invariably emphasize the needs for understanding both the general research into L2 and the specific research into the linguistic, contextual, and cultural knowledge of Mandarin Chinese, which take into account the diversity of learners, learning contexts, and varying goals. The book gives great expectation to all those concerned with the future direction of Chinese as a global, additional language."

• Foreword; Introduction Linda Tsung & Ken Cruickshank; Part I: Teaching Chinese as a 'Foreign Language'; 1: China's 'soft power': the rise of Confucian institutes Wang Wei; 2: Globalization and linguistic order: teaching Chinese as a foreign language in the US Minglang Zhou; 3: Frameworks, teaching methods, curriculum, testing and issues in teaching Chinese as a foreign language in China Lu Jianji; 4: Multimedia and Chinese language teaching De Bao Xu; Part II: Teaching and learning Chinese in the diaspora; 5: Changing hierarchies in Chinese language education for the British Chinese learners Li Wei; 6: Issues and approaches to literacy development in Chinese second language classrooms Andrew Scrimgeour; 7: Chinese as a heritage / community language in New Zealand, Hong Xiao; 8: Chinese language in the US diaspora: looking back at the last 30 years and looking ahead at the next 10 years Ying Che Li; Part III: Teaching Chinese in postcolonial contexts; 9: Teaching Chinese in Singapore Lim Seok Lai & Goh Yeng Seng; 10: South Asian learners in Hong Kong Linda Tsung, Mark Shum, Ki Wing Wah; 11: Teaching Mandarin Chinese in Hong Kong; Part 4: The role of Chinese in minority education contexts; 12: Bilingual education for exclusion or access: minority education in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Linda Tsung & Ken Cruickshank; 13: Bilingual education and Korean minorities in China Gao Fang; 14. Global context, local changes?: Emerging issues in teaching and learning Chinese Linda Tsung & Ken Cruickshank.