A Culture-based Approach to Business Chinese Teaching

以文化為基礎之商用中文教學

10.30107/CYJTCSL.201004.0005

楊藹瑩(Ai-Ying Yang)；陳麗宇(Li-Yu Chen)

跨文化能力 ； 商用中文 ； 專業英文 ； 成人教學法 ； 合作學習 ； cross-cultural competencies ； business Chinese ； English for Specific Purposes ； andragogy ； cooperative learning

中原華語文學報

5期（2010 / 04 / 01）

115 - 131

英文

在全球化的時代，跨文化能力毫無疑問是商場成功的關鍵。因此，文化在商用中文學習上十分重要。僅管目前市面上的商用中文教材大多包含文化的介紹，內容卻十分貧乏。要激發學生的文化認知以達到流利的商務溝通，奠基於文化的商用中文教學設計不可或缺。 本文探討作者教授一群國際學生商用中文的經驗。這些具有不同文化背景的學生當時就讀於台灣北部的大學。在課堂上透過電影、文學、歌曲、廣告及新聞等文化素材，學生自我建構跨文化的商業知識。作者的教學模式除借鑒自專業英文的理論，並融入成人教學與建構主義的學理。因為商用中文學生以成人為主，學生將真實生活的經驗帶入課室，透過合作學習與互動，激發跨文化溝通的能力。 商業文化涵蓋不同層次，如國家文化、區域文化、公司文化、功能文化、行業文化及團隊文化。透過各種不同的學習任務、資源與學習活動，學生從輔助認知而積極攝取知識。最後從學習日誌的分析取得學生的回饋，可作為日後課程改進的依據。推廣商用中文學習的同時，建立文化資源資料庫已刻不容緩。

There is no denying that cross-cultural competency is the key to business success in this era of globalization. Correspondently, culture is an important component in business Chinese learning. However, even though most business Chinese textbooks contain some culture content, the input is rather limited. To enhance learners' cultural awareness so as to achieve fluency in business communication, a culture-based approach to business Chinese teaching is essential. This paper discusses the authors' experience in teaching business Chinese. The learners were a group of international students enrolled in undergraduate programs in northern Taiwan. The students were from diverse cultural backgrounds. In the training program, cultural products such as film, literature, song, advertisement, and newspaper in the target language were introduced to involve learners in constructing their cross-cultural business knowledge. The paper starts with a review of the principles borrowed from the study of teaching English for Specific Purposes (ESP) as well as the theories of andragogy and constructivism. Since business Chinese learners are adults, they bring to the second language classroom with their real world experience. Through cooperative learning and interaction, students enhance their cross-cultural competency autonomously. Business culture is composed of different layers: country culture, regional culture, company culture, functional culture, sector culture and team culture. Through various assigned tasks, learning resources and activities, teachers can facilitate learners to evolve from being aware to become active knowledge seekers. In this classroom research, reflective journals were used to get student feedback. To promote culture-based learning, there is a pressing need to establish a database of culture learning resources for business Chinese teaching and learning.

1. http://www3.telus.net/kubgyustucsussyes/problemschinese.html A global guide to culture, customs, business and social etiquettes
2. http://www.estudychinese.com/web/aboutchina/culture/index.htm Introductions to various aspects of Chinese culture
3. Dewey, J. (1933). How we Think: A Restatement of the Relation of Reflective Thinking to the Educative Process. Boston: D. C. Heath.
4. http://www.taiwancinema.com/ct.asp?xItem=7394&CtNode=83 Introduction to Taiwanese films
5. Fink, D. (2008). A new approach to an old problem. Retrieved August 10, from http://www.finkconsulting.info/files/Evaluating_Teaching_-_final_version_color2.doc.
6. http://www.doingbusiness.org/ExploreTopics/StartingBusiness Guide to procedures and costs associated with setting up a business in China
7. Sapir, E. (1921). Language: An Introduction to the Study of Speech. Retrieved on August 12, from http://www.bartleby.com/186/
8. www.executiveplanet.com A comprehensive guide to etiquette in 44 countries, including general cultural background and information on making appointment, business dress, conversation, gift giving and public behaviors
9. www.geert-hofstede.com Hofstede's five culture dimensions for fifty-six countries. Useful etiquette advice is also provided from 31 countries
10. http://www.ieatpe.org.tw/e_index/index.htm The Importers and Exporters Association of Taipei
11. http://140.133.9.41/~dgld/chinese/lesson_1.html Digital lessons on Taiwanese culture
12. Wu, M. M. F. (2004). Problems faced by Chinese learners in L2 English learning and pedagogic recommendations from an inter-cultural communication perspec;tive. Retrieved October 31, 2005, from http://www3.telus.net/kubgyustucsussyes/problemschinese.html
13. Brandon, B.(2004).Applying Instructional Systems Processes to Constructivist Learning Environments.The eLearning Guild
14. Charteris-Black, J.,Ennis, T.(2001).A comparative study of metaphor in Spanish and English financial reporting.English for Specific Purposes,20,131-137.
15. Driscoll, M.(2000).Web-based training: Creating e-learning Experiences.San Francisco:Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer.
16. Fuertes-Olivera, P. A.,Gomez-Martinez, S.(2004).Empirical assessment of some learning factors affecting Spanish students of business English.English for Specific Purposes,23(2),163-185.
17. Herbig, B. A.(1998).Cross-cultural Marketing.Binghamton:Haworth Press, Inc..
18. Knowles, M. S.(1984).The Adult Learner: A Neglected Species.Houston:Gulf Publishing.
19. Lado, R.(1957).Linguistics Across Cultures: Applied Linguistics for Language Teachers.Ann Ardor:University of Michigan Press.
20. Lawrence, Jill(2007).Two models for facilitating cross-cultural communication and engagement.The International Journal of Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations,6(6),73-82.
21. Mabey, C.,Salaman, G.,Storeymany, J.(1998).Human Resource Management: a Strategic Introduction.London:Wiley-Blackwell.
22. McGuinness, C.,Brien, M.(2007).Using reflective journals to assess the research process.Reference Services Review,35(1),21-40.
23. McLean, G. N.(2006).Organization Development: Principles, Processes, Performance.San Francisco:Berrette-Koehler Publishing Inc..
24. Mooij, M. de(2004).Consumer Behavior and Culture.Thousand Oaks:Sage Publications, Inc..
25. Nkemleke, D.(2004).Job applications and students' complaint letters in Cameroon.World Englishes,23(4),601-611.
26. Ortlipp, M.(2008).Keeping and using reflective journals in the qualitative research process.The Qualitative Report,13(4),695-705.
27. Phillips, June K.(ed.),American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages(ed.)(1977).The Language Connection: From the Classroom to the World.Skokie:National Textbook Company.
28. Quinton, S.,Smallbone, T.(2006).Postgraduate Research in Business: a Critical Guide.London:Sage Publications Inc..
29. Santos, V. P. S.(2002).Genre analysis of business letters of negotiation.English for Specific Purposes,21,167-179.
30. Song, L.(2009).Teaching English as intercultural education: challenges of intercultural communication.Intercultural Communication Research,1,261-277.
31. Tomlinson, B.,Masuhara, H.(2004).Developing cultural awareness.Modern English Teacher,13(1),5-11.
32. van Mulken, M.,van der Meer, W.(2005).Are you being served? A genre analysis of American and Dutch company replkes to customer inquiries.English for Specific Purposes,24,93-109.
33. Vergaro, C.(2005)."Dear Sirs, I hope you will find this information useful": Discourse strategies in Italian and English 'For Your Information' (FYI) Letters.Discourse Studies,7(1),109-135.

1. 李彩連(2019)。內容語言整合學習的商務華語課程設計：以「讀財報買股票」為例。臺灣華語教學研究，18，37-51。