A Contrastive Study of Chinese and American Compliments

China is an old country with her five thousand years culture and civilization and known for her etiquette.Influenced by the traditional education,mainly the idea of Confucius the core of Chinese culture is the doctrine of the mean,which determines the people's way of thinking.When they communicate with other people,they are polite,strict with themselves and generous with others.     

Study on Chinese and American Compliments

Chinese and Americans have different cultural background. They value different principles in expressing compliments and respond to them. Chinese tend to be self-denial to show modesty. Americans have a tendency of self-praising to demonstrate their confidence. Based on Leech＇ s politeness principle, the paper analyzes typical instances. In conclusion, as language learner, we should aware it and prepare to be bicultural instead of bilingual. As a Chinese, we should keep our own culture identity instead of Americanized.     

Student–Teacher Relationships and Students’ Externalizing and Internalizing Behaviors: A Cross-Lagged Study in Secondary Education

The present study examined reciprocal influences between student–teacher relationship quality and students’ externalizing and internalizing behaviors in secondary education. Our sample included 1,219 secondary school students (49.1% boys; M_age = 13.53, SD = 1.77) from seventh, eighth, tenth, and eleventh grade. Students reported about their externalizing and internalizing behaviors and the quality of the relationships (closeness, conflict) with their Dutch and math teachers at three occasions within one school year. Cross-lagged path models showed positive reciprocal associations between conflict with the math teacher and externalizing behavior over time. For the Dutch teacher, externalizing behavior positively predicted conflict over time, but not the other way around. Externalizing behavior also negatively predicted closeness with both teachers over time.     

Influence of Personality on SLA—A Qualitative Case Study of ESL Chinese Students

This study aims to examine the influence of personality on second language learning.The whole study was based on the researcher’s regular interviews with two ESL Chinese students and the observation of their performance during their first semester.Additional data was collected via a simplified Myers Briggs Type Indicator(MBTI)and interviews with their teachers and a native speaker of English.Overall English proficiency was assessed using two Institutional TOEFL tests and their current GPA during their ESL studies.A positive relationship was found between extraversion and spoken English while a slight but passive correlation emerged between extraversion and overall English achievement.     

A Qualitative Study of British Student Teachers’ Lesson Planning Perspectives

Abstract

Five student teachers on a one year, internship based Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) course, were tracked in an attempt to understand their lesson planning perspectives. The investigation concentrated on the key areas of the planning process as it related to their learning, their beliefs about planning, the process of planning and the factors that influenced that process. The data are presented in the form of two case studies and the discussion includes the implications for future research in the area, as well as recommendations for reforming the role of lesson planning in teacher education.     

An Empirical Study on the Productive Vocabulary of Advanced Chinese EFL Learners——Based on A Contras tive Analysis of model Compositions of Advanced Chinese EFL Learners and American university Students

By contrasting the model compositions by advanced Chinese EFL learners and American university students in the cor pus approach,the present study analyzes the use of productive vocabulary by Chinese EFL learners both quantitatively and qualita tively.It is found that except the first 1000 most frequently used words,there is no statistically significant difference between the frequency distribution of the productive vocabulary used by both types of English learners.But in terms of the usages of the Eng lish words,the Chinese EFL learners exhibit inadequacy in understanding and employing them,especially with regard to semantic prosody and collocation.These findings are significant for the teaching of vocabulary in China.     

A Contrastive Pragmatic Study on Chinese and American MCs’ Prologues at Film Awards Ceremonies

This essay, picking two typical cases and applying several pragmatic principles, makes a contrastive study on the similarities and differences between Chinese and American MCs’prologues, especially conversations at film awards ceremonies. Based upon a summary of the features of the MCs’prologues, then follow some possible reasons for the similarities and differences, which further arouse thoughts on practical implications and suggestions.     

A Study of Tense Errors in Chinese College English-Major Students＇ Writings Based on Corpus

对《中国学习者英语语料库》中的ST5和ST6两个子语库中的所有时态错误按16种时态分类进行分析,结果表明一般过去时、一般现在时和现在完成时是最容易出错的时态。其中尤以一般过去时错误为最多。说明一般过去时是中国英语专业学习者最难掌握的时态。进一步分析发现,中国英语专业学生的一般过去时错误主要集中在时态选择型错误上,主要表现在将一般过去时误用为一般现在时和现在完成时。这主要是由于学生呆板地依据时间状语,未能很好地区分时态的语义特征等原因造成的。此外,动词凸显度和时间状语两种语内因素会显著影响一般过去时的使用。     

A Pilot Study on Chinese Students’Intercultural Adaption in the UK

This paper conducted a pilot study by interviewing five Chinese students who study at a British university to see how they have adapted to British culture.This paper mainly found that the’curve’theory couldn’t fully reflect students’intercultural adaptation,students’failure in becoming intercultural and the language pressure they suffer.At the end of the study,some possible measurements limitations are discussed.     

The Collision of Individualism in Chinese and American Talent Shows——A Case Study of American Idol and Super Girls

Recently,American talent shows with its unique glamour and huge profit have attracted many Chinese TV stations to imitate.The process of imitation is essentially a collision of American and Chinese cultures.This study focuses on American Idol and Super Girls,discusses their different manifestations of individualism and analyzes the reasons behind it.The analysis shows that the differences of the two countries’cultural background contribute to the different manifestations of individualism.In a word,during the process of imitating American talent shows,the problems of Chinese talent shows indicate that American individualism has its positive as well as negative effects.Consequently,Chinese people should hold a critical attitude toward American individualism.     

The Development of Chinese Language and Social Change—Study on Catchwords during the Cultural Revolution

Language is a mirror of society. It is one of the most important communication tools and social changes or potential social changes can often be reflected in it. We use language as a barometer of social changes and from the perspective of sociolinguistics. Social changes also determine the variations of Chinese language. Based on the former study about the relation between language and society, this paper mainly talks about the catchwords or popular language and social changes during the Cultural Revolution.     

A Study of Chinese College Students’ Face Needs in EFL Class

Based on Brown &Levinson’s Face Threatening Acts and Geert Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions,this study is an analysis of Chinese college students’ face needs in EFL class.In this study,the subjects are 116 freshmen,non-English majors.Selecting totally 60 students from them and dividing them into two groups according to their scores of College English Entrance Examination.The collected data from questionnaire are analyzed by statistical software SPSS16.0 version.The major findings from the analysis include the following:1) high-scored students and low-scored students have similar positive face needs;2) Weight of imposition,group tendency and uncertainty avoidance are used to exam students’ negative face needs.According to the data in SPSS16.0,there is a difference between the two groups in terms of the weight of imposition.But the Independent-Samples T test of Sum of Questionnaire indicates that there is no distinct difference in the negative face needs between the two groups.     

Relationship Between Teacher Factors and Student Achievement： A Correlational Study of Secondary Schools

Teachers always played a significant role in the intellectual and moral development of students by using various techniques, assessments, and methods to improve student achievement in school＇s subjects. This study therefore focuses on the effect of teacher factors, such as assessment interval, communication language, the distance of residence, and the teacher＇s personal characteristics （gender, age, academic and professional qualification, designation, experience, and in-service training） on the 9th grade students＇ achievement in three subjects （English, Chemistry, and Mathematics at secondary level）. The population of the study is comprised of all ＂public sector＂ secondary schools, male and female teachers, and boy and girl students. A total number of 16 secondary schools （eight for boys and eight for girls）, 114 secondary school teachers （66 males and 48 females）, and 2,404 students （1,400 boys and 1,004 girls） were selected through purposive sampling techniques. Multiple statistical procedures, Spearman and Pearson correlation, mean, and standard deviation were employed to obtain stronger validity to the study. The results of the study identify weak and negative weak relationship between most of the teacher factors and student achievement in three subjects but the relationship between students＇ background and learning achievement in all three subjects were found positively correlated.     

Chinese College Students’ Use of Copular Verbs——A Corpus-based Study

Adopting corpus-based approach, the use of copular verbs by Chinese college English learners is studied through a comparison between the COLEC and the LOCNESS. The main findings are: 1)Chinese college English learners under-use copular verbs; 2) Chinese college English learners select a limited variety of copular verbs; 3) Types of complement after most copular verbs used by Chinese college English learners lack variety; 4) Chinese college English learners use less various and more simpler complements than native speakers.     

Students’ Perspectives on LGBTQ-Inclusive Curriculum

Implementing curriculum that is inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) people has the potential to create an equitable learning environment. In order to learn more about students’ experiences of LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum, 26 high school students with diverse racial/ethnic, sexual, and gender identities were recruited from the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) Network in California. Students participated in focus groups conducted by telephone by GSA staff, sharing their experiences of LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum in school. Qualitative coding methods, including grounded theory, were used to identify themes and interpret students’ responses. Data revealed that LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum was most often taught in social sciences and humanities courses as stand-alone lessons. LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum rarely met standards of social justice education, though opportunities for critical conversations about systemic oppression regularly emerged. For instance, teachers often failed to intervene in LGBTQ bullying and missed teachable moments conducive to inclusive curriculum. Some students learned positive LGBTQ lessons and highlighted the ways such curriculum reflected their identities and created a supportive school climate. Implications for equitable education are discussed.     

Primary Children's Perspectives on the World of Work: A Cross‐Cultural Comparison

Abstract

This paper presents a ‘political arithmetic’ of women in post‐ compulsory education and training in Wales, illustrating that, although there has been some ‘catching up’ in participation and qualifications achieved, essentially education and training systems are reinforcing the highly rigid pattern of gender segregation that characterises the Welsh labour force. Wales is in danger of consolidating its position as a low wage low skill economy unless this situation is addressed. Changes in the administrative frame work of post‐compulsory education and training in Wales allows the opportunity to develop such a strategy, but so far the main actors in the field appear to be taking a ‘gender‐neutral’ stance.     

Corpus-based Study on the use of "really" in Chinese Students’ Writing

This corpus-based study aims to explore if the high frequently used word "really" is at a risk of overused,underused or misused in the writing of Chinese learners.Then draw attention on English learning and teaching and raise learners’ awareness of the structural and collocation complexity of words.     

A Comparative Analysis of Chinese and American Leaders’ Inaugural Speeches

This paper analyzing Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s and American leader Obama’s inaugurate speeches, aiming to discover the underlying culture patterns(individualism-collectivism; power distance; time orientation) hidden behind languages features.This approach towards political discourse has the effect of breaking out from the restricted analytic framework and adding cultural elements and helps leader develop a high awareness of the culture meaning hidden in such kind of political discourses.