新马华文教材课文主题和词汇比较 = A Comparative Study of Themes and Vocabularies in Singapore and Malaysia's Chinese Teaching materials.

Abstract

This paper carries out a systematic and comprehensive study on the selection of themes and vocabularies in Singapore and Malaysia?s Chinese teaching materials. Through the comparison with themes and vocabularies in Singapore and Malaysia?s teaching materials, this paper attempts to exemplify the influence of local Chinese education?s orientation on teaching materials compilation. By referring to principles for designing language teaching materials as proposed by Lv Bi Song (1990), this paper shows the similarities and differences of both countries? teaching materials on theme and vocabulary compilation and attempts to point out the problems of designing teaching materials that are likely to meet the students? needs and orientation of local Chinese education. Based on the study results, this paper aims to elucidate the shortcomings of either version in the teaching materials and offer suggestions for reorganization of themes and vocabularies in teaching materials. There are five chapters in this paper. The first chapter elaborates on the objectives, scope, research methodology and source of materials for this study. A detailed analysis in the second chapter focuses on the themes of Singapore and Malaysia?s teaching materials. It is found that the theme selection and arrangement in both countries? teaching materials is basically in light of the orientation of Chinese education in both countries. Based on the analysis results, the content of both teaching materials mainly focus on the theme of society and lifestyle. On the theme distribution aspect, Malaysia?s theme distribution is more systematic than the arrangement in Singapore. Chapters three and four are devoted to vocabulary analysis. In both countries, it is found that the quantity of Chinese words in teaching materials accord with targets and needs of local education. With regard to quality of words, this paper analyses the selection of words in Singapore and Malaysia?s teaching materials with the HSK vocabulary list. It is found that most of the words used in Singapore?s teaching material are the most frequently used words in Singapore. However, Malaysia?s teaching material prefers to use most frequent words in China, which is not commonly used in Malaysia. Following the analysis, the final chapter concludes with a summary and recapitulates the major arguments in this study. Based on this, it provides some suggestions for future research in the hope that existing and future material developers can use these to improve and shape the future of material development in overseas Chinese education.