新加坡《小学华文》真实性研究 = A Study of the Authenticity in Chinese Textbook for Primary Students of Singapore

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to examine why and how language teaching materials (texts and activities) in Chinese Textbook for Primary Students of Singapore actually pertain to authenticity. In this research, I first questioned the prevailing definitions of authentic texts. I argued that a more practical and important definition for authentic texts, especially in a setting that treats Chinese as a second language, should focus on an original communicative purpose in the texts. It does not matter if the text which are for native or non-native speakers. I proposed that we can take them as authentic texts. This thesis also developed a series of methodology based on Mishan?s framework, in order to classify the texts and evaluate the language learning tasks provided in the Chinese textbooks. Through our findings, we discovered that the truly authentic texts in current textbooks used in Singapore?s Primary schools were highly limited.