A Contrastive Study of Culture Items in Elementary Chinese and American Textbooks of Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language: Taking Integrated Chinese and a Course in Contemporary Chinese as Examples

摘要

This paper aims to explore the culture items in two elementary Chinese textbooks with the method of quantitative research, especially focuses on the presentation of national culture and specific culture items. It is found that American textbook show a fuller array of strategies in the presentation of culture items, and Chinese textbook's illustrations are more exquisite and accurate and more available for teaching. American textbook has more advantages but also need further improvement.