On the Integration of Chinese Culture in College English Teaching

At a time when politics is more furious and fragmented than ever， when technology is colonizing our everyday existence， when medicine is reshaping our lives， nothing gives people more confidence and strength than culture as we still look to make sense of things， to feel ourselves part of great communal effort to understand our age. However， Chinese culture has not received enough attention in recent years. Some scholars have found that some doctoral students have a solid foundation of English and profound Chinese culture， but whenever they enter a context that requires English communication， “Chinese culture aphasia” appears immediately.

Language and culture have inseparable relationship， which inevitably makes culture and language teaching generate countless links. The textbooks focusing on introducing the culture of English-speaking countries are not only widely used in English teaching， but have become a compulsory part of language teaching in China. However， our purpose of offering English courses is not to learn excellent culture， but to introduce our unique culture to Western counterparts so as to let the world understand China. It informs us that English teaching should be integrated into Chinese culture.

1. Problems in College English Teaching due to Lack of Connection with Chinese Culture

The oneness of English teaching in college. Three outstanding factors are at play when it comes to this problem. First， in the teaching goal， almost all syllabuses strengthen the introduction of target language culture while completely leave out the mutual penetration and integration between Chinese and Western cultures. Second， in terms of textbooks， almost all the materials are selected from original foreign-language publications， among which Chinese culture content is almost blank. In light of this， students cannot learn the cultural contents with Chinese characteristics in English. Once they enter the real cross-cultural communication environment， cultural aphasia will naturally appear. At last， as for teaching methods， the teachers explanation is limited to textbooks， which rarely relates to our daily life.

2. The Significance of Integrating Chinese Cultural Education in College English Teaching

Enhance cultural confidence and cultivate students patriotism. President Xi has stressed that culture is the soul of a nation. Without a high degree of cultural self-confidence and a prosperous culture， there will be no great rejuvenation of our nation. In China， the trend of culture weakens and westernization catches on board. The enduring frenzy of TOEFL and IELTS， the expansion of such hidden cultures as KFC， Disney and Hollywood blockbusters are buffeting our traditional culture and changing the way we think. Thus， intensifying the education of Chinese culture is a double blessing for the nation.

The basic aim in education is to improve the quality of the whole nation. The promotion of quality-oriented education is based on the cultivation of cultural quality， aiming at training students to critically absorb world culture and speak for the Chinese culture and values. Moreover， learning native culture helps to deepen the understanding of foreign culture.

Let the world understand China. China is a country with a history of 5，000 odd years. As Chinas overall national strength has grown in the course of reform and opening-up over the past 40 years， learning the Chinese culture has become the only road to a profound understanding of China. With the rising tide of globalization， the world has become a global village where our interests are intertwined and our economic and social progress interconnected. It is more and more urgent for China to go global. It is the need of exchanges， and more importantly， the imperative of the development of globalization.

3. Suggestions for Cementing Chinese Culture in College English Teaching

First， in the examination syllabus， the content related to Chinese culture should be added to the examination， which can guide the teaching staff to focus more on Chinese culture in English teaching. Second， in the compilation of textbooks， the content reflecting Chinese culture should be appropriately increased. Third， in the course setting， electives reflecting Chinese culture should be provided for non-English majors.

In conclusion， it is now nearly axiomatic that Chinese culture should be added in college English teaching， which is not only the need of cultural exchange， but the call of cultural development. All Chinese who are engaged in international exchanges， especially scholars in college， should shoulder the responsibility of inheriting Chinese culture and sharing the precious spiritual wealth with the world people. The integration of Chinese culture in English teaching is undoubtedly about to be of paramount importance in the spread of Chinese culture.

【作者簡介】鄭磊（1994.02.12-），女，河北承德人，華東交通大學理工學院，本科生，研究方向：英語筆譯。