The Integration of Chinese Culture in College English Teaching

Abstract

There's been a lot of talk lately about getting Chinese culture into college English classes. I think this is long overdue. The real problem we face is what researchers call "Chinese culture aphasia"—our students simply don't have the words in English to talk about their own traditions, festivals, or even everyday food. That's a pretty serious gap if you ask me. This paper draws on existing studies to look at why this happens, what it looks like in practice, and why it matters. My own view is that a more balanced curriculum doesn't just help students communicate better—it also gives them a clearer sense of who they are. And that, I'd argue, is exactly what we need if we want our graduates to hold their own in international settings.