Teaching Chinese Cultures through Idioms, Fairy tales and Folktales

Course Description

This professional development course is designed for Chinese teachers who are looking to incorporate traditional Chinese culture into their language classes. By exploring the rich cultural heritage of China through idioms, fairy tales, and folktales, teachers will gain a deeper understanding of the language and its origins, while also providing students with an engaging and interactive learning experience.

In this course, teachers will learn how to effectively use idioms, fairy tales, and folktales as teaching tools in their classrooms. Topics covered include:

• Understanding the cultural significance and meaning behind Chinese idioms

• How to effectively use idioms in language lessons to improve vocabulary and comprehension skills

• An overview of the most popular fairytales and folktales in Chinese culture

• Techniques for retelling and adapting these stories for the classroom

• Strategies for encouraging students to think critically about the cultural values and themes inherent in these stories.

Required Textbook

There is no required textbook for this course. All materials are digital and will be provided in the online course.

Course Objectives 

By the end of this course, participants will have the opportunity to: 

1. To develop participants' knowledge and understanding of Chinese idioms, fairy tales, and folktales as important components of Chinese cultural expressions and literary genres.

2. To equip participants with practical strategies for integrating cultural materials into their Chinese language teaching.

3. To foster participants' ability to design and implement culturally responsive and engaging lessons and activities that promote students' intercultural competence.

4. To facilitate participants' reflection on their own cultural identities and their implications for their teaching of Chinese cultures.

Course Delivery 

Online weekly learning modules, collaborative discussion boards and instructor feedback. This course is not self-paced. 

Students who matriculate into an Instructor-Facilitated course should adhere to the dates listed on the website. Final coursework should be submitted within one week after the course end date. Course extensions beyond one week are subject to a $50 fee.

About the Instructor

Chang Liu, Instructor. Read more about Chang here.

Click here to request a syllabus.