Date of Graduation
Fall 12-15-2017
Document Access
Project/Capstone - Global access
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
College/School
School of Education
Department/Program
Teaching English as a Second Language
First Advisor
Dr. Luz Navarrette Garcia
Abstract
When new Chinese immigrants first arrive in the United States, they face challenges related to both language barriers and acculturative stress. Language barriers and acculturative stress mutually reinforce each other. Furthermore, they significantly inconvenience new Chinese immigrants in terms of living, working and studying. Incorporating cultural information into English as a second language (ESL) teaching is thus important from a sociocultural and intercultural perspective. Therefore, the underlying purposes of this project is to enhance English communicative competence and American cultural adaptation among new Chinese immigrants by immersing them in authentic, situational, and practical communication in the United States. The project takes the form of additional teaching material filled with opportunities for practicing language skills and learning American cultural information. All the materials in this handbook have been designed around the needs of new Chinese immigrants. The practical language-skill exercises will help new Chinese immigrants to improve their language skills, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The materials in this handbook will significantly help new Chinese immigrants to adapt to American culture since they involve specific tasks related to relevant topics, such as visiting restaurants, doctors’ offices, and stores. The hope is that this project will equip teachers with more practical teaching materials for helping Chinese ESL students with their communicative competence and intercultural intelligence. When teaching with this handbook, teachers are recommended to play videos several times, make good use of the reflection writing, apply a variety of teaching techniques, and provide encouragement to students: encourage them to speak English with no fear, to learn English from mistakes they have made, to explore their new environment with confidence.
Recommended Citation
Li, Li, "Practical English for Chinese Newcomers: A Handbook for Teachers" (2017). Master's Projects and Capstones. 688.
https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/688
