Interculturality in Chinese Language Education

This book calls for a change in the way interculturality is introduced in Chinese language education, while the demand for Chinese language teaching increases around the world. The concept of culture - as in the phrase 'Chinese culture' - has often been one of the main emphases of Chinese language education, providing students with facts about China and 'recipes' on how to meet Chinese people and how to behave like them. However, Chinese culture, like all cultures, does not constitute a closed system, but is constantly evolving and exchanging with other cultures.

This unique volume comprises studies from around the world that promote intercultural awareness, dialogue, and encounters in Chinese language education. Written in a clear and readable style, this book will appeal to a diverse readership, from practising and training teachers of Chinese, to researchers interested in language and intercultural education.


Jin Tinghe is the founding president of the Chinese Educational Research Association in the UK. She was a Chinese language and literature teacher in China. She completed her PhD as a Centenary Scholar at UCL Institute of Education. Her research specialises in intercultural education, specifically in relation to the teaching and learning of Chinese. 

Fred Dervin is Professor of Multicultural Education at the University of Helsinki, Finland. He also holds other professorships in Australia, Canada, China, Luxembourg and Malaysia and has widely published on identity, interculturality and mobility/migration in different languages.