The first issue of December 2021 is the inaugural issue of Journal of Sinology and Chinese Language Education (JSCLE). Here is a brief introduction to the relevant content for readers.

        Ten papers are published in this issue, including a masterpiece of Prof. Liu Xun, a professor at Beijing Language and Culture University, is a well-known Chinese expert in the field of International Chinese Education. A masterpiece offered by Assoc. Prof. Kanokporn Numtong, who is a famous Thai Sinologist at Kasetsart University. There are also wonderful expositions on Chinese language studies, Chinese teaching, and Sinology by Prof. Yang Huaiyuan of Southwest University, Assoc. Prof. Yang Wenbo of Shanghai University, Assoc. Prof. Zhang Yarong of Northwest University, Assoc. Prof. Qiu Rui of Southwest University, and Assoc. Prof. Zhou Rui of Southwest University.

        Dialectical Thinking and International Chinese Language Pedagogy Interview with Mr. Liu Xun clarifies that to study Chinese teaching methods, one should firstly focus on how to deal with the relationship between various factors in teaching, such as teachers and students as the main body of teaching and learning, the relationship between the structure, function and culture of the teaching path and content, and the relationship between learning and using in the teaching processes. Secondly, on the basis of the general principles of second language teaching, we should focus on the characteristics of Chinese language teaching, discover the special rules of Chinese language teaching, establish and improve the teaching method system of Chinese with an innovative spirit. Thirdly, it is necessary to adapt measures to local conditions and time conditions and do a good job in the “localization” of Chinese teaching methods.

        The Discussion on the Teaching Approaches of Chinese Literature Courses for Chinese Majors in Thai Universities holds that the Chinese literature, which is a compulsory course for majors in Chinese as a foreign language, serves as the carrier of spreading Chinese culture and has distinctive characteristics of the times. Based on many years of literature teaching experiences, some feasible teaching suggestions are put forward in five aspects as teaching content, teaching methods, teaching materials, teacher matching and students’ interests in response to some problems which arise in the teaching process.

        The article of Teaching Practice of Telling Chinese Stories Well from the Cross-Cultural Perspective — A Case Study of the “Mid-Autumn Festival” Lecture of the Senior Seminar for Native Thai Chinese Teachers points out that in the concrete practice level of telling Chinese stories well, whereas cross-cultural depth and the essence of culture should be explored deeply. On the other hand, cross-cultural breadth and the connection between ancient and modern cultures should be realized. To tell a good Chinese story, not only the story is told, but also the teaching method of telling the story be attended to.

        The article of A Case Study on the Acquisition of “de(的)” by Egyptian mid-senior Chinese Learners analyzed the chat records of Chinese learners of Egyptian and the author within 124 weeks. The use of “de” by Chinese learners classified into four situations included correct use, less use, more use, and misuse. It was found that there are differences in the pragmatic ability of Chinese learners to use the word “de” in different grammatical items. From the results of long-term data analysis, this difference in the understanding of different pragmatic functions of the word “de” leads to the regular characteristics of learners’ Chinese expression system.

        Another article A Research on the Number and the Trend of Chinese Level Changing of Chinese Learners in Southern Thailand in Recent Years. By analyzing the number and the trend of Chinese level changing of Chinese learners in Southern Thailand during recent years on the basis of the statistics of Chinese language test (2013-2020) and scholarship (2009-2021) of Confucius Institute at Phuket, Prince of Songkla University in Thailand, problems are revealed with proposed specific promotion strategies for solutions.

        The article of Investigation and Analysis of the Teaching Content of Chinese National Conditions Courses Taking two Textbooks of “Survey of China” as an Example points out the problems in the teaching contents selection of national conditions in China. Starting from the statistics, applied objects and the selection of the teaching contents of national conditions textbooks, this paper aims to analyze the selection of the textbook contents systematically, clarify the problems of selecting the teaching contents, provide new ideas for the development and construction of Chinese national conditions courses in the new era.

        The article of Notes about the Bamboo Slip in Zhengwu Furen Cui Ruzi offers a new interpretation of the judou (句读) about the bamboo slip No.1 and No.2 in Zhengwu Furen Gui Ruzi (郑武夫人规孺子), and has three interpretations about the words. First, hui (毁) should be read as ji (既). Second, suo (所) should be read as yu (于). Third, yan (焉) means nai (乃).

        The article of Re-examination of Stephen Owen's English Complete Translation of The Poetry of Du Fu, focuses on the complete English translation of the poetry of Du Fu (712-770) completed in 2016 translated by Prof. Stephen Owen. The value and quality of his translation are objectively revealed and evaluated by analyzing the syntax, structure, imagery, rhyme, etc. under the vertical and horizontal perspectives of comparing other works with his own earlier versions. Furthermore, the prediction of new predispositions and the direction of overseas studies of classical Chinese literature are better enhanced.

        Overview of the Ideological Content and Artistic Features of Overseas Couplets analyzes a number of overseas couplets and found out that their ideological content mainly includes four aspects: first, to recount the history of Chinese struggles; second, to express Chinese homesickness and patriotism; third, to glorify the merits of Chinese deities and sages; and fourth, to spread the core concepts of Chinese culture. In addition, this paper summarizes the outstanding characteristics of overseas couplets in terms of imagery selection, language sources and artistic techniques through literature research.

        The article of Constructional analysis and the formation of “Adj. ye(也)Adj.+budaonaliqu(不到哪里去) discusses the construct of “Adj. ye Adj.+budaonaliqu” from components, semantics, sources, and causes these four aspects. Based on the cognitive metaphorical mappings, by adopting corpus analysis, it is inferred that the construct is developed from “Verb. ye Verb.+budaonaliqu”.

        A brief introduction is far from enough to highlight the wonderful points of the articles in this issue, your attention and comments would be much valued and appreciated; your attains would be of great encouragement to us.

        Thank you for your attention and support to the new JSCLE.

Published: 2021-12-20