THE EFFECT OF DESIGNING AN ONLINE TEACHING OF CHINESE CLASS FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS ABOUT SICHUAN-BASHU CULTURE: A CASE STUDY OF STUDENTS FROM HELLOTALK PLATFORM

Xiaoyu Wang

Authors

Xiaoyu Wang Prince of Songkla University Phuket Campus

Keywords:

Language and Cultural Integration, Course Design, Online Chinese Teaching, Learner Engagement, Teaching Effectiveness Study

Abstract

As online teaching becomes increasingly widespread and sophisticated in international Chinese education, integrating regional culture presents new opportunities and challenges for online Chinese classrooms. This qualitative research aimed to 1) explore the feasibility and practical approaches of integrating Bashu cultural elements—such as architecture, cuisine, and art—into online Chinese language instruction, 2) analyze the impact of cultural integration on learners’ classroom performance in terms of interaction, target language use, and intercultural awareness, and 3) identify challenges and propose instructional strategies for effective cultural teaching in virtual environments. The study involved 50 international Chinese learners on the HelloTalk language learning platform. The study collected data through pre-class instructional design analysis, classroom observation, and semi-structured interviews with 20 participants.

Data collection tools included observation notes and interview protocols focused on cultural comprehension and student engagement. The results showed that integrating Sichuan Bashu culture significantly enhanced learners’ language interest, classroom engagement, intercultural understanding, and expressive skills. While challenges such as platform instability and varying levels of cultural background knowledge were noted, the findings suggest that adopting flexible teaching strategies and leveraging platform functions can effectively address these issues. Based on the results, this study proposes instructional guidelines in three key areas: adaptive content design, interactive cultural tasks, and platform-based engagement strategies.

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