Enhancing Cross-Cultural Awareness and Intercultural Communication Skills: A Practical Example of Teaching Chinese as a Second Language through AAPI Inclusive Practices

Authors

  • Dan Wang The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
  • Dr. Qi Sun The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55370/dsj.v9i2.1829

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated anti-Asian sentiment, fueled by misleading rumors and conspiracy theories such as the labels "Chinese Virus" and "Wuhan Virus." These narratives have contributed to a surge in hate crimes against Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities, with tragic incidents like the Atlanta shooting highlighting the severity of the issue. In response, the AAPI community has actively sought opportunities to foster mutual understanding through language, culture, and education. This paper presents a Chinese language program at a public research institution in a Southern U.S. state that integrates AAPI-inclusive practices into its curriculum. These practices helped raise awareness of cultural understanding of diversity and offered practical approaches. As an example, this paper provides insights into promoting dialogue on campus and within surrounding communities through collaborative learning using local resources; it facilitated mutual understanding and advocated for social inclusion to combat anti-Asian discrimination.

Author Biographies

Dan Wang, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Dan Wang is a distinguished lecturer in the Department of World Languages and Cultures and a Ph.D. student in the Adult and Continuing Education program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her primary research interests include second language (L2) acquisition, language teaching methods, community-based learning, assessment, and teacher development. She has presented her research at prestigious conferences such as the Chinese Language Teachers Association (CLTA) Annual Meeting, the Mountain Interstate Foreign Language Conference (MIFLC), and the Annual Convention of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). Dan has also published papers and book chapters in the field of teaching Chinese as a second language.

Dr. Qi Sun, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Dr. Qi Sun is an associate professor and program coordinator for the Adult and Continuing Education Ph.D. Program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her research interests include adult and lifelong learning, international & comparative education, Confucian educational philosophy, Asian diasporas and cross-cultural learning and teaching, and online education. Dr. Sun has conducted extensive research, which has been widely published in top journals with high impact factors, such as AEQ, International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, International Journal of Lifelong Education, Distance Education, Journal of Transformative Education, and Asia Pacific Education Review. Her identity as an international faculty member, a woman of color, and an Asian immigrant has enabled her to advocate for diversity, inclusion, and equality research. As the Chair of the Asian Adult Education (AAE) conference, Dr. Sun has actively promoted much-needed research by Asian diaspora and Asian scholars and studies on topics related to AAPI, highlighting their contributions to the deficiency of adult education literature. She is the recipient of the AAACE 2022 Imogene Okes Award for Outstanding Research in Adult Education and the 2023 Mid-Career Award from AAACE's Commission for Professors of Adult Education (CPAE).

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Published

2024-12-14

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 2 (2024): ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER

Section

Reflections

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