Investigating the Role of Culture and the Development of Oral Fluency

With the Chinese being the largest single group studying in Canada today, meeting their needs is crucial for their success. This book uncovers the relationship between Chinese culture and English language learning in Canada, by examining how Chinese learners of English develop oral fluency. How do cultural beliefs facilitate and/or constrain Chinese learners’ efforts to develop spoken English? In an ethnographic, multi-case study, 17 Chinese English language learners were surveyed, ten of whom were interviewed and then observed at different classroom sites. Emerging themes were noted; and the data were analyzed using these themes as coding categories, and then organized according to these codes. This scientific analysis indicated that Chinese English language learners encounter various challenges while learning to speak English in Canada. The primary issues which affected some of the participants while learning English were the concepts of ‘face’, listening-centeredness, academic achievement, maintaining harmony and respecting authority. This book is essential for those teaching English to Chinese students, and linguists interested in culture and second language acquisition.