Education, Science, Technology, Innovation and Life
Open Access
Sign In

A Study on the Content and Modes of Cultural Representation in the NMET Reading Comprehension Tests

Download as PDF

DOI: 10.23977/langl.2024.070411 | Downloads: 3 | Views: 148

Author(s)

Gao Yimeng 1

Affiliation(s)

1 School of English Studies, Xi'an International Studies University, Xi'an, China

Corresponding Author

Gao Yimeng

ABSTRACT

This study focuses on the cultural representation in the reading comprehension test of the National Matriculation English Test (NMET) in China, explores its cultural territory, cultural types and presentation modes, and addresses the problems that exist in the cultural representation. The reference framework of this study is the adapted Framework for Analyzing the Representation of Cultures in English Textbooks. Content analysis is conducted and the cultural entries presented in the reading comprehension test are coded and given weights to derive the intensity of each cultural entry (intensity=weight×frequency) after which comparisons and analyses are carried out. It has been found that: Target Culture, especially the culture of Britain and America, is dominant in the reading comprehension of the NMET, while the representation of the Source Culture features low frequency and low intensity; The NMET reading comprehension test attaches great importance to the representation of cultural products, cultural practices and cultural figures, while the representation of cultural perspectives and cultural communities is insufficient; Target Culture is presented in various modes and complete discourse, while Source Culture is presented in simple modes.

KEYWORDS

Content of cultural representation, modes of cultural representation, reading comprehension test of the NMET

CITE THIS PAPER

Gao Yimeng, A Study on the Content and Modes of Cultural Representation in the NMET Reading Comprehension Tests. Lecture Notes on Language and Literature (2024) Vol. 7: 71-76. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/langl.2024.070411.

REFERENCES

[1] Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China. (2020) General Senior High School Curriculum Standards-English. People's Education Press in China.
[2] Huang, G.X. (2007) A Study on Integrating Cultural Components into College English Reading Test. Foreign Language Education in China, 1, 118-124.
[3] Lan X.S. and Zhang C.S. (2012) The Feasibility of the Study on the Assessment of Cultural Awareness: From the Perspective of the Mechanics of Washback Effect. Journal of China Examinations, 5, 19-23.
[4] Valette, R. M. (1986) The Culture Test. In Valdes, M. (ed.). Culture Bound. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
[5] Lado, R. (1961) Language testing. London: Longman.
[6] Faris, I. N. I. (2015) Investigating Cultural Contents of Reading Passages in the Tests Developed by English Teachers in a Senior High School. Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa Dan Sastra, 2, 239-256.
[7] Azkiyah, S. N., Setiono, D.P. (2017) The Representation of Culture in English Reading Passages of Senior High School National Examination in Indonesia. In International Conference on Education in Muslim Society (ICEMS 2017). Atlantis Press, 66-71.
[8] Zhang, H. and Li, X.N. (2022) Developing a Framework for Analyzing the Representation of Cultures in English Textbooks. Foreign Languages in China, 19, 78-84. 
[9] Cong, C. (2000) "Aphasia of Chinese Culture": Deficiencies in English Language Teaching in China. GuangMing Daily.
[10] Moran, P. R. (2009) Teaching Culture: Perspectives in Practice. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.
[11] Zhang, H. and Li, X. N. (2022) Cultural Representation in Senior High School English Textbooks. Foreign Language Education in China, 5:42-52+92.

All published work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Copyright © 2016 - 2031 Clausius Scientific Press Inc. All Rights Reserved.