International Journal of Literature, Linguistics, and Cultural Studies
International Journal of Literature, Linguistics, and Cultural Studies (IJLLCS) is an international, refereed, double-blind peer-reviewed, open-access journal covering the fields of literature, linguistics, and cultural studies. It publishes high-quality research papers that advance both theoretical and practical understandings, focusing on topics such as literary analysis, language structure, sociolinguistics, cross-cultural communication, and contemporary cultural phenomena.
Chinese Language Education in Vietnam: Structural Drivers, Constraints, and the Reconstruction of "Chinese+" for Integrated Human Capital Development
Chinese language teaching in Southeast Asia has developed rapidly due to deepening economic cooperation with China, growing workforce demands, and increasing institutional support. However, its role in cultivating quality human capital remains insufficiently examined. Existing scholarship has predominantly focused on pedagogical methods, curriculum adjustment, and workforce requirements, with limited attention to the integration of language instruction into broader human capital development frameworks. This study addresses this gap by analyzing Chinese language education from the perspective of Human Capital Theory, supplemented by Language Economics, Institutional Theory, and Cultural Proximity Theory. Employing a qualitative narrative review of representative publications analyzed through thematic analysis, the findings reveal three structural factors contributing to educational growth: workforce demand, institutional backing, and cultural affinity. Additionally, four principal challenges are identified: instructional capacity, curriculum and knowledge infrastructure, digital integration, and education-industry linkages. Based on these findings, the study proposes a reconceptualization of the "Chinese+" model as a competency-based system integrating linguistic, professional, digital, and intercultural competencies within a collaborative educational framework. This research contributes by situating Chinese language education within the strategic context of human capital development, offering an integrated analytical framework, and presenting a novel conceptual interpretation of "Chinese+" to guide future scholarship and policy formulation.
Copyright (c) 2026 Hien Nguyen Thi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Salvation in Motion: Translocal Narrative and Liminality, Compassion, Embodied Perception in Cold Mountain
Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain takes the main line of Inman crossing the front line of the Civil War and rushing to his hometown to reunite with Ada. It describes the protagonist’s complete journey of embarking on the road of return with obsession and completing self-spiritual reshaping in wandering all the way. The existing relevant research mostly relies on the static habitat theory to interpret the home narrative, and few of them explore its intrinsic essence from the perspective of translocal narrative. This article takes the perspective of translocal narrative as the starting point to carry out text analysis, and carries out text analysis along the level of “liminal situation – compassion – embodied perception”: the Civil War broke the stable survival pattern, and Inman was forced to rush to the front-line battlefield and became a mobile individual who continued to shuttle in various places. All kinds of temporary transition fields on the long way back to his hometown gradually dissolved the identity barriers of Inman, allowing him to have a deep intersection with all kinds of strange passers-by and constantly nourish the ethics of compassion in his heart. And the physical pain, natural coldness and warmth brought by the trek all the way, and other concrete embodied feelings infiltrated his heart layer by layer, gradually soothing the mental trauma left by the war. Inman’s long-cherished wish to go to Cold Mountain and reunite with Ada runs through the whole text, and his inner spiritual transformation does not come from the reunion at the end, but from the cognitive reshaping created by liminal situations, compassionate ethics, and embodied experience. Frazier intertwines the narrative of returning home, travel opportunities and physical feelings, revealing that the fluid transition space is an important medium for characters to complete their spiritual growth. The multi-dimensional analysis based on this textual characteristic has also supplemented a new analytical perspective for the translocal narrative interpretation of war-themed novels.
Copyright (c) 2026 Yulin Qu (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Soul's Tangibility in Dante's Commedia
Dante's Commedia presents a striking and persistent inconsistency in the treatment of the soul's tangibility across its three canticles. Infernal shades can be stepped on, struck, and clung to, while purgatorial souls sometimes prove intangible and at other times embrace one another successfully, and the blessed in Paradise appear not as bodies but as lights. Existing scholarship has attempted to explain these apparent contradictions through theological ambiguity, dramaturgical exigency, or the linear purification of sin, yet no study has offered a systematic account of the conditions under which touch is permitted or withheld in the afterlife. This paper argues that tangibility in the Commedia functions as a deliberate narrative device whose role shifts according to the theological and poetic requirements of each cosmic realm. Drawing on an approach that treats bodily perception as a locus of meaning-making, scenes involving touch across Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso are analyzed to reconstruct its narrative purpose. The analysis reveals a functional-differential model: in Inferno, tangibility materializes sin as a perceptible consequence and an instrument of exposure; in Purgatorio, touch is selectively deployed to correct desire, construct communal identity, and reorient love toward its proper end; in Paradiso, the apparatus of touch is surpassed as relationships are expressed through light and vision, though the soul's longing for the resurrection body affirms the enduring significance of embodiment. This model reframes the Commedia's textual contradictions as deliberate articulations of Dante's theological poetics, demonstrating that what changes across the three canticles is the nature of the relationship that touch enacts.
Copyright (c) 2026 Yi Liu (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A Historical Study of the Relationship between Zhou Zuoren and Long Yusheng
The 2025 Linking Publishing edition of Zhou Zuoren riji (The Diaries of Zhou Zuoren) provides a vital new documentary basis for reexamining the intellectual and personal relationship between the eminent modern Chinese writer and scholar Zhou Zuoren and the distinguished ci lyricist Long Yusheng. Drawing upon this recently published primary source alongside other archival materials, this study systematically reconstructs the trajectory of their association, demonstrating that their correspondence commenced in late 1942, a finding that revises the year 1943 previously accepted in existing scholarship. Their interactions were multifaceted, encompassing the reciprocal exchange of books and literary materials, mutual assistance with publication endeavors, financial support during periods of hardship, and various other dimensions of scholarly camaraderie. A pivotal role in deepening this bond was played by Long Yusheng's eldest daughter, Long Shunyi, whose involvement transformed the personal friendship between Zhou and Long into a close and enduring connection between their respective families. Furthermore, the shared aesthetic sensibility of dan—characterized by outward restraint sustained by inward passion—as expressed in the poems and ci lyrics that Long presented to Zhou, illuminates the profound intellectual and emotional affinity that underpinned their relationship. Through a comprehensive examination of the historical record, this study not only offers a corrective to prevailing accounts but also reveals the deeper spiritual and aesthetic dimensions of their bond, extending well beyond the scope of their everyday exchanges.
Zhou Zuoren riji (The Diaries of Zhou Zuoren)
Copyright (c) 2026 Yiting Chai (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Surveillance and Technology: Narrative Strategies in the Formation of the Cyborg Subject in The Black Box
Jennifer Egan's "Black Box" is a groundbreaking cyborg-themed work of fiction ingeniously presented in the form of a Twitter-style serial, reflecting the fragmented consumption of modern digital media. The narrative meticulously details the harrowing process by which the female agent, Lulu, carries out a high-stakes espionage mission relying entirely on high-tech bodily implants and advanced sensorimotor coordination. Focusing on the novel's unique narrative strategies and drawing extensively on contemporary posthumanist theory, this article critically examines the fragmented presentation of digital media, the immersive use of second-person narration, and the conceptualization of the cyborg body. By analyzing these elements, the study reveals how ubiquitous technology, pervasive surveillance mechanisms, and systemic power structures intricately shape and constrain individual subjectivity. Furthermore, it argues that, through its radically nonlinear narrative structure and innovative media form, the novel not only breaks decisively with the established conventions of traditional spy fiction but also fundamentally redefines the construction of human subjectivity and literary verisimilitude. The integration of the human body with digital surveillance apparatuses highlights a critical shift in ontological boundaries. Ultimately, this comprehensive analysis demonstrates that Egan's work offers a profound and timely reflection on the complex formation of human subjectivity, agency, and identity within the rapidly evolving age of global informatization and digitalization.
Copyright (c) 2026 Jianing Wu (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
From Shadow to Subject: On the Death and Spiritual Resurrection of Sydney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities
In the critical tradition surrounding A Tale of Two Cities, Sydney Carton's sacrifice and resurrection have long been framed within the paradigms of Christian typology or Dickensian humanism. While these readings have their validity, they tend to reduce Carton to a passive vehicle of external forces. This paper argues that Carton's death and resurrection embody a distinctive dialectic of subjectivity, understood in the Hegelian-Kojèvean sense as the capacity for self-realisation through recognition and action in the face of negation. Through a comparative analysis of three modes of resurrection in the novel---Dr. Manette's externally salvaged bodily recovery, Darnay's compromised class-based escape, and Carton's autonomous death as spiritual rebirth---the paper demonstrates that Carton's sacrifice is neither a simple imitation of the Christ narrative nor a mere illustration of the author's moral doctrine. Rather, it is the only path through which an individual, caught in profound spiritual paralysis and self-aware impotence, can achieve subjecthood by actively choosing his own death. Carton's "being-toward-death" transforms him from a "shadow" into a subject of autonomous will. Moreover, his personal redemption objectively breaks the cycle of vengeful violence in the novel and enters into a deep interaction with Dickens's humanist ideals. This paper contends that only by reading Carton as a literary subject who makes his own choices---not as a mouthpiece of ideas---can we fully grasp the enduring artistic power and intellectual depth of this character.
Copyright (c) 2026 Yijia Yuan, Yujie Sun (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
From Hybridity to Transcendence: The Reconstruction of Vernacular Cosmopolitan Identity in Joyce's The Dead from a Postcolonial Perspective
James Joyce's The Dead, a classic modernist Irish text deeply embedded with profound national metaphors, is set against the turbulent backdrop of Ireland's colonial society prior to its formal independence. Taking the protagonist Gabriel's complex identity transformation—from his initial positioning as a compliant "West Briton" to his ultimate, profound resolution of "setting out on journey westward"—as the primary narrative thread, the story profoundly exposes the severe predicaments of native identity fragmentation. Furthermore, it highlights the deep spiritual confusion directly caused by the inherent exclusiveness and ideological narrowness of Irish cultural nationalism operating under prolonged colonial oppression. Utilizing Homi Bhabha's influential postcolonial theory as the core analytical framework, this comprehensive paper systematically explores the multifaceted evolution of Gabriel's identity from three distinct but interconnected aspects. First, it examines the psychological oppression of the Other under the strict discipline of dominant colonial discourse. Second, it analyzes the complex representation of cultural hybridity, which is intricately interwoven by both colonial influences and native traditions. Third, it investigates the gradual emergence of vernacular cosmopolitanism during the critical process of the protagonist's identity awakening. Ultimately, this study further probes into the essential mechanisms of national cultural self-rescue. It aims to clearly illustrate the internal, transformative path whereby marginalized nations situated in restrictive colonial contexts can successfully achieve meaningful cultural reconstruction and genuine identity transcendence through the strategic embrace of hybridity, viewed specifically from the progressive perspective of vernacular cosmopolitanism.
Copyright (c) 2026 Jingyuan Feng (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Exploitation, Regulation, and Elimination: The Writing of the Disabled Body Under Imperial Oppression in Howards End
In E. M. Forster's seminal novel Howards End, the character of Leonard Bast is universally considered as a tragic representative of the marginalized lower class. However, the intricate relationship between his metaphorically "disabled" body and the overarching forces of imperial hegemony has not been fully explored in contemporary literary criticism. To address this critical gap, this paper draws extensively on postcolonial theory, particularly utilizing Homi Bhabha's foundational concept of mimicry, alongside the social model of disability studies, to comprehensively reinterpret Leonard's portrayal as a multifaceted victim of systemic power dynamics. It argues that Leonard's "disabled" body is systematically shaped and ultimately destroyed by three distinct forms of institutional oppression. First, imperial economic exploitation relentlessly reduces his physical body to mere expendable material, stripping him of fundamental human agency. Second, imperial cultural regulation gradually undermines his psychological subjectivity and authentic selfhood through the enforced mechanisms of cultural mimicry. Finally, as both his economic utility and cultural identity inevitably collapse under these dual pressures, the imperial society ruthlessly eliminates him as a completely superfluous body. By meticulously tracing this trajectory of exploitation, regulation, and elimination, the paper uncovers a profound, implicit anti-imperialist narrative embedded within Howards End. Ultimately, this research offers a compelling new perspective on applying postcolonial theory to analyze domestic class structures, demonstrating how imperial ideologies permeate and destructively govern the vulnerable bodies within the imperial metropole itself.
Copyright (c) 2026 Qiulin Li (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Individual and Society: The Crisis of Modernity in Paul Auster's Leviathan
American writer Paul Auster's novel Leviathan revolves around the life trajectory of the protagonist Benjamin Sachs. It tells the story of a promising novelist who gradually transforms into the "Phantom of Liberty" under the combined impacts of political oppression, the trauma of the Vietnam War, and pervasive social hypocrisy. By destroying replicas of the Statue of Liberty, Sachs attempts to express his questioning of the U.S. government and his discontent with the contradictions of modern society. Drawing on Zygmunt Bauman's theory of liquid modernity, this article analyzes the alienation of individuals, the fragmentation of social bonds, and the crisis of cultural identity reflected in the novel. It further explores how fluid, unstable social structures intensify insecurity, moral ambiguity, and the erosion of stable identities. Through an in-depth reading of Leviathan, the paper reveals the tensions between personal freedom and social control, as well as between ethical responsibility and political violence. By examining the crisis of modernity embodied in Sachs's choices and ultimate fate, the study urges contemporary society to re-examine the relationship between the individual and the collective, and to seek a more humanistic, inclusive, and dialogic social model capable of responding to the multiple challenges of modern life.
Copyright (c) 2026 Peiqi Wang (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Protection and Creative Transformation: The Survival of Subei Qinshu in Contemporary China
Subei Qinshu, a traditional narrative-singing art form originating from northern Jiangsu Province, has faced significant challenges in the modern era, including the decline of rural cultural spaces, the aging of practitioners, and a decrease in commercial viability. As a result, the survival of this intangible cultural heritage has become a critical concern. This study explores how creative transformation, facilitated by both local initiatives and policy frameworks, allows Subei Qinshu to adapt and thrive in contemporary society. Through two detailed case studies-its adaptation in primary school clubs and its staged performances within the Suqian Grand Canal Cultural Belt-the research examines how innovations such as the simplification of melodies, condensation of narratives, and modernization of performance style have contributed to its preservation. Drawing on Bakan's theory of creative transformation, the study analyzes the effectiveness of these adaptations in ensuring cultural transmission, maintaining audience engagement, and making the art form relevant to modern audiences. Additionally, the research highlights the role of institutional support, specifically the Non-Material Cultural Heritage in Schools program and the Suqian Grand Canal Cultural Belt initiative, which provide necessary resources, legitimacy, and visibility for Subei Qinshu. The findings suggest that the preservation of intangible cultural heritage must be dynamic rather than static, with creative transformation and policy support working synergistically to maintain cultural identity, ensure continuity, and engage a broader public. This paper argues that Subei Qinshu's successful adaptation serves as a model for preserving other regional art forms in contemporary China.
Copyright (c) 2026 Ximin Wu (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Technological Salvation or Secular Utopia? Christian Metaphors in Artificial Intelligence Discourse
This research article examines the pervasive use of Christian metaphors in discourse surrounding Artificial Intelligence (AI), analyzing whether these metaphors function as promises of technological salvation or secular utopias. The study investigates how concepts like ‘creation,’ ‘intelligence,’ ‘transcendence,’ and ‘the singularity’ echo religious narratives, shaping public perception and ethical considerations of AI development. Through a critical analysis of academic papers, industry reports, and popular media, the research identifies specific instances where Christian theological frameworks are implicitly or explicitly employed to frame AI’s potential impact on humanity. Furthermore, it explores the implications of imbuing AI with religious significance, questioning whether this metaphorical language fosters unrealistic expectations, masks potential risks, or reinforces existing power structures. The analysis considers historical precedents of technological utopianism and secularization, drawing parallels and divergences between past aspirations and current narratives surrounding AI. Ultimately, this article seeks to deconstruct the theological underpinnings of AI discourse, offering a nuanced perspective on the cultural, ethical, and philosophical dimensions of this rapidly evolving technology. The goal is to promote a more critical and informed understanding of AI’s potential benefits and challenges, disentangled from the often-unacknowledged influence of religious metaphors.
Copyright (c) 2026 Ziwei Shuai (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Poetic Imagery - The Visual Translation of Chinese Characters
Traditional narratives usually depict scenes through words and convey content using paintings. However, during the research, the author found that in the evolution history of Chinese characters, there exists a unique way, that is, through the ingenious visual translation of Chinese characters, the text content is presented in a visual form. This study aims to explore the design method of visualizing Chinese characters, selecting outstanding Chinese character creations from past dynasties as research objects, with a particular focus on Su Dongpo's "Evening View" and the "Bamboo Leaf Poem" from the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty. Through an in-depth analysis of the structure, meaning of Chinese characters, and their usage in different contexts in these two works, this article attempts to reveal how to utilize the image-based characteristics of Chinese characters to represent the content of the text in creation. Ultimately, this study explored the unique value of Chinese character visualization in textual representation and its potential for future applications across multiple dimensions.
Copyright (c) 2025 Yan Zhang (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Singularity of Chinese Buddhism: Influences of Taoism and Confucianism
This paper argues that the distinctiveness of Chinese Buddhism arises from its sustained interaction and gradual synthesis with native cultural traditions, particularly Confucianism and Taoism. By examining two influential narratives-the legend of the unconventional monk Ji Gong and the classical novel Journey to the West-the study illustrates how core Buddhist principles were continuously reinterpreted through a Chinese cultural lens. These narratives reveal the localized transformation of ideas such as filial piety, moral reciprocity, and karmic retribution, showing how abstract doctrines were translated into familiar ethical practices and vivid literary characters. Through this process of reinterpretation, Buddhism was not merely introduced to China but reshaped to align with long-standing social values and philosophical orientations. The analysis further highlights how these stories served as accessible vehicles for conveying Buddhist teachings to broader audiences, integrating spiritual ideals with everyday moral concerns. Ultimately, the paper concludes that this deep cultural syncretism produced a uniquely Chinese form of Buddhism-one that retained its foundational spiritual concepts while developing new meanings rooted in indigenous traditions, thereby differentiating it from its Indian origins and contributing to its enduring influence within Chinese cultural history.
Copyright (c) 2025 Qixuan Du (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Marxist Ecopoetics in the Poetic Creation of the Niger Delta
As one of Africa's largest wetland ecosystems, the Niger Delta serves as a central arena for the creative practices of its poetic community. The poetry of three successive generations of poets in this region embodies distinctive and profound ecological-political insights. The first generation employs the metaphorical system of water folds to allegorize the alienation of nature, establishing an imaginative framework that reflects environmental estrangement. The second generation advances this exploration by utilizing the topological structures of land mazes to portray ecological violence, revealing the complex interactions between human activity and environmental degradation. The third generation further evolves this trajectory through the reconstruction of oil-ravaged landscapes, transforming depictions of ecological devastation into visions of ecological revolution. This iterative engagement with environmental ruin has gradually coalesced into a poetics paradigm marked by resistance and critical reflection. These poetic works not only illuminate the distinctive ecological perception of African poets but also expand the practice of Marxist Ecological Poetics in the Global South, offering a literary critique of oil capitalism while envisioning alternative pathways for ecological thought and cultural intervention.
Copyright (c) 2025 Yaqi Gui (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Constructing Cultural Identity with Traditional Chinese-Style Music in Soundscapes
In recent years, China’s film and television industry has increasingly incorporated Traditional Chinese-style Music (TCM), not only to enhance narrative expression but also to construct culturally resonant soundscapes. By integrating traditional instruments and operatic motifs, these productions evoke imagery and collective memory, transforming auditory experience into cultural recognition. This study investigates how TCM contributes to soundscape construction that fosters audience identification. It examines how musical elements shape perception, how sonic imagery conveys cultural symbolism, and how creators reinforce strategies of cultural identification. Through case studies of The Legend of Zhenhuan and Kung Fu Panda, the research analyzes three soundscape components—Keynote Sound, Sound Signal, and Sound Mark—within the framework of Hero Theory. The findings suggest that domestic dramas tend to emphasize inward cultural identification, whereas Western animations favor outward cultural integration. This comparative inquiry elucidates the mechanisms through which TCM transforms sound into cultural signifiers and offers insights into how film and television music can further promote the global dissemination of Chinese culture.
Copyright (c) 2025 Bingyi Yan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
From Shock to Restructuring: A Thematic Analysis of Chinese Patients' Diabetes Adaptation in an Online Peer Support Forum
Despite rapid growth of online health communities, little is known about how individuals with diabetes make sense of their condition through asynchronous peer discussion—particularly in non-Western contexts. Aim: This study provides an inductive thematic analysis of patient posts on the Sweet Home Diabetes Forum to uncover the experiential and social processes underpinning diabetes adaptation. Ninety-three posts were randomly sampled from "Type 2 Diabetes" sub-forum. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, with iterative coding by two researchers and consensus discussions to ensure interpretive rigor. Three interlinked adaptation phases emerged: Psychological Adjustment: from initial shock and denial to acceptance and resilience-building; Daily Management: flexible dietary strategies, tailored physical activity, and ritualized medication practices; Life Restructuring: financial coping, career recalibration, and value reframing. Peer exchanges fostered collaborative expertise ("epistemic humility governance") and collective identity reconstruction. These findings underscore the importance of online peer forums as phase-specific support arenas—providing critical emotional validation, collaborative skill-building, and life-planning resources—and extend chronic illness adaptation theory into a culturally specific, digitally mediated context.
Copyright (c) 2025 Shuai Liu, Xuanxi Dong, Chao Lu (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Scroll, Like, Remember: The Role of Micro-Content in Reimagining Folk Traditions for Gen Z Audiences
In the age of algorithmic media, short-form video platforms such as Douyin, Bilibili, and Kuaishou have emerged as influential spaces for reimagining folk traditions in contemporary China. This study examines how micro-content—brief, highly stylized digital videos—serves as a dynamic medium through which Generation Z engages with intangible cultural heritage. Drawing on theories of cultural memory, media aesthetics, and participatory culture, we analyze a sample of 100 short videos across major Chinese platforms to explore the visual, narrative, and affective strategies used to mediate folk practices. Our findings reveal three dominant dynamics: first, the hybridization of traditional content with popular digital aesthetics; second, the compression of cultural memory into symbolic fragments optimized for attention economies; and third, the emergence of emotionally resonant viewer interactions that reframe heritage as a shared, affective experience rather than a linear historical narrative. Rather than dismissing these forms as superficial, we argue that micro-content platforms facilitate new modes of mnemonic participation, enabling youth to access and reinterpret tradition in ways that align with their media fluency and cultural imaginaries. This article contributes to broader debates on digital heritage, memory, and the mediation of culture in platformized environments, offering a critical perspective on how tradition survives and evolves in the scrollable present.
Copyright (c) 2025 Qiuying Li (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Cross-Cultural Adaptation of Ballet Pedagogy in Non-Western Educational Contexts
The globalization of ballet education has necessitated significant adaptations when traditional Western pedagogical approaches are implemented in non-Western educational contexts. This study examines the challenges and opportunities inherent in cross-cultural ballet pedagogy adaptation, focusing on how cultural values, educational philosophies, and institutional frameworks influence the transmission of classical ballet techniques and methodologies. Through comprehensive analysis of contemporary practices across various non-Western regions, this research identifies critical factors that determine successful adaptation strategies. The study reveals that effective cross-cultural ballet pedagogy requires careful consideration of local cultural sensitivities, modification of traditional assessment methods, integration of indigenous movement vocabularies, and development of culturally responsive teaching methodologies. Furthermore, the research demonstrates that successful adaptation programs often employ hybrid pedagogical models that maintain the technical integrity of classical ballet while incorporating culturally relevant elements that resonate with local student populations. The findings suggest that institutional support, teacher training programs, and community engagement are essential components for sustainable cross-cultural ballet education initiatives. This investigation contributes to the broader discourse on cultural adaptation in dance education and provides practical frameworks for educators seeking to implement ballet pedagogy in diverse cultural contexts while preserving both artistic authenticity and cultural sensitivity.
Copyright (c) 2025 Hiroshi Takeda (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Effects of Content-Based Instruction (CBI) on College Students' Writing Competence
This study explores the impact of Content-Based Instruction (CBI) on enhancing college students' English writing skills. The goal was to investigate how integrating subject content into language learning can improve both linguistic ability and academic writing proficiency. An action research approach was used, with data collected through questionnaires and writing tests. One hundred and twenty freshmen from a local university in Changchun participated. The findings showed that CBI significantly improved students' overall writing skills, particularly in areas such as text coherence and organization. By engaging with authentic, content-driven tasks, students demonstrated improved ability to structure their writing according to Western academic conventions. This process helped students shift from native language (L1) thinking patterns to the more linear, logical writing structures common in English academic discourse. Additionally, CBI had a positive impact on students' writing attitudes and strategies. Students reported greater confidence in their writing, with improvements in self-assessment and revision skills. They also developed a broader range of writing strategies, including outlining and peer review, which helped reduce common writing difficulties such as structural confusion and writer's block. Overall, CBI proved effective not only in enhancing students' linguistic skills but also in fostering cognitive flexibility, preparing them for academic writing challenges.
Copyright (c) 2025 Min Wang (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Impact of Cultural Presupposition on HSK Listening Comprehension—A Case Study of "Chinese Festivals" and "Interpersonal Relationships" Topics
This study examines the listening comprehension of international students at Jilin Engineering Normal University, focusing specifically on two significant cultural topics within the HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) listening tests: "Chinese Festivals" and "Interpersonal Relationships." It delves into the profound influence of cultural presupposition on listening comprehension and aims to identify practical countermeasures to mitigate the negative impact of cultural gaps. Through a combination of error analysis and teaching experiments, the study uncovers that international students tend to make frequent misjudgments during listening comprehension tests, primarily due to a lack of adequate cultural awareness. For instance, many students struggle to understand cultural symbols such as "ya sui qian" (lucky money) and "renqing wanglai" (human interaction), which are deeply ingrained in Chinese social practices. In response to these challenges, a series of targeted cultural supplementary teaching experiments were conducted. The findings suggest that the systematic introduction of cultural knowledge, specifically cultural presuppositions, significantly improves students' listening comprehension abilities. In particular, the accuracy rate of their responses to topics related to Chinese festivals and interpersonal relationships increased by an impressive 28.6%. These results highlight the critical role that cultural understanding plays in mastering listening comprehension, and the study underscores the importance of integrating cultural components into HSK listening instruction. By providing empirical evidence of the benefits of culturally enriched teaching, this research contributes valuable insights into how cultural factors can be effectively incorporated into language education to enhance international students' learning outcomes.
Copyright (c) 2025 Yufei Duan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Cultural Preservation Studies: Examining Traditional Art Forms in Modern Society
The preservation of traditional art forms in contemporary society represents a critical intersection between cultural heritage and modern adaptation strategies. This study examines the multifaceted approaches to maintaining cultural identity through traditional artistic expressions while addressing the challenges posed by globalization and technological advancement. Through comprehensive analysis of various traditional art forms including folk dance, regional cultural practices, and intangible heritage elements, this research investigates the mechanisms through which traditional arts adapt to modern contexts without losing their authentic essence. The study explores spatial distribution patterns of cultural heritage, educational integration strategies, and innovative preservation methodologies that bridge traditional practices with contemporary artistic expression. Findings reveal that successful cultural preservation requires dynamic adaptation strategies that maintain core cultural values while embracing modern technological tools and pedagogical approaches. The research demonstrates that cultural preservation is not merely about maintaining static traditions but involves active engagement with contemporary society to ensure cultural continuity across generations. These insights contribute to understanding how traditional art forms can remain relevant and vibrant in modern society while preserving their fundamental cultural significance and heritage value.
Copyright (c) 2025 Emily Chen (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Oppression and Symbiosis: An Ecofeminist Perspective of The Bluest Eye
In her seminal work The Bluest Eye, African American female writer Toni Morrison focuses on the tragic story of Pecola, a black girl who suffers from racial discrimination, domestic violence and sexual assault since her childhood, and is deeply inferior in the white culture-dominated society, and finally seeks for recognition and acceptance with the desire to have a pair of blue eyes. At the same time, this novel also depicts natural imagery such as withered marigolds, sandy land, and violent storms, which mirror each other with the fate of the characters, revealing the deep connection between race, gender, and ecological violence. Therefore, from an ecofeminist perspective, this paper analyzes the relations of oppression, resistance and connection embedded in the gender and ecological dimensions of the work. Black women and nature, represented by Pecola, are violated and oppressed by patriarchal men and human beings, and Claudia's sisters resist and rebel against them by tearing up the white dolls and the emergence of the phenomenon of land barrenness. Finally, Pecola's wish for marigolds is a deep connection and integration between women and nature on a spiritual level. This paper aims to provide inspiration and reference for solving the long-standing problems of race, gender and ecology under the patriarchal society, and to inject more humanistic care into the rapidly developing post-industrial society nowadays.
Copyright (c) 2025 Junru Wang (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Discursive Construction of Traditional Culture of Southwest China in Modern Overseas Travelogues — Take The Land of the Dragon as an Example
There is a wealth of travelogues about southwest China left by overseas visitors since 1840. These travelogues record the traditional cultural imprints of the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River, including landscapes, architecture, economic development, and social customs. Taking The Land of the Dragon as a representative overseas travelogue, this study aims to investigate the discursive construction of traditional culture in southwest China, particularly along the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River. The findings show that the traditional culture in southwest China occupies a unique place in the history of traditional Chinese culture, characterized by rich ethnic characteristics as well as cultural depth and breadth. Overseas travelogues often reflect certain fixed impressions and partial understandings of traditional Chinese culture. This study has both theoretical and practical implications. It first demonstrates the applicability of critical discourse analysis to overseas travelogues about China and enriches methodological approaches through a content analysis of The Land of the Dragon. Second, this study helps to make a better understanding of Chinese traditional culture and enhance the readers' critical reading awareness, call on people to protect nature and traditional culture, and utilize them rationally so as to promote the sustainable development of material culture and spiritual culture.
Copyright (c) 2025 Junhong Liu, Jingyi Zhao, Fengyao Zhou (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Role of English Translation of Northeast Chinese Folktales in the Development of Tourism Culture
Northeastern China is a region rich in cultural and natural tourism assets, offering not only stunning landscapes — such as vast forests, snowy mountains, and tranquil lakes — but also a profound legacy of oral traditions and folktales that reflect the region's unique historical evolution and ethnic diversity. These folktales, passed down through generations, embody local values, social customs, and collective memories. Translating such stories into English is not merely a linguistic task but a strategic cultural endeavor. It can significantly broaden the international appeal of the region, attract a diverse range of global tourists, and contribute to the global recognition of Northeast China's intangible cultural heritage. Furthermore, the dissemination of these tales enhances intercultural dialogue, deepens visitors' understanding of Chinese local cultures, and enriches their travel experience by providing emotional and intellectual engagement. As a result, folklore translation becomes an effective tool for cultural diplomacy, tourism development, and public education.