Pre-test Questionnaire: Chinese Cultural Knowledge, Awareness and Cross-cultural Expression
Dear Student,Welcome! This questionnaire is designed to assess your current level of knowledge regarding Chinese culture, your cultural awareness, and your ability to express Chinese cultural concepts in English. Your responses will help us tailor the upcoming course to better meet your learning needs.Please note:- This survey is anonymous. All data collected will be used solely for teaching research and curriculum improvement.- Please answer based on your true understanding and feelings. There are no “right” or “wrong” answers for the open-ended and scale sections.- Estimated completion time: 20 minutes.Thank you for your cooperation and support!
Part A: Background InformationPlease fill in the blanks or check the appropriate box.
*1. Name (Optional)
*2. Grade
*3. Major
English Education (Normal)
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*4. English Level
CET-4
Non-CET
Other
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*5. Gender
男
女
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*6. Have you ever taken a course on Chinese culture in English?
Yes
No
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*7. How would you rate your current knowledge of Chinese culture?
Very Poor
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
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*8. 1. Regarding the Spring Festival, which of the following best explains the cultural significance of the “Reunion Dinner” (Nianyefan)?
It is primarily a time to display the family’s wealth through expensive dishes.
It symbolizes the consolidation of family bonds and the collective hope for prosperity in the coming year.
It is a religious ritual strictly required to worship ancestors before midnight.
It serves as a formal interview for younger family members to report their annual achievements.
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*9. 2. The Confucian concept of “Harmony but not Uniformity” (和而不同) is best understood in a modern context as:
Everyone must agree on the same opinion to maintain social stability.
Differences should be eliminated to achieve a perfect society.
Respecting diversity and seeking common ground while acknowledging differences is the ideal state of social interaction.
Harmony is only possible when one culture dominates the others.
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*10. 3. In Dream of the Red Chamber, the tragic fate of the protagonists primarily reflects:
The inevitable decline of feudal society and the conflict between individual desire and social constraints.
The superiority of Buddhist philosophy over Confucian ethics.
A simple romance story without deeper social commentary.
The financial mismanagement of the Jia family alone.
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*11. 4. Which statement best captures the essence of Chinese Tea Culture?
Tea is mainly consumed to stay awake during long working hours.
It is a ritual centered on “He, Jing, Yi, Ji” (Harmony, Respect, Purity, Tranquility), emphasizing spiritual cultivation and social etiquette.
The most expensive tea is always the best choice for guests.
Tea drinking has completely replaced coffee in modern Chinese urban life.
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*12. 5. When a Chinese host insists on serving more food to a guest who has already declined, this behavior is best interpreted as:
A lack of respect for the guest’s personal autonomy.
An expression of hospitality, warmth, and the desire to ensure the guest feels fully cared for.
A sign that the host is insecure about the quality of the food.
A mandatory rule written in ancient etiquette books that must be followed strictly.
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*13. 6. The Mid-Autumn Festival’s focus on the “full moon” symbolizes:
The worship of lunar deities for agricultural harvest.
Completeness, reunion, and the emotional connection between people despite physical distance.
The end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter.
A historical commemoration of a specific military victory.
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*14. 7. The concept of “Filial Piety” (孝) in contemporary Chinese society has evolved to include:
Absolute obedience to parents regardless of moral correctness.
Only providing financial support to elderly parents.
Emotional care, respect, and supporting parents’ spiritual well-being alongside material support.
Living in the same household with parents until marriage.
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*15. 8. In traditional Chinese painting, the use of “blank space” (Liubai) is intended to:
Save expensive ink and paper.
Indicate that the artist ran out of ideas.
Create an artistic conception, allowing the viewer’s imagination to participate and conveying the spirit rather than mere form.
Represent the sky or water literally in every painting.
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*16. 9. Compared to Western individualism, traditional Chinese social orientation is best characterized by:
A focus on personal rights and self-expression above all else.
A relational self, where identity is defined through relationships and social roles within a collective.
A complete rejection of family influence.
An emphasis on competition rather than cooperation.
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*17. 10. When introducing Chinese culture globally, the most effective approach is to:
List as many historical facts and dates as possible.
Focus solely on ancient traditions and ignore modern developments.
Connect cultural values with universal human experiences and use storytelling to bridge cultural gaps.
Insist that Chinese culture is superior to all others.
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*18. Task 3: Concept ExplanationChoose one traditional Chinese cultural concept (e.g., “Harmony but Diversity” 和而不同, “Filial Piety” 孝, “Face” 面子, “Heaven-Human Unity” 天人合一). Explain it in English and try to make it understandable to a Western reader by using an analogy or comparison.
*19. Cultural Awareness & Identity Scale
1 (Strongly Disagree)
2 (Disagree)
3 (Neutral)
4 (Agree)
5 (Strongly Agree)
1. I feel proud of Chinese culture and its historical contributions.
2. I believe Chinese culture has unique values that can offer solutions to global challenges.
3. I am confident in my identity as a Chinese person in cross-cultural settings.
4. I genuinely enjoy learning about the cultures of other countries.
5. I try to understand cultural differences from the perspective of people from those cultures rather than judging them.
6. I am willing to actively introduce Chinese culture to foreigners in English.
7. I feel confident explaining complex Chinese cultural concepts in English without translating word-for-word.
8. I believe I have the responsibility to be a bridge for cultural communication.
9. I can easily identify both similarities and differences between Chinese and Western cultural values.
10. When facing cultural conflicts, I tend to seek understanding rather than avoiding the issue.
*20. 1. Where do you usually learn about Chinese culture? (Select all that apply)
*21. 2. How often do you use English to talk about Chinese culture?
*22. 3. What is the biggest challenge you face when trying to express Chinese cultural concepts in English?
*23. 4. What Chinese cultural topics are you most interested in learning about in this course? Please list at least two.
*24. 5. After taking this course, what do you hope to be able to do with Chinese culture in English? (e.g., give a presentation, write an article, have a deep conversation, guide a foreign visitor)