Erya Chinese·The Basics of Chinese Culture (II) is composed of sixteen texts in eight lessons, which shows the uniqueness and diversity of Chinese culture from four aspects: Chinese literature, Chinese art, Chinese life and Chinese ancient education. These eight lessons are: Chinese ancient myths, appreciation of Tang and Song poetry, Chinese folklore, Chinese ancient architecture, Chinese folk music, Chinese tea culture, Chinese medical culture, and Chinese ancient education. A lesson consists of two related texts, each including four parts: text, cultural notes, new words and exercises. The text aims to get big pictures from small details and learn from the past and the present; and the language used, being vivid and concise, strives to go from the easy to the difficult and complicated. Although the cultural notes and new words consist of few words, they are concise and comprehensive. The exercises after class are closely related to the text, with various types of questions provided.

Erya Chinese·The Basics of Chinese Culture (II), a cultural reader for intermediate students, can be used by international students at Chinese colleges or universities taking Chinese Language or International Education of Chinese Language majors in the second semester of their second year. It can also be used as a textbook for teachers to teach Chinese culture or as an extracurricular reader for students interested in Chinese culture in countries other than China..

1. In the teaching process, it is suggested that teachers make full use of multimedia technology to guide learners to fully understand the profound connotation of Chinese culture by means of specific language environments and various forms such as sound, image and text..

2. To develop students’ cross-cultural awareness and self-learning ability, teachers should explicitly ask students to consult relevant graphic materials and prepare an oral report titled “Let Me Talk Today” before the beginning of each lesson. They should also make a timetable for the class reports (usually 3 to 5 minutes for each student)based on the topics students chosen.“Let Me Talk Today” is designed after the first text of each lesson, to let students have enough time to prepare after class and make presentations and communication in classroom study.

3. Volume 2 can be used in a semester (or 16 weeks, 32 class hours). Each lesson takes 4 class hours, and on average, a text is completed using 2 class hours. Teachers can also arrange their teaching schedules with flexibility based on their teaching needs.

Shu Yan, graduated from School of Chinese Language and Literature of Beijing Normal University with her master’s degree in Literature and PhD degree in Law (majoring in Folklore), is now a teacher and Master Supervisor of School of Chinese Studies at Beijing Language and Culture University. Dr. Shu is interested in international education of Chinese language, urban folklore, and cross-cultural communication.