Learning Chinese in a Role as News Broadcaster: Is This a Worth-Trying Teaching Method?

Abstract

This study was based on the vicarious learning theory, and the teaching model included learning, practice, self-assessment, and peer-assessment. The authors conducted the study in a spiral manner. There are three research questions in this study: 1) Can learners' achievement be elevated by news video production teaching model? 2) Can learners' oral presentation be elevated by the news video production teaching model? 3) Will the learning outcomes be affected by self-assessment and peer-assessment? The teaching period was 18 weeks, and the study objects were six foreign learners from the current Chinese course in one university. The study results revealed 1) the whole semester teaching model promoted students attaining learning outcomes, 2) the whole semester teaching model enhanced the learners' oral presentation abilities, 3) self-evaluation and peer-evaluation affected the learners' learning achievement. In future studies, the authors suggest caring for the learners' learning bottlenecks in any moment and infusing real material into Chinese teaching.