College English Teaching for Chinese Cultural International Communication

Abstract

In the context of China’s growing global engagement, college English teaching carries a dual responsibility: developing students’ foreign language proficiency and cultivating their ability to communicate Chinese culture effectively to international audiences. However, many courses still focus predominantly on target-language cultures, resulting in a notable “Chinese culture aphasia” among students--the inability to express native cultural content in English. This paper explores practical strategies to integrate Chinese cultural content into college English instruction, aiming to enhance students’ intercultural communicative competence and their capacity as cultural exchange envoys. Drawing on theories of intercultural communication and cultural confidence, the paper proposes five interconnected strategies:curriculum redesign with systematic Chinese cultural themes; pedagogical innovation through comparative and project-based approaches; teacher development as cultural mediators; leveraging digital resources for cultural production; assessment systems that value cultural output. The paper argues that these strategies, when implemented cohesively, can transform college English from a language skills course into a vital platform for China’s cultural international engagement.