从跨文化视角解读《虎妈战歌》背后中美家庭教育差异 王静.docx

ContentsChinese Abstract2English Abstract31. Introduction41.1 Background Research41.2 Literature Review41.3 The Significance of Research52. Brief Introduction to Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother62.1 Background Information about the Author62.2 The Discussion about “Tiger Mother”73. The Differences Between Chinese and American Family Educations83.1 Differences in Education Purposes83.2 Differences in Education Contents93.3 Differences in Education Methods104. The Causes of Differences in Chinese and American Family Educations114.1 Cultural Background114.2 Value Orientation124.3 Parenting Style135. Suggestions145.1 Suggestions on Education Goal145.2 Suggestions on Education Content145.3 Suggestions on Education Method156. Conclusion15References17从跨文化视角解读虎妈战歌背后中美家庭教育差异摘 要中美两国在教育领域是世界上具有影响力的国家，但在各种社会因素的影响下,两国在教育理念与教养方式上有着显著的差异。探讨中美家庭教育差异背后成因，有助于掌握中西方文化异同，深化对家庭教育的认识。本文通过跨文化视角解读虎妈战歌，总结了中美家庭教育主要存在的差异以及不同成因。研究发现，中美家庭教育在教育目标，教育内容以及教育方式上呈现差异，其背后成因可以归结为不同的文化背景，价值取向，以及父母教养方式。在此基础上，本文审视和反思当今中国家庭教育的优缺点，以美国家庭教育为镜，为中国家庭教育现状提供了一些建议。无论对于个体的成长还是整个社会的发展,家庭教育都有着不可替代的作用。只有建立平等民主的家庭关系，重视儿童综合能力的培养，提高父母的素质，才能培养更多为国家和社会做出贡献的人才。 关键词：家庭教育；跨文化交际；虎妈战歌A Study on Sino -American Family Education in Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother from Cross-cultural Communication Perspective AbstractChina and America have great influence in the field of education around the world. Due to the influence of various social factors, there are significant differences between China and the United States in terms of educational concepts and parenting methods. Exploring the causes of the differences between Chinese and American family educations is of great significance, which can know more about the differences between Chinese and American cultures and deepen the understanding of family education.This paper analyzes Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother from a cross-cultural perspective, summarizes the main differences between Chinese and American family educations and the causes. It is found that the differences are mainly reflected in educational goals, educational contents, and educational methods. It can be attributed to different cultural backgrounds, value orientations, and parenting styles. Based on the above analysis, this paper reflects on the merits and demerits of family education in China, taking American family education as a model, provides some suggestions for the current status of Chinese family education.Family education takes great effect not only on personal growth but also the development of the whole society. Only by establishing an equal and democratic family relationship, paying attention to the cultivation of childrens comprehensive ability, and improving the quality of parents, can we cultivate more talents who have contributed to the country and society.Key words: family education; cross-cultural communication; Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother 1. Introduction1.1 Background ResearchWith the globalization of the economy and the generalization of immigration, people are communicating more and more frequently. Undoubtedly, we will care more about the potential cultural conflicts in intercultural communication. Different cultural backgrounds will inevitably generate different family educations. As a kind of educational approach, family education is vital to the future of children. Its the basis and prerequisite for all educational practices. Parental education methods are closely related to the development of children. Due to the influence of different cultures, economies and policies, there are significant differences between China and the United States in terms of educational concepts and parenting methods.In 2011, the publication of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother written by Amy Chua in the United States caused a strong response, and then, this work became the best seller on family education in the year. The book introduced the Chinese education methods that tiger mother used to cultivate her two daughters. Although the educational results were very successful, it was still questioned by many experts due to the American education concept which advocates individualism and free development. As a result, the issue of family education between China and the United States has become a hot topic, which has aroused great attention from both countries. The cultural causes about this issue are also worth exploring. Culture, as a kind of spiritual strength, can be transformed into material strength in family education, which has a profound impact on parents parenting behavior (习近平, 2016). Different cultural backgrounds generate different ways of family education. Education is an integral part of culture, and it is affected and restricted by culture. At the same time, education is an important means of inheriting, developing and creating culture. That is to say, education is the continuous inheritance and dissemination of culture, and is based on the needs of the times and society according to the selection and transformation of culture. Professor Gu Jiazu (2008) believes that cross-cultural research should grasp the main characteristics of culture, its the core of research. Revealing the underlying values is undoubtedly the most important and difficult problem in cross-cultural communication research.Therefore, it is of great significance to study the differences between Chinese and American family educations from cross-cultural communication perspective, based on the novel Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother.1.2 Literature ReviewChina is the earliest and most fruitful country in the history of family education research in the world. Chinese traditional family education advocates strict methods to raise children (王建军, 2001). Family-oriented is the characteristic of traditional Chinese society, where women have the right to educate and admonish their children. Traditional mother education thought has established a solid foundation for the study of family education today. The education method of tiger mother Amy Chua is a typical representation of Chinese-style tutoring. Based on Amy Chuas work, scholar Wang Huarong (2011) refined Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother into Amy Chuas educational goal orientation, choice of education methods, and education result expectation, explored the differences in family education of different cultural backgrounds and dialectically analyzed the education of tiger mother. Lu Wei (2011) carefully interpreted the specific cases in Battle Hymn of Tiger Mother, and listed a series of conflicts between tiger mom and children. Scholars Yu Ke, Lum Lydia, and Marshall Kohler have all explored the differences between the Chinese and American education styles of tiger moms (李丽华, 2016).Foreign scholars also have some work about the educational way of tiger mother. American psychologist Baumrind (1971) has divided family parental attitudes into two categories: the first type is authoritative and the second one is arbitrary. The education style of tiger mom is authoritative. A study by Leung (1998) found that the autocratic parenting style of Chinese parents is positively related to their childrens academic achievement. The education method of tiger mother triggered a debate between Chinese and American family educations. Corrigan (2011) explored the reason that many mothers adopt Chinese-style education instead of American-style education (Net 1). Mansells work, Hidden Tiger, explored the reason that Chinese children do so well at school (Net 2). Paul (2011) thought that the incident about tiger mom is related to the national identity crisis of the United States (Net 3). Chinese scholars Guo Yingjian (2011) believed that Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother has caused a huge butterfly effect in China and the United States, as well as in many Asian and Western countries.It can be found from the existing literature that domestic and foreign scholars have paid more attention to the differences between Chinese and American family educations under the debate of “tiger mother” education. But most articles just talk about this phenomenon, rather than explore the causes from a cross-cultural perspective. Based on the existing research on Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, this study attempts to analyze the causes of the phenomenon of the “tiger mother” based on the education cases in the book, and attempts to improve the gap in the existing research in terms of content, so as to obtain a new theory.1.3 The Significance of ResearchIn recent years, China has defined family education in Dictionary of Education edited by the well-known educator Gu Mingyuan (1998) as: “The interaction and education between family members, usually refers to the education of parents and children.” There are two interpretations of family education in the American Education Dictionary. One view considered family education a formal preparation, including the curriculum of a school, religious organization, or other welfare group, with the goal of reaching parents and children, in order to further the relationship in family. The other view believed that family education is informal learning and should be conducted in the family to learn appropriate knowledge and skills for family life (黄乃毓, 1998). Family education plays an irreplaceable role both in the development of individuals and the whole society. Family education is the primary stage of child education, and it is an important supplement to school education. We must deeply understand the differences between Chinese and Western families, learn from each other, and advance the modernization of family education. By exploring from the perspective of cultural background and analyzing the conflicts in the field of family education concepts between the two countries, we can better understand the educational differences between China and America, which will help Chinese parents learn from the experience of education in the United States and establish a scientific concept of family education.2. Brief Introduction to Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother2.1 Background Information about the AuthorBattle Hymn of the Tiger Mother was the best seller in 2011 on family education which was written by Amy Chua. The complete subtitle of the book is:“This is a story about a mother, two daughters, and two dogs. This was supposed to be a story of how Chinese parents are better at raising kids than Western ones. But instead, its about a bitter clash of cultures, a fleeting taste of glory, and how I was humbled by a thirteen-year-old”(Amy Chua, 2011:1). Her ancestors were from Fujian and later emigrated to the Philippines. Amy Chua is the eldest of the four sisters in the family. She graduated from Harvard University as the best honors graduate in 1984 and got the masters degree from Harvard Law School as one of the honors graduates in 1987. Amy Chua, a well-known scholar in the field of law, was once an executive editor of the Harvard Law Review at school. She married with a Jewish man, Jed Rubenfeld, and they were all professors at Yale University. In Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, Amy Chua shared her experience in raising two daughters and recorded the process. Her father was also a Chinese-style parent, and he was extremely demanded of her. Amy Chua has been called a tiger mother, not only because her Chinese zodiac sign is the tiger, but also because she followed her fathers strict parenting style. As a second-generation Chinese immigrant to the United States, she educated her two daughters with high expectations and strict parenting methods from Chinese parents. Not only did her two daughters do well in school, but they were also known as prodigies of music. Sophia performed at the Carnegie Hall of the World Music Temple at the age of 14. Louisa became the principal violinist of the Yale Youth Orchestra at the age of 12. This book records what happened to Amy Chuas education of her two daughters and reveals that Chinese people have completely different views on how to raise children compared with the American family education. Amy Chua used the Chinese-style parenting principles to refer to child-rearing methods that are different from western ideas. She believed that Western education methods are too tolerant, and the implementation of strict family education methods in the East will do help to the further development of children.2.2 The Discussion about “Tiger Mother”The publication of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother in the United States in 2011 triggered a heated discussion and focused on fierce cultural conflicts. It was translated into a variety of languages and distributed throughout the world, and people in different countries have different views on tiger mom. There were many people who agreed with the parenting style of Amy Chua, and those who denied the cruel methods argued that it would only destroy children, for they strongly advocated the western way of education. The New York Times compared the “tiger mother” to a Soviet satellite that initially shocked the United States (Net 4), The Los Angeles Times described the books fast circulation as a viruss spreading. Thematic discussions in the Times, the Wall Street Journal and other media have gone from child education methods, differences between Chinese and American cultures, and even to competition between Chinese and American families (Net 4). They believed that Chinas rise in global status and its global emphasis on education have affected peoples attitude towards the “tiger mom”. Professor Zhao Yong, associate dean of the School of Education at the University of Oregon, said that the different cultural understandings of education in the East and the West are the main reasons to explain the fact that American society is so critical of Amy Chuas high-pressure parenting method (Net 4). This debate about Chinese and Western family educations soon spread in China. China Youth Daily Social Survey conducted polls on 1795 people on China Network and S, showing that 94.9% of people thought that there were mothers who educated their children liked “tiger moms”, 20.4% of them said there were a lot of “tiger moms” in their lives, rather than a case (Net 4). Huang Heqing, associate professor of the Department of Education at East China Normal University, believes that “tiger mom” may become a typical parent in parenting children rather than a good example to follow after. Chen Kai, associate professor at Communication University of China, believed that sino-American family education can be said to be two polar educations, and the really correct one should be a combination of the two (Net 4).3. The Differences Between Chinese and American Family Educations3.1 Differences in Education PurposesThe nature of family education is the basis of family education acti