Abstract： Since there is a close connection between culture and language, leaning a foreign language is not only a process of mastering a language but also one of contacting and comprehending another culture. As an essential part of western culture and fundamentally a foundation in many aspects throughout the western world, the Bible and Biblical culture has exerted profound influence in the shaping of westerner’s values, way of life and development of the English language. But the value of the Bible and Biblical culture hasn’t earned much attention in the high school English language teaching in Chinese context. In response to this situation, and illustrated by the FLTRP English textbooks, this thesis discusses the infiltration of Biblical culture in high school English textbooks published by FLTRP, as well as attempting to propose the idea of infiltration of Biblical culture in high school English teaching in Chinese context.
Culture is the soil that breeds language. This thesis elaborates the impact of Biblical culture upon the English language. The English translation and publication of the Bible plays an important role in the spread and standardization of the English language. The Authorized Version of the Bible marked the real transition from Middle English to Early Modern English. Until now many Biblical names, idioms, allusions, proverbs, literary forms and themes still find their expressions in Modern English，through which the impact of the Bible and its culture on the English language can be readily seen. For Chinese English learners, learning and mastering some Biblical culture is likely to be of great help to their English learning.
Seen from the perspective of the high school English teaching in Chinese context, Biblical culture learning may also finds its reason and necessity. The New Curriculum Standard issued by Ministry of Education laid out the goal of cultivating the students’ cultural awareness—to have a basic knowledge of the main religious tradition in the English-speaking countries, to have a basic understanding of the origins of some important historical events and to comprehend some common idioms and their cultural connotations. As an essential part of western culture, the Biblical culture is of great help to the understanding and mastery of the English language, and is an indispensable part in English teaching. The FLTRP English Textbooks covers quite a few about Biblical culture, for instance, festivals originated in the Bible, English names originated in the Bible, etc. Therefore, it’s vital to infiltrate some Biblical culture in high school English teaching. Actually, nobody has tried doing this and few students try to get information about Biblical culture on their own initiative. Thus the religious culture is lacking in language teaching.
As for how to infiltrate Biblical culture in high school English teaching, the thesis tries to put forward three approaches through which the proposed ides may be put into practice. The three approaches include the infiltration of Biblical culture in class, read the selected material of the Bible text and watch videos about Biblical culture.
Finally, I hope that through this analysis about the influence of Biblical culture on High school English teaching，the due attention will be given to the phenomenon that Biblical culture has great impact on the English language as well as the high school English teaching, and whenever possible the infiltration of Biblical culture can be reflected in high school English teaching. All these efforts may find their significance if they can be of great help to stimulate students’ learning interest, develop their keen cultural awareness, and strengthen their cross-culture communication competence.
Key words: the BibleBiblical cultureHigh School English Teaching.
Contents
Abstract
摘要
Introduction-1
1 the Bible and Biblical Culture-4
1.1 The Introduction to the Bible-4
1.2 The Biblical Culture-4
1.3 Influence of the Bible Translation on English Language-5
1.4 Reflection of Biblical Culture in the English language-6
1.4.1 Christian Names of People and Places-6
1.4.2 Vocabulary-7
1.4.3 Idioms and Proverbs-7
1.4.4 Allusions-9
1.4.5 Literature-9
2 the Infiltration of Biblical Culture in FLTPR English Textbooks for High School Students-10
2.1 English Surnames-10
2.2 English Words and Phrases-11
2.3Christian Festivals in the Student’s Book 5 Module 4-14
2.3.1Carnival-14
2.3.2 Christmas-14
2.3.3Halloween-15
2.3.4 Ester-16
2.4Everyday English Related to Biblical Culture-17
2.5 Context With Biblical Background-18
3 the Infiltration of Biblical Culture in High School English Teaching-19
3.1 Theoretical Background-19
3.1.1 The Relationship between Culture and Language-19
3.1.2 Theories on Culture Teaching-19
3.2 Necessities of Infiltrating Biblical Culture in High School English Teaching-20
3.2.1 The Requirements of the English Curriculum Standards for Senior High Schools.-21
3.2.2 Benefits in Developing Students’ Language Competence-22
3.3 Suggested Methods of Infiltrating Biblical Culture in High School English Teaching-24
3.3.1 Biblical Culture Infiltration in Class-24
3.3.2 Reading Selected Material of the Bible Text.-26
3.3.3 Watching Videos about Biblical Culture-26
4 Conclusion-27
Bibliography..29
Acknowledgements30
