A Cross-Cultural Comparison of U.S. and Chinese High School Students’ Attitudes Toward Literature
by
Y.Chi
Abstract
Learning literature may have different outcomes across individuals. For high school students, literature bears great significance in their mental development because it affects how they perceive the world. This study examines Chinese and U.S. high school students’ attitudes toward learning literature by focusing on how Chinese and U.S. high school students perceive the value of literature, what motivators they emphasize in terms of learning literature, what inhibitors they emphasize in terms of learning literature, and whether there are any differences in their gender or nationality in these views. According to the results, the respondents generally had favorable attitudes toward the value of learning literature. Male respondents were less likely have favorable attitudes toward literature than female respondents, but there was no significant difference. Chinese respondents were less likely to have favorable attitudes toward learning literature than U.S. respondents, and there was a significant difference. In terms of the most important motivator of literature learning, the respondents emphasized topic relevance, followed by an interesting topic, life success, and better grades, in that order. Female respondents were most likely to identify topic relevance, whereas male respondents, an interesting topic. Chinese respondents were most likely to identify topic relevance and an interesting topic, whereas U.S. respondents, topic relevance. In terms of the most important inhibitor of literature learning, the respondents reported an insufficient amount of time, followed by heavy school work, no learning requirement, and no choice, in that order. Both male and female respondents were most likely to identify insufficient time. Chinese respondents were most likely to identify insufficient time, whereas U.S. respondents, heavy school work. These results have important practical implications for literature teachers and policymakers.
Keywords: Cross-Cultural Analysis, High School, Students, Attitudes, Literature, China, U.S.