Suzhou dialect textbook. Photographed by Shan Chengzhi
In the impression of ordinary people, required courses in colleges and universities are mostly professional courses. However, yesterday, reporters learned from Suzhou Institute of Economic & Trade Technology that "Suzhou dialect" has become a required course for some majors in their school. It is reported that this is the first university in Suzhou to do so, and if students cannot complete the course as required, it may also affect graduation. According to Shen Xingwang, the compiler of the tutorial: as long as they study hard, they can basically use Suzhou dialect for simple communication within 3 months.
The tutorial is very "Gusu-flavored", and students can communicate simply after 3 months
Yesterday morning, reporters specially came to the Tourism Department of Suzhou Institute of Economic & Trade Technology. Teacher Shen enthusiastically introduced the professional book that teaches "Suzhou dialect". Reporters saw that this textbook named "Practical Suzhou Dialect" has typical Gusu traditional style small bridges and flowing water on the cover illustration, giving a feeling of elegant tranquility, full of "Wu dialect soft language" atmosphere.
Teacher Shen introduced to reporters that this book has a total of 30 dialogue scenes, each scene being the most common dialogues in daily life, very suitable for students to make daily exchanges. At the same time, there are special exercises and test questions in the second half of the book, through which students can better consolidate the knowledge they have learned. "In addition, each book comes with a 5-hour Suzhou dialect DVD, which can be said to contain all the pronunciation of Suzhou dialect, very comprehensive."
It is understood that the school actually included Suzhou dialect in the teaching plan as early as 2009, but at that time it was an elective course, and many students chose it then. Students all said that such a course is very useful in daily life. Last year, the school took the lead in listing "Suzhou dialect" course as a required course in 4 majors of 2 departments. "Next, the 'Suzhou dialect' course will gradually become a required course for a total of 7 majors." Teacher Shen added that setting it as a required course shows that the school pays more attention to teaching in this area and values the importance of this course.
It is introduced that if students study diligently, they can basically use Suzhou dialect for simple communication and interaction within about three months.
Students like the course, willing to speak in class and like to exchange ideas after class
So, what are the students' reactions after the introduction of such a course? As one of the majors that listed "Suzhou dialect" as a required course, the Hotel Management major of the Tourism Department, Teacher Bu who is responsible for the "Suzhou dialect" course told reporters that she started teaching students Suzhou dialect last year, and most of the students were very interested, not only willing to speak during class, but also willing to communicate with her after class, "The atmosphere of learning language is very good, so many students can master Suzhou dialect well within a few months."
That day, reporters met Wang Yinghua, a student from the Class of 2009 in Hotel Management at the College of Economics and Trade. She had just finished a Suzhou dialect class. She happily told reporters: "This class is so interesting, we don't see it as a course, but as a way to relax, and we can also entertain ourselves while studying." Wang Yinghua said that she is from Lianyungang, and her hometown dialect belongs to Northern dialects, usually harder in tone, so speaking Wu dialect still poses certain difficulties. However, she said she likes this course very much. Although she has only studied for 5 class hours so far, some daily phrases are already very familiar to her. Speaking of which, she even greeted the reporter in Suzhou dialect!
It will be promoted in more professional fields, and those who fail the exam will have to retake it
Speaking of the reasons for compiling the tutorial, Teacher Shen smiled and told reporters that he actually found out a long time ago that quite a number of graduates eventually choose to stay in Suzhou to develop. But in many places in Suzhou, people mostly use Suzhou dialect for communication. "Teaching such a course facilitates communication between foreign students and locals, and helps them quickly integrate into the city. Suzhou dialect allows both sides to integrate faster, making it a very good communication tool."
Teacher Shen said that in order to compile this tutorial, he spent nearly 7 years in total, and finally the "Practical Suzhou Dialect" was officially "released". Teacher Shen indicated: "After a year of elective courses, students' feedback was good, so starting from the first semester of last year, the Tourism and Trade Economics Departments decided to make 'Suzhou dialect' a required professional course for a total of 4 majors." And starting from this year, the 'Suzhou dialect' course will gradually become a required course for 7 majors and will be promoted in a wider range of majors.
Reporters learned that currently there are 5 teachers teaching "Suzhou dialect" at the school, and each class has 2 periods of Suzhou dialect courses per week. If they fail the final exam, just like all required courses, they must retake it.
Yao Yige, Shan Chengzhi (Editor: SN005)