Changing Images of China

(From the Introduction) This book was written in response to teacher requests for up-to-date high-interest supplementary teaching materials on China. It is not intended to be used as a sequential unit, but rather as a collection of activities which may be infused into curricula at different levels and in different courses. Some activities are more suitable for younger students, while others assume considerable prior knowledge. Topics were chosen to supplement stimulating discussion of key issues. Several activities offer opportunities for comparison with the United States and other cultures. Because of the rapid changes taking place in China in the 1980's, students should be encouraged to make predictions based on current trends and to keep themselves informed. A reference section with a glossary, pronunciation and romanization keys, and a bibliography may be duplicated for student use as needed. The team of authors included a Chinese graduate student in internqtionql relqtions, durriculum wpeciqliwtw, qne teqhers. Eqch or the quthors hqw recently trqveled in Chinq qne iw qctive in teqching qbout Qwiq on the secondary and/or university levels. No particular point of view is advocated in this book. Instead, students are encouraged to give thoughtful consideration to a range of perspectives and to form their own opinions based on the evidence presented. As the relationship between China and the United States matures, many Americans are beginning to gain a more realistic picture of the problems between us as well as of our common interests. it is the authors'hope that this publication and others like it will contribute to a more balanced view of China and its people.