The Influence of Chinese Cultural Values on Overseas Chinese Students Learning English

ARECLS, 2008, Vol.5, 105-135.

THE INFLUENCE OF CHINESE CORE CULTURAL VALUES ON THE
COMMUNICATION BEHAVIOUR OF OVERSEAS CHINESE STUDENTS
LEARNING ENGLISH

ABDUSALAM ABUBAKER

Abstract

This study is based on three dimensions of Hofstede’s framework, which are power distance, masculinity versus femininity, and uncertainty avoidance. Hofstede (1980) considers the Chinese culture to be characterized by high power distance, medium masculinity and weak uncertainty avoidance. For this reason, this study explores the impact of Chinese core cultural values on the communication behaviour of Chinese students learning English. A questionnaire was used as a technique to collect data about the topic from fifty overseas Chinese students at Newcastle upon Tyne and
Northumbria Universities. This study agreed with Hofstede in the dimension of power distance; however, it found different results in masculinity and uncertainty avoidance.
Thus, Chinese students are highly influenced by power distance in their relationship with staff. In uncertainty avoidance the students scored medium level in their response to the questionnaire. Masculinity affected students only in achievement, but in gender role it was very weak. Therefore, the Chinese culture in this study is characterized by high power distance, medium uncertainty avoidance and weak masculinity.
Keywords:

communication

behaviours,

Chinese

culture,

power

distance,

femininity/masculinity, uncertainty avoidance.

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Introduction
For anthropologists, culture is the umbrella which covers all the patterns of our social activities and has a serious influence on our behaviour, communication, relationships and other social aspects. Therefore, there are various studies of different cultures which investigate the influence of core cultural values and beliefs on social attitudes. In spite of the fact that there are many studies about the Chinese culture,

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