Tra culture dell'apprendimento: un'analisi della percezione studentesca sui materiali didattici per l'italiano L2/LS fra la Cina e l’Italia

Abstract

This study investigates the perceptions of Chinese students learning Italian, focusing on their experiences with textbooks in both the People’s Republic of China and Italy. The primary objective is to give a voice to the end-users of these didactic materials, highlighting their opinions on the resources used in different educational contexts. Employing a qualitative research methodology, a questionnaire was administered to 46 Chinese students enrolled in the Marco Polo and Turandot Programs. The findings reveal a significant difference in pedagogical approaches: textbooks published in China are highly structured and centered on clear grammatical explanations and vocabulary lists. In contrast, materials used in Italy place a greater emphasis on communicative and intercultural competence. The analysis suggests that didactic materials reflect their respective “cultures of learning”. The study identifies the teacher as a fundamental mediator between the textbook and the student. While limited by its sample size, this research is groundbreaking as it is the first to explore the perceptions of this specific group of students, providing a valuable starting point for future research in foreign language didactics and highlighting the need for a more explicit intercultural reflection in teaching materials.