Proceedings of the 6th World Conference on Education and Teaching
Year: 2024
DOI:
[PDF]
Unlocking the Past: Teaching Modern Chinese History through Oral Family History
PENG, Yongchang
ABSTRACT:
This study examines the effect of integrating oral family history into university history teaching in general education, assessing its impact on student outcomes. Using an experimental and control group design, students from the course of Modern Chinese in the experimental group learned through oral family narratives, while the control group used traditional methods. The research aimed to determine how this approach influences students’ motivation, understanding of historical complexity, critical thinking, and writing skills. Findings reveal that students exposed to oral family history showed improved engagement, comprehension of history’s complexity, and enhanced critical thinking and writing skills compared to the control group. Engaging with their family’s past allowed students to deepen their understanding of history and foster empathy. Additionally, this method facilitated stronger connections between students and their family members, offering a unique perspective on history. The study confirms that oral family history as a teaching tool not only boosts student learning and participation but also strengthens their analytical and writing abilities. It also emphasizes the humanistic side of history education, introducing new insights and approaches to the field. The research highlights the value of incorporating personal and family narratives into historical education, providing significant contributions to the discipline of history teaching in China.
keywords: oral-family history; general education; Modern China; higher education