Positioning of First-Class Undergraduate Majors in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages: Status Quo, Issues, and Recommendations

Gong Man and Zheng Maosen

Chinese Journal of Language Policy and Planning ›› 2026, Vol. 11 ›› Issue (3) : 63-74.

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Chinese Journal of Language Policy and Planning ›› 2026, Vol. 11 ›› Issue (3) : 63-74. DOI: 10.19689/j.cnki.cn10-1361/h.20260305

Positioning of First-Class Undergraduate Majors in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages: Status Quo, Issues, and Recommendations

  • Gong Man and Zheng Maosen
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Abstract

A clear and accurate professional positioning is crucial for improving both the quality of academic program development and talent cultivation in higher education. Focusing on the positioning of undergraduate programs in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages within the framework of the “Double Ten-Thousand Plan”, this study investigates 24 national-level program construction sites through their official program information forms, as well as interviews with program directors or department heads from 13 of these institutions. A thematic analysis of the texts and interview data reveals that program positioning should be based on the needs of three main stakeholders: society, universities, and students, and include five key themes—talent cultivation, professional development planning, professional roles, serving regional and national needs, and strengths and unique features—each corresponding to one of five guiding orientations for program development. Based on the combinations of these themes, ten types of professional positioning can be identified. The characteristics of these positionings include: talent cultivation as the core element, a focus on the program’s practical and international dimensions, and increased attention to development planning goals. However, the study finds that most construction sites still face key challenges: their positioning is not well aligned with the requirements of the “Double Ten-Thousand Plan”; their understanding of professional positioning remains unclear; they lack a strong sense of their own advantages and unique features; and their approach to talent cultivation is not keeping up with contemporary trends. In the future, it is necessary to clarify the foundational role of undergraduate education within the overall talent cultivation system of international Chinese language education, specify the key elements of professional positioning, place emphasis on “social” and “distinctive” orientations, and address both graduate career pathways and societal needs.

Key words

“Double Ten-Thousand Plan” / teaching Chinese to speakers of other language / professional positioning / first-class undergraduate major construction / international Chinese education

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Gong Man and Zheng Maosen. Positioning of First-Class Undergraduate Majors in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages: Status Quo, Issues, and Recommendations[J]. Chinese Journal of Language Policy and Planning. 2026, 11(3): 63-74 https://doi.org/10.19689/j.cnki.cn10-1361/h.20260305

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