Mapping national identity narratives in Ukraine

Since 1991, the absence of the concept of a Ukrainian nation and national identity has led to a controversial, often ambivalent process of identity formation. The aim of this paper is to analyze and map the widely shared concepts about national identity that exist in Ukrainian society after 20 years of independence. Analysis of 43 interviews with Ukrainian political and intellectual elites reveals five different shared narratives: (1) dual identity; (2) being pro-Soviet; (3) a fight for Ukrainian identity; (4) a recognition of Ukrainian identity; and (5) a multicultural-civic concept. Each narrative is characterized by three main features: a coherent structure with strong internal logic and justification of its legitimacy; connection to a specific conception of power and morality; and an opposition to other narratives. All these features lead to the perception of society as a zero-sum game where one narrative must prevail over all others. At the same time, all these features ensure that there can be neither an overwhelming victory of one narrative over others nor a satisfying compromise between them. The results shed light on the complex process of narrative construction of identity and power in newly independent states.     

How school influences adolescents’ conflict styles

The willingness to solve conflicts without violence and to strive for a reconciliation of interests is of central significance for the continued existence of democracies. In this paper, we aim to analyze school-related determinants of adolescents’ conflict behaviour. Models predicting the conflict styles of ‘integrating’, ‘dominating’, ‘avoiding’ and ‘obliging’ were developed drawing on different school climate and school development variables. At the individual level, almost all our hypotheses were confirmed. The highest correlations were found between an open classroom climate and the participation in a class council on the one hand, and an integrating conflict style on the other. On the class level however, most of the anticipated effects did not turn out to be significant. We hope that by providing information about different school climate and school development variables’ impacts on adolescents’ conflict styles, we can contribute to a more effective promotion of constructive conflict behaviour in adolescents.     

西伯利亚名考

对西伯利亚名称的研究由来已久,人们往往根据西伯利亚的地理位置、历史,结合历史文献及当地民族的归属进行考证其名称的来源与意义。这样的讨论很有意义,然而,仅仅考虑上述方面还不足以科学地对西伯利亚的名称意义进行解释。本研究认为,还应该从历史语言的角度,通过讨论同源词来进行佐证才能够科学和合理地解释西伯利亚名称的意义。从语言的同源词比较中,我们可以看出,西伯利亚名称的意义可以局限在两种比较可以令人信服的解释：一为源于阿尔泰语系的“泥泞、潮湿”之地,另为“鲜卑”。而“泥泞”才是合理的释义。     

东南亚地区汉语教学现状及发展途径

目前国际汉语教学的相关研究主要集中在教学法方面,缺少将东南亚地区国家的汉语教学放入政治、经济、文化发展的大环境中进行综合研究。本文通过研究东南亚地区汉语教学的现状和存在问题,提出加大推广及扩大影响力等相关对策。     

论泰国自由泰政府时期的华文教育

二战结束后最初几年,泰国华文教育出现了井喷式的复兴现象,其迅猛程度和发展规模史无前例。究其原因,一是自由泰政府调整了对华文教育的政策,使其有了宽松的发展空间;二是由于中泰建交后,中国民国政府对华文教育发挥了推动作用;三是自由泰政府因忙于处理战后所面临的复杂而棘手的内政和外交难题而放松了对华文教育的管理和控制,从而扩大了大办华文教育的自由度。     

经济全球化背景下加强高校俄语专业二外教学问题研究

经济全球化是超越国界的经济活动,它使得世界各国的整体性日趋凸显.随着这一趋势对中国影响日深,高校的相关专业也应注重培养能够熟练掌握多门外语的人才.作为中俄边境大省,黑龙江省高校的俄语专业在应对这一经济发展趋势时,应大力加强第二外语教学.具体做法是：注重分类教学、选择适当教材、加强师资配备、明确学习目标、重视心理教育、注重比较教学、创建语言环境.     

A fresh start I: Education rights in South Africa

In this first part of a two-part article education rights as protected by the South African Constitution are analysed. As background, the education rights protected by section 32 of the interim Constitution and the case law that arose from that provision are discussed. Section 29 of the 1996 Constitution is then discussed with reference to the right to basic and further education, the right to education in the language of one's choice, and the right to private education. Mention is also made of the way in which religious observances maybe conducted in schools. This first part of the article concludes with the observation that the education rights in the Constitution form the basis and the spearhead of the fresh start South Africa has made in education. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

浅谈大学英语教学中的文化导入

语言与文化密不可分。本文从文化对语言学习的重要性出发,针对我国目前大学英语的教学现状,论述了把英美文化背景知识融入大学英语教学的各个方面的必要性及具体做法。此外,结合目前大学英语学习的具体情况及英语教学发展的趋势,提出了从大学三年级开始增设口语课以弥补学生文化知识的不足的建议。     

儿童语言早熟与家庭社会工作干预策略

儿童语言早熟作为社会化的一种表征，是儿童语言社会化的畸形，对儿童的危害表现为影响生理发育、减弱智力水平、降低交际能力、增多越轨机率等方面。父母的“怂恿”与“无暇”、媒体的“诱惑”与“误导”、信息的“轰炸”与“灌输”、传统的“作祟”与“秉承”等社会性因素引发儿童语言早熟。家庭社会工作从问题个案辅导、亲子关系构筑、支持网络搭建等三个方面形成立体式干预策略，帮助儿童矫治语言习得，全面地、持久地解决语言早熟问题，顺利实现儿童社会化。     

对当下中国法语言问题的一点思考

法语言问题源于社会变迁、语汇移植、汉语改革等诸多因素。问题的解决需要在学者重视的基础上,通过教育促成法学界和法律界的用词准确和用语准确,进而使我们的法律和法制更准确地使用相关的概念词语。