COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CULTURAL CUSTOMS: CHINESE SPRING FESTIVAL AND SINHALA AND TAMIL NEW YEAR FESTIVAL

There was a gradual increase in the popularity of the Chinese language across the globe owing to China's economic and social developments. Thus, this resulted in a momentum of the teaching and learning of the Chinese language that elevated the number of Chinese language acquirers. It is obvious that culture grants a dual role in foreign language acquisition. Yet, many learners undergo obstacles in interpreting a foreign language and its cultural context by reminiscing through their native culture. On the other hand, the knowledge of the culture of the target language supports resolving misunderstandings and problems that arise within the learning context. Both learners and teachers should strive to view both the target and their native cultures from multiple perspectives, fostering an open-minded and rational understanding. In the scope of culture, festivals become a key component in every country. Therefore, this study focusses on comparing the traditional Spring festival in China with the Sri Lankan cultural festival, Sinhala and Tamil New year. The primary methodology employed in this regard is the survey method to denote a comprehensive understanding of similarities and discrepancies of these festivals. Furthermore, this study caters for three major objectives: to apply the findings of the study to Chinese language instruction, to promote cross cultural understanding between two countries and to explore the impact of technological development on festival culture.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0425/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>