Children's Response to the “Home Country Lives of New Inhabitants” in Picture Books- Using a Public Elementary School as an Example

• Main Authors: Huang Shu Chin, 黃淑青
• Other Authors: 黃瑞琴
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2011
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/80852598150240722386

碩士 === 國立臺北教育大學 === 幼兒與家庭教育學系碩士班 === 99 === Abstract In order to explore the response of elementary school children to the “home country lives of new inhabitants” in picture books, two picture books about Vietnam and two about Thailand were selected as research tools for this study. Meanwhile, a total of 26 children studying at one elementary school are involved as in this study. The 26 children consist of 9, 8, and 9 low-, middle-, and high-grade students, respectively. The research was conducted with the researcher reading aloud the picture books first. And then children could read those picture books on their own before the researcher interviewed them. The results of the research are as below: 1. Children’s viewpoints on the “home country lives of new inhabitants” in picture books: Over 50% of the children could realize the differences of the culture of new inhabitants and concentrate on physical things. However, 1/3 of the children showed no specific response to the “home country lives of new inhabitants” in picture books. 2. Children’s perception of the “home country lives of new inhabitants” in picture books: Over 50% of the children accepted the culture of new inhabitants. 1/3 of the children were not willing to make friends with new inhabitants due to communication problems or eating habits, while not showing any sign of prejudice or discrimination. 3. Children’s personal experiences of the “home country lives of new inhabitants” in picture books: Over 50% of the children could relate their own experiences to their viewpoints on or perception of the culture of new inhabitants. However, 1/4 of the children had no personal experiences related to the “home country lives of new inhabitants” in picture books. 4. Children from different grades showed different levels of responses in the aspects of viewpoints on and personal experiences in the “home country lives of new inhabitants” in picture books. High-grade elementary school students’ responses to the “home country lives of new inhabitants” were more specific and detailed. But perception was not significantly influenced by their grades. According to the research results, this study proposed some suggestions regarding diversified cultural curriculums at school, creation of picture books, and future researches. Keywords: Children, New inhabitants, Response to picture books