Traveling with the great mountain for ten thousand miles

Author: Tian Yong / Sun Jianhua / (Canada) Ian Davey / (Canada) Bill Murtagh
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-07-01
Features: A large-scale multimedia English teaching program launched by China Central Television; the dialogue language is natural, authentic, and humorous, containing a wealth of culturally rich idioms and proverbs; the content is extensive, covering music television stations, schools, wineries, hospitals, forestry departments, space centers, etc.; the textbook layout is unique and illustrated; accompanied by video tapes, audio tapes, and multimedia CDs for purchase; highly suitable for middle school students, university students, and self-learners who have entered the workforce to practice speaking and listening.
Detailed Introduction: Dashan's Adventures in Canada is another large-scale multimedia English teaching program launched by China Central Television after Dashan and Friends in Canada. Dashan and Friends in Canada gained widespread popularity among learners after its broadcast in the fall of 1998 and won the first "National Electronic Publishing Award" from the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and the State Press and Publication Administration in 1999. Its sister program, Dashan's Adventures in Canada, is another collaborative effort between China Central Television, Vickers & Benson Ltd. (Canada), SummerLeaf Inc. (Canada), and Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press. It presents the authentic, unadulterated language of real-life environments to learners, guiding them step by step to learn natural English, touch the culture of English-speaking countries, and experience the charm of distant lands.
The features of Dashan's Adventures in Canada are as follows:
Providing natural and authentic language materials
The main characters in Dashan's Adventures in Canada are real people from daily life. Dashan interacts with them in real-life settings, using language that is natural, authentic, and humorous, rich in culturally significant idioms and proverbs. These idioms and proverbs make the language content more vivid and expressive, serving as an excellent model for English learners to study and imitate. Dashan's Adventures in Canada strives to provide learners with lively and practical language through authentic materials, enabling them to express their thoughts accurately, vividly, and appropriately. At the same time, the genuine language materials from real-world contexts in the program can enhance learners' ability to understand natural-speed conversations, making it an invaluable resource for practicing listening skills.
Highlighting rich and profound cultural information
The content of Dashan's Adventures in Canada is extensive and rich. Through Dashan's on-site interviews during his journey across Canada—covering music television stations, schools, wineries, hospitals, forestry departments, and space centers—dramatized storytelling showcases the diverse aspects of Canadian society. Additionally, through Dashan's analysis and comparison of cultural and customs differences between the East and the West, learners gain a deeper understanding of language from an intercultural communication perspective, appreciating the inseparable connection between culture and language. In the program, Dashan examines cultural differences in customs from various aspects, such as body language, social interactions, and festive traditions. By watching this program, learners can acquire extensive knowledge about North American culture, understand Canada's customs, traditions, and social dynamics, and improve their intercultural communication skills.
Creating a relaxed and enjoyable language learning environment
Dashan's Adventures in Canada adopts a serial drama format, where each episode is both self-contained and interconnected, fully showcasing Dashan's observations, thoughts, experiences, and insights during his interviews. In the program, Dashan takes on multiple roles. He tirelessly travels across Canada, conducting field research and interviews, capturing the unique natural landscapes and cultural scenery of Canada, making the program endlessly engaging. When editing the program in his office, his conversations with his assistants are witty and humorous, offering learners a fresh perspective and enabling them to learn authentic English in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere while gaining insights into the social and cultural background of English-speaking countries.
The textbook for Dashan's Adventures in Canada is uniquely designed and illustrated. The editors aim to provide learners with essential language and communication knowledge through four key sections—language annotations, background annotations, communication functions, and idioms—thus overcoming obstacles in self-study. Dashan's Adventures in Canada offers learners a favorable learning environment through 13 television episodes, accompanied by a textbook, video tapes, audio tapes, and multimedia CDs. This series is highly suitable for middle school students, university students, and self-learners who have entered the workforce to practice speaking and listening.
From the overall concept of the program to its production, from textbook editing to audio and video recording, Dashan's Adventures in Canada has received strong support from relevant departments in China and Canada. We express our heartfelt gratitude to all parties involved.
Excerpt:
Dashan on the phone with Leah: Pizza delivery.
Dashan: (On the phone)... Oh, right... Hi. As I was explaining to the other fellow, I'm having a problem with my modem... I've already been on hold for over two hours... Wait... Don't leave me...
Leah: So you're having some modem problems, are you?
Dashan: I think so. I don't know.
Leah: Do you mind...?
There you go.
Dashan: How did you do that?
Leah: Well, I... it's complicated.
Dashan: Great. I've been working on this for three days. Listen, do you have a minute?
Leah: Sure.
Dashan: I'd like to show you something. It's for a new series that I'm working on.
Leah: Okay.
Dashan: I could really use your feedback.
Leah: Um... you can hang up the phone.
Dashan: Oh, right.
Dashan hits the control panel.
Dashan: Hi. My name's Dashan. I have an appointment with Sandra at 10:00.
Receptionist: Yes, we're expecting you. Just go down the hall to your right. She's at the desk.
Dashan: Down the hallway to the right. Okay, thanks.