The Kago Suihen Textbook Series and Japan's Business Language Education in Early Twentieth-Century Shanghai. Issue 3 (2nd July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sinclair, Paul; Blachford, Dongyan
• Is Part Of: Journal of teaching in international business. Volume 31:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: 238
• Page End: 258
• Publication Date: 2020-07-02
• Subjects: Language education -- Chinese language -- situated learning -- compradors; International business enterprises -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Business education -- Periodicals; 658.049071
• DOI: 10.1080/08975930.2020.1831423
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0897-5930

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper examines a remarkable artifact of international business education, a four-book business Chinese language series published in Shanghai from 1916 to 1933 by a Japanese business school. Language-centered business education, they concluded, could break Japanese dependence on intermediaries and provide a significant competitive advantage over their western competitors. We carefully tabulate the main content of each chapter in this textbook series and draw on the theory of Situated Learning for our analysis. We find specific lessons in this historical content for teachers, business faculties, and government agencies currently tasked with improving today's international business programming with respect to the dynamic Chinese business environment.