The 5th National Forum for Ethnic Minority Universities’ Foreign Language School Deans

The 5th National Forum for Ethnic Minority Universities’ Foreign language School Deans hosted by College of Foreign Languages of YBU convened at our school’s Science and Technology Library on October 31, 2015. Those who attended the forum included over 70 foreign language school deans, Party secretaries, department and institute heads and foreign teachers of ethnic minority universities. The forum aimed at promoting cooperation between national ethnic minority foreign language schools, sharing valuable experience and achievements in foreign language education and construction, enhancing these schools’ teaching and research capacity, and improving their trainees’ qualities. The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Quan Yongnan, deputy dean of YBU’s SFL. Professor Guo Yingjian from Renmin University of China gave an opening speech, and Chen Tie, vice president of YBU, and Professor Zheng Xianri, dean of YBU’s CFL, delivered two welcoming speeches. The morning’s keynote forum was chaired by Professor Cui Xuebo, deputy dean of YBU’s CFL. Those whose keynote speeches were given included “Implementing the National Standard to Promoting Foreign language Teaching and Reform” by Professor Zhong Meisun from Beijing Foreign Studies University, director of the Teaching Guiding Committee for College Foreign Language Majors under the Ministry of Education, “The Teaching and Reform of the English Major in China’s Colleges and Universities” by Professor Guo Yingjian, “College of Foreign Languages of YBU: Its Exploration and Practice in Foreign Language Teaching” by Professor Zheng Xianri, and “Internationalized Education Model Construction and Practice: A Case Study of Korean Department in Dalian Nationalities University” by Professor Yin Jing’ai. Mr Zhang Lei, a technical consultant at Sidi Software Company, introduced the use of CAT software in teaching. In the afternoon, the participants had a lively discussion on the development of strategy of foreign language education in China’s ethnic minority schools and the construction of and teaching in foreign language departments. Then the closing ceremony was held at 16:30. Professor Wang Weibo, dean of CFL at Dalian Nationalities University, and Professor Ma Yonghong, dean of Yunnan Minzu University, summarized each group’s discussion. The forum announced that the next forum will be hosted by Hubei University for Nationalities. And the convenor Professor Guo Yingjian delivered a closing speech. The forum has built up an exchange platform for the construction and development of foreign language schools at ethnic minority universities.