By Guo Rui
On December 14th, the School of Foreign Languages received a delegation from Southern Medical University (SMU) visiting BNUZ. The delegation from SMU included Professor Tang Weisheng, dean of School of Foreign Languages of SMU, Associate Professor Xiao Xiangyang, director of College English Department of SMU, Associate Professor Wang Zhongqiang, Mr. Qi Zonghai and Ms. Chen Zexuan.
Upon the request of the delegation, the SFL recommended some English subject courses and College English for them to observe, including Introduction to American Culture, IELTS Speaking, College English Reading & Writing I. The delegation thought highly of the teaching, saying that it was well-organized and well-designed.
At 2:00 p.m., Professor Tao Wenhao, dean of the SFL of BNUZ, received the visitors and hosted a meeting. At the meeting, Professor Tang Weisheng said that SMU were currently faced with an urgent need to make reforms in their College English teaching and that they paid a visit in hope of learning some valuable experience form the SFL of BNUZ. Prof. Tao introduced the development of the SFL and how College English teaching reforms had been conducted at BNUZ; he said the SFL has making constant reforms in its College English teaching and takes a lead in this regard in the whole country. Since September, 2007, the instruction of listening and speaking courses of College English has gone web-based and the setup of the “compulsory courses of College English” since 2009 enables non-English majors to take into account their interests and future career planning while choosing their English courses. The meeting then focused on the discussion of some specific issues of College English teaching, including its curriculum, teaching methods, assessment of students’ learning, and so on.
Finally, Prof. Tao, representing all the staff of the SFL, saw the delegation off. The delegation from SMU expressed they learned a great deal from the SFL. Prof. Tang Weisheng extended his thanks for the detailed arrangements made by the SFL and the strong wishes for future exchanges of visits between both sides.
