From December 1, 2008 to December 5, 2008, Prof. Meng Xiaomin from the French Institute of Zhejiang
University attended the Seminar of the Research Activities of the French Language Teachers in the Asian
Regions, which was held in the city of Da Nang, Vietnam. The theme of this year’s seminar was The
French Language Teaching, the Reform Focuses and the French Language Teaching Prospect
in the Process of Reforming. The seminar, aimed at promoting the French language teaching and
the French language teaching methods in the Asian regions, has been co-hosted by The Center of the
French Language International in Asian-Pacific Regions, The French Language Center of the
International Universities, French Embassies in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam and the University of Da
Nang in Vietnam.
Prof. Meng Xiaomin read an essay entitled On the Cultivation of Communicative Competence and
Cultural Competence ------ the Courtesy Expressions in the French Language Teaching Materials
and had insightful exchanges with peers from France, Canada, Laos, Cambodia, China Taiwan and
Vietnam. They discussed the characteristics of the French language teaching in different countries in
Asia as well as the possibility of strengthening the cooperation of the French language teachers in
Asian regions. The 07-year graduate student from the French Institute, Jiang Tao was also invited by
the Seminar and read an essay entitled On the Effectiveness of the Notes of the French Language
Classes which has been praised by French language teachers from other countries. Jiang Tao
was funded by the Graduate School to attend this international seminar.
(Translated by LUO Longxiang)
