The study of the development of foreign language teachers is an important academic turning in the wake of the studies of teaching methodology and second-language acquisition. The first National Symposium on the Development of Foreign Language Teachers was held in Beijing from September 23 to 25, 2005. Sponsored by Peking Foreign Languages University and Peking Normal University, the committee invited teachers and scholars from many leading universities and colleges throughout the country, including Peking University, Zhejiang University, Hong Kong University, Guangdong Foreign Languages University, Southwestern Normal University, etc. Dr. Wu Zongjie, a teacher of School of International Studies delivered a keynote speech-- “Open the Gate to the Real Language Environment: Existence and Learning of Teachers”. From the perspective of lingual philosophy and Discourse Study, Dr. Wu talked about discourse environment and its future study direction. He also talked about both shifting prototype in the study of foreign language teaching and revaluation of Chinese ancient thinking on teaching as well as its value for finding solutions to problems in the current education system. He also published his latest academic monograph “Foreign Language courses and Teacher’s Development” (as a co-author). During the conference, a nationwide cooperation net on the theme has been framed and the next symposium is to be held in Southwestern Normal University. Appointed by the university, Dr. Wu is presently assisting with teaching in Ka Shi Normal College.
