From April 12 to 14, 2019, the Seminar on Development of National German Faculty 2019 was held at School of International Studies (the SIS), Zhejiang University hosted by the Center for National German Faculty Development, German Teaching Guidance Subcommittee of Foreign Languages and Literatures Teaching Committee of the Ministry of Education (hereinafter referred to as the German Subcommittee of the MOE), and organized by Institute of German Culture of the SIS as well as Goethe-Institut Peking, China. Themed on “Scientific Research in Foreign Language Teaching”, this seminar attracted 25 Chinese and German experts and 71 teachers from 53 national universities as well as 2 publishing houses.
Prof. Jia Wenjian, Vice-President of Beijing Foreign Studies University and Chairman of the Subcommittee of the MOE, stated in his opening speech that according to the instructions of “improving teachers’ ability in an all-around way” and “carrying out training to enhance teachers’ teaching capability” as well as the National Standards for the Quality of Foreign Languages and Literatures Teaching issued by the MOE, the new German Teaching Subcommittee would actively promote the development of German teachers in universities, establish Center for National German Faculty Development in Zhejiang University and hold Seminars on Development of National German Faculty regularly. Prof. Li Hengwei, Director of Teaching and Research Division of Undergraduate School, indicated that Zhejiang University has always attached importance to teaching and research, including training and competition for teachers’ development and regular teaching investigation. The SIS has taken effective measures in enhancing teachers’ ability and won the Outstanding Organization Award of Teaching Competition for Young Teachers in Zhejiang University for four consecutive yeas. It was believed that the Center for National German Faculty Development was bound to diversify teachers’ capability development activities. Jan Sprenger, Vice Dean of Goethe-Institut China and Hannelore Bossmann, chief representative of German Academic Exchange Service, Beijing Office, delivered speeches to extend their heartfelt congratulations to the Center and the Seminar, express willingness in supporting the Subcommittee, and make contributions to the establishment of high-level undergraduate German education as well as overall improvement of capability of German language talents. In the end, the Center for National German Faculty Development was inaugurated in the SIS, Zhejiang University. Prof. Cheng Gong, Dean of the SIS, Yao Xin, Secretary of the CPC Committee, Fan Jieping, Director and Li Yuan, Vice-Director of Institute of German Culture, as well as Chinese and German experts witnessed this historic moment.
As the first seminar after the establishment of the Center for National German Faculty Development, it consisted of sessions like academic lectures, peer experience sharing, latest teaching and research news and scientific research project displaying, Prof. Jia Wenjian, Prof. Claudia Riemer, Vice-President of Bielefeld University, Prof. Liu Haitao, Prof. Jiang Jingyang and Pro. Li Yuan from Zhejiang University, and Prof. Kong Deming from Nanjing University were invited to deliver lectures on national policies and professional guidelines, scientific research methods, National Test for German Majors Band 4, research hotspots and the balance between teaching and research for foreign language teachers.
In the peer sharing session, Associate Prof. Liu Lingyu from Nanjing Tech University, Prof. Xian Peixin from Zhejiang International Studies University, Researcher Hu Jie and Associate Prof. Liu Yue from Zhejiang University shared their experiences of studies, research and teaching, research papers and scientific projects. In addition, representatives from Goethe-Institut China, German Academic Exchange Service, Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press and Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press introduced the recent achievements, teaching resources and teacher training and student activities of their own institutions. It’s worth mentioning that this seminar, instead of traditional model of teaching research, was conducted in the form of workshop to encourage youth teachers to the meeting with their scientific projects. Prof. Liu Qisheng from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies and Prof. Huang Keqin from Tongji University offered their comments on the research topics, significance and methods of the papers provided by some teachers and there was a lively Q & A session. After the seminar, experts would follow up and guide relevant projects to move ahead.
While enhancing the capacity of German language teachers, this seminar aims to help teachers find out problems in teaching practice and solve them so as to improve quality with the help of scientific fruits, and at the same time, to promote the teaching and scientific research of German teachers in colleges and universities.
School of International Studies
April 15, 2019
Translated by Shang Xiaoyi and Zhan Bingbing
Edited by Xu Xueying
