From June 28 to June 30, 2024, the Second Academic Forum on Foreign Language Pedagogy was successfully held at Nankai University. Prof. Wang Wenbin, president of the Professional Committee of Foreign Language Pedagogy (Preparatory) and director of the National Research Center for Foreign Language Education of Beijing Foreign Studies University, Prof. Zhu Shoufei, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Committee of Nankai University and vice president of Nankai University, Prof. Zha Mingjian, vice president of Shanghai International Studies University, Prof. Chen Hong, vice president of Jiangsu University, Prof. Chang Junyue, former vice president of Dalian University of Foreign Languages, and Prof. Yu Hongliang, former vice president of Yangzhou University, were present in this meeting. The forum was chaired by Prof. Li Min, Vice Dean of the School of Foreign Studies in Nankai University.
The conference was co-hosted by Nankai University, Beijing Foreign Studies University, the Professional Committee of Foreign Language Pedagogy (Preparatory), and Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, and co-sponsored by the editorial board of Foreign Language Teaching and Research, the editorial board of Foreign Language Education in China, the editorial board of Shandong Foreign Language Teaching, the editorial board of Journal of Beijing International Studies University, the editorial board of Journal of Zhejiang International Studies University, and the editorial board of Foreign Language Education & Research, the editorial board of Researching and Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, etc. Nearly 400 representatives from more than 300 universities, schools and colleges in China, including Peking University, Nanjing University, Fudan University and Zhejiang University, gathered in Nankai to discuss the development of the discipline of foreign language education in China.
Prof. Zhu Shoufei, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Committee of Nankai University and vice president of Nankai University, delivered a speech on behalf of the university. Prof. Zhu extended a warm welcome to the guests and introduced the development of Nankai University, the discipline of foreign languages, and the cultivation of foreign language talents. Prof. Zhu fully affirmed the importance of foreign language pedagogy in the development of foreign language disciplines and congratulated the faculty of Nankai University for their participation as key members in the creation of this emerging discipline.
Ms. Mu Xiangwang, Secretary of the CPC Committee of the School of Foreign Studies of Nankai University, reviewed the centennial development history of the School of Foreign Studies of Nankai University, introduced its recent development and construction, and said that it will always adhere to the talent cultivation of “Knowing China, Serving China”, and make SFS’s contribution to the development of the discipline of foreign language pedagogy of Nankai University.
Finally, President Wang Wenbin delivered a speech on behalf of the Professional Committee of Foreign Language Pedagogy (Preparatory), expressing his gratitude to the organizers of this forum, such as the School of Foreign Studies of Nankai University and Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press. President Wang introduced the meaning of the emblem of Foreign language pedagogy to the delegates. He said that the emblem consists of a number of gears forming a big tree in the sky, reflecting that foreign language education always adheres to the fundamental task of establishing moral education, and hoped that the Foreign Language Pedagogy can incubate more high-quality research results and help the high-quality development of foreign language education.
On the morning of June 29th and 30th, Prof. Wang Wenbin of Beijing Foreign Studies University, Prof. Zha Mingjian of Shanghai International Studies University, Prof. Chang Junyue of Dalian University of Foreign Languages, Prof. Xu Jinfen of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Prof. Wang Zhuo of Shandong Normal University, Prof. Wang Dan of Peking University, special-grade teacher Zhang Hongli of Tianjin Academy of Educational Science, Prof. Zhang Hong of Beijing Foreign Studies University, and Prof. Li Min of Nankai University gave lectures on Foreign Language Education respectively on the theme of The Key Element of Foreign Language Education is The Professionalism and Ideological Dimension of Teachers, The Profound Significance of The Establishment of Foreign Language Pedagogy in The Era of Artificial Intelligence, The Guiding Principles and Methods of Foreign Language Curriculum and Its Teaching, The Important Value of Comprehensive Language Literacy of Foreign Language Teachers in Foreign Language Education, The Status and Role of Literature in Foreign Language Education, The Direction of The Development of Non-Generic Language Education and Its Practical Paths, The Basic Position of Primary and Secondary Foreign Language Education in Foreign Language Education and Its Important Role, Problems and Countermeasures of Foreign Language Teachers' Scientific Research Literacy in Colleges And Universities, and Strengthening The Cultivation of Research-Oriented Teachers with Both Theory and Practice. The nine keynote speeches are closely related to the forefront of the development of foreign language pedagogy, and the guests at the meeting responded enthusiastically.
On the afternoon of June 29, 12 keynote speeches and 17 parallel forums were held simultaneously. More than 300 participants discussed the core concepts and implementation paths of foreign language pedagogy and discussed foreign language education in depth from different dimensions, such as foreign language curriculum, foreign language teaching materials, teacher development, foreign language learning and education and teaching.
The closing ceremony of this academic forum on foreign language pedagogy was held at noon on June 30th. Professor Xu Hao from Beijing Foreign Studies University made a concluding speech. Professor Xu expressed his expectation for the discipline construction of foreign language pedagogy by using his own experience as a metaphor and called on foreign language scholars to continue to pay more attention to the discipline construction of foreign language pedagogy and help the discipline development.
Finally, Professor Hong Ming, the representative of the organizer of the next academic forum on foreign language pedagogy and the director of Academic Research of Zhejiang International Studies University, made a speech. Professor Hong first congratulated the success of this conference and expressed his central gratitude to Nankai University, the organizer of this conference. Then he introduced the advantages and experience of Zhejiang International Studies University and warmly invited foreign language education researchers from all over the country to participate in the third academic forum on foreign language education to be held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province in November 2025!
The second academic forum on foreign language pedagogy came to a successful conclusion. This forum is the first national conference since "Foreign Language Pedagogy" was listed in the discipline and specialty catalog of the Ministry of Education. The delegates spoke highly of this conference, believing that it is conducive to strengthening the academic understanding of the connotation of foreign language pedagogy and is of great significance to promoting the discipline construction of foreign language pedagogy.
Foreign language pedagogy was put forward in 2016 by Professor Li Min from the School of Foreign Studies of Nankai University and his postdoctoral tutor, Professor Wang Wenbin from Beijing Foreign Studies University. After years of hard work, foreign language pedagogy officially entered the discipline and specialty catalog of the Ministry of Education in January 2024, and became the two disciplines in foreign languages and literature. The establishment of foreign language pedagogy embodies the spirit of teachers in our school focusing on the national development strategy, implementing the construction of an independent knowledge system, concentrating on scientific research and being brave in innovation, further expanding our school's influence in foreign language disciplines and playing an important role in promoting the development of foreign language disciplines nationwide.
