On October 19th, the "Deans’ Talks" themed interview, marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Faculty of English Language and Culture (hereinafter referred to as "FELC") at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS), was grandly held at the Baiyunshan Campus. For the first time, the six deans who have led FELC since it was so named officially in 1997—Fang Jianzhuang, Mao Sihui, Zhong Weihe, Liu Yan, Wen Binli, and Zhang Xin—gathered on the same stage to recall its three-decade leapfrog development journey. This in-depth interview not only systematically reviewed FELC's glorious struggle history but also, through vivid practical cases and forward-looking insights, provided valuable references for transforming and upgrading foreign language education in the new era. It has become a significant academic event in China's foreign-language education circles, serving to review the development process and discuss the future direction.
Scene of the "Deans’ Talks" Themed Interview
Cultivating Talent and Forging Foundations: Dual Drivers of Interdisciplinary Talent Development and Holistic Education
During the interview, Professor Fang Jianzhuang, the first dean of FELC, looked back on the operational difficulties the faculty faced in the late 1990s. He frankly admitted that FELC was then facing the dual pressure of "external challenges and internal troubles": the social demand for single-discipline foreign-language talent was shrinking, and the competition among multiple schools within GDUFS offering English-related programs was becoming increasingly fierce. Against this backdrop, the faculty team led by Fang Jianzhuang took the lead in proposing the "broad-caliber, application-oriented, and interdisciplinary" talent development concept. It defined the cultivation goals of "excellent communication skills, strong learning ability, high adaptability, outstanding competence, and noble character". Moreover, awareness of cross-cultural communication, interpersonal communication skills, and teamwork spirit were integrated throughout the entire process of foreign language teaching.
The proposal of this concept was pioneering in foreign language education at that time. Back then, China's foreign language education generally emphasized language skills while neglecting professional literacy. FELC took the lead in breaking disciplinary barriers by establishing a Translation Department, retaining the Literature Department, and setting up the Language Information Department and the Tourism English Department, thereby building a multidisciplinary structure. This exploration of the interdisciplinary talent development model not only enabled FELC graduates to stand out in the job market with their distinctive traits of "optimism, self-confidence, eagerness to learn, and ambition" but also led the reform trend of talent development models in foreign language universities across the country. It laid the foundation for the subsequent transformation of China's foreign language education from the "language-as-a-tool theory" to the "competence-and-literacy theory". Facing the new challenges of foreign language teaching in the AI era, Fang Jianzhuang emphasized that the cultivation goals of "strong learning ability, high adaptability, and noble character" remain highly relevant. Foreign language education should guide students to proactively embrace technology and achieve harmonious coexistence between humans and technology through lifelong learning.
If interdisciplinary talent development is the "development framework" of FELC, then the practice of holistic education represented by drama education constitutes its "spiritual core". Professor Mao Sihui, the second dean of FELC, elaborated in detail on the educational concept of integrating drama education into talent cultivation during the interview. Through the "interpreting classics" teaching model, students are required to complete a series of complex tasks, including script adaptation, role assignment, line recitation, and dubbing. This not only enhances their language application skills but also promotes their comprehensive development in aesthetic literacy, cultural cognition, and teamwork. FELC has been practicing drama education for decades, creating many memorable moments. When talking about the contemporary inheritance of drama education, Mao Sihui proposed a development path of "adhering to classics while embracing innovation". He suggested that, apart from preserving the tradition of interpreting classic plays, innovative forms such as short video creation and promotion of excellent drama clips should be developed in line with the communication characteristics of the AI era. He also advocated establishing a professional English-language drama troupe to build a landmark cultural brand.
Disciplines as the Backbone: Strategic Layout with Translation Characteristics and Balanced Development
As a leader and iconic figure in China's translation education, Professor Zhong Weihe, the third dean of FELC, systematically reviewed the entire process of the development of GDUFS' translation discipline from its infancy to maturity in his sharing, providing valuable experience for the characteristic development and system construction of foreign language disciplines. In 1997, guided by the concept of interdisciplinary talent development, FELC established China's first Translation Department, which became a significant milestone in the development of the translation discipline. In 2005, GDUFS established the School of Interpreting and Translation Studies (SITS), and the translation discipline was separated from FELC to develop independently. Eventually, a complete translation talent cultivation system covering undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs was built, providing the "GDUFS Model" for translation education across the country.
In the face of the rapid development of machine translation, Zhong Weihe put forward a rational response strategy. He believes that artificial intelligence will replace basic language transfer. However, human translators still have irreplaceable advantages in fields that require emotional resonance and cultural interpretation, such as high-end political and diplomatic interpreting and literary translation. Foreign language education should proactively embrace technology to achieve "AI-empowered innovation in translation education" and cultivate interdisciplinary translation talent proficient in both technology and culture.
Professor Liu Yan, the fourth dean of FELC, supplemented FELC's construction experience from the perspective of balanced disciplinary development. She pointed out that the approval of the doctoral program in English Language and Literature in 2006 realized the balanced development of the three major fields of linguistics, literature, and translation, laying a solid foundation for the successful application of GDUFS's first-level doctoral program in Foreign Language and Literature. At the same time, the target management model implemented by the faculty integrated various aspects of work, including disciplinary positioning, talent training, and scientific research, into a systematic evaluation, becoming an early "GDUFS exploration" in disciplinary assessment and providing a management experience for the construction of disciplines in universities across the country. She emphasized that FELC's disciplinary advantages lie in its distinctive international characteristics and practical orientation. Through in-depth cooperation with foreign universities and teaching reforms such as "Communicative English for Chinese Learners" and "The Length Approach", FELC has built a disciplinary ecosystem that closely integrates theory and practice, providing essential insights for the current development of foreign language disciplines.
Consolidating Foundations and Pioneering Innovations: Faculty Development and Innovative Breakthroughs in the New Era
The sharing of Professor Wen Binli, the fifth dean of FELC, and Professor Zhang Xin, the sixth dean, respectively demonstrated the core secrets of FELC's sustained vitality and progress from the perspectives of faculty development and transformation in the new era.
Wen Binli pointed out that the faculty team is the core competitiveness of disciplinary development. During his term of office, FELC actively implemented GDUFS's "Yunshan Scholars Program". By combining "external introduction" and "internal training", it assembled a group of top scholars in linguistics and literature, while helping local teachers achieve dual improvement in professional titles and capabilities. He emphasized that an ideal foreign language teacher should possess both "educational passion" and "professional competence". In the AI era, teachers should proactively improve their digital literacy to achieve the coordinated development of teaching and scientific research.
As a "native" of GDUFS, Zhang Xin has witnessed FELC's development process and also led its innovative breakthroughs in the new era. In line with the requirements of the "Double First-Class" initiative and the reform of "New Liberal Arts", FELC has built a talent cultivation system based on "Holistic Education and Classified Excellence". Through the "141" talent cultivation path (one path for top-tier talent cultivation, four paths for professional talent cultivation, and one path for interdisciplinary talent cultivation), it meets students' personalized development needs. Meanwhile, FELC is taking the lead in establishing the AI Foreign Language Education Department, has built a cross-cultural virtual simulation laboratory, and is about to launch the Guangdong Provincial Institute of Future Humanities and Sino-Foreign Civilization Exchange and Mutual Learning, as well as an academician workstation, realizing the in-depth integration of technology and humanities. Zhang Xin proposed that, given the digital-native student generation, FELC should lay a path for them in line with the times' development needs.
Forging the Soul: Upholding the Original Aspiration and Inheriting the Mission of Foreign Language Education
At the end of the interview, the six deans condensed the "FELC Spirit":
Zhang Xin defined it as "Four Haves: having the root in history, having a global perspective, having a humanistic soul, and having the light of the future".
Wen Binli summarized it as "unity and progress, striving and fighting".
Liu Yan emphasized "remaining true to the original aspiration and forging ahead with determination".
Zhong Weihe concluded it with four core spirits: "the pioneering spirit of daring to act, the striving spirit of uniting as one, the dedicated spirit of being open and inclusive, and the home and country spirit of harmony and co-prosperity".
- Mao Sihui expressed it through a ci-poem:
To the Tune of Busuanzi - Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of FELC of GDUFS
Beneath white clouds, Huangpo Cave doth stay,
Where winds through paperbark trees softly play.
Sixty years' melodies have nurtured pillars of might,
Our legacy burns on, so strong and bright.
With words, we bridge the world, spring in each tune,
For nation's fate, our aspirations grown.
Composing new chapters, we march toward distant shores,
Proudly, the FELC scholars lead the Course.".
Fang Jianzhuang expressed his expectation with "Pursuit of passions! Striving for excellence and seeking perfection in virtue and achievement!"
These words are not only the condensation of FELC's 60-year spiritual inheritance but also a vivid reflection of the spiritual core of China's foreign language education circle.
FELC has persevered for 60 years and remained unceasingly dedicated to education. As an important participant and witness in the development of New China's foreign language cause, FELC's 60-year history is a microcosm of China's foreign language education. Currently, as the nationwide promotion of "New Liberal Arts" construction and the accelerated digital transformation of foreign language disciplines are in full swing, FELC, with its unique concept of "interdisciplinary talent cultivation" and "holistic education" system, provides valuable experience for the reform of foreign language education in the new era. FELC's explorations in cultivating cross-cultural communication skills, innovation in drama education, and the construction of the translation discipline are in sync with the era's mission of China's foreign language circle—to serve the development of international communication capacity and deepen exchange and mutual learning between Chinese and foreign civilizations. Standing at the starting point of a new journey, FELC will uphold GDUFS' motto of "Pursuit of Integrity, Practice, and Cross-cultural Learning", take serving the national strategy as its responsibility, and promote the exchange and mutual learning between Chinese and foreign civilizations as its mission. It will inspire the new generation of FELC members to continue their endeavor and write a more brilliant chapter in building a community with a shared future for humanity!
"Deans’ Talks" (From Left to Right: Wu Zhuang, Fang Jianzhuang, Mao Sihui, Zhong Weihe, Liu Yan, Wen Binli, Zhang Xin)
