(1) History
The history of the College of Foreign Languages at Jiangxi Normal University (JXNU) can be traced back to the Department of Foreign Languages that was founded at National Chung Cheng University in 1946. It was renamed the Department of Foreign Languages during the following periods: from 1949-1953 at Nanchang University, at Jiangxi Teachers College from 1953-1983, and at Jiangxi Normal University from 1985-1993, successively. The name “the College of Foreign Languages” has been formally acknowledged at JXNU since 1994.
(2) Academic Programs
As the first authorized institution to confer master’s degrees in Jiangxi Province, the College is composed of three departments: the Department of English, the Department of Japanese and the Department of Translation and Interpreting. There are undergraduate programs in English Language and Literature, Japanese Language and Literature and Translation Studies, and the department also offers six postgraduate programs. They are:
·English Language and Literature,
·Foreign Linguistics and Applied Linguistics,
·Cross-cultural Studies,
·English Language Teaching Methodology
·Master of Education in English
·Master of Translation and Interpreting
In addition to these, a doctoral program in Modern Language Theory and Application was granted in 2013.
English Language and Literature has been ranked as a provincial key discipline in Jiangxi Province since 2004, and was recognized at the national level as a specialized major in 2008. The program was ranked excellent in the National Master Degree Assessment and Evaluation in 2005, and in the English Education Evaluation and Assessment enacted by The Ministry of Education in 2007. According to the Chinese University and Disciplines Evaluation Report (2010-2011), the program was listed as one of the “five-star” majors for two successive years, ranking in the top 5% among all universities providing an English Language and Literature major in China.
(3) Teaching Staff
The College enjoys tremendous faculty strength with a 144-member full-time faculty, including 122 teachers, among which, there are 10 professors, 45 associate professors and 73 lecturers. Amongst these, 32 have doctorate degrees (including PhD candidates), one is listed in the “Ganpo Talents, the 555 Project”, one is a candidate for the “Baiqianwan Talent Project in the New Century” on the provincial level, one is a “Renowned Teacher of Jiangxi Province”, three are “Young and Middle-aged Academic Leaders among University Teachers in Jiangxi”, and another three are “Young and Middle-aged Key Teachers of Jiangxi”. Within this faculty, two are PhD supervisors and 23 are MA supervisors.
Great importance has been attached to the academic development of all teachers within the School, and by supporting visits to and/or further study abroad, the School has established close academic bonds with several foreign universities. Due to the “going out actively and inviting extensively” policy, quality academic connections with international academia have been carefully developed. Research results from teachers of the School appear in several top journals and have had profound influence in the field. The School has won a name for excellence in both teaching and academic research and is known nationwide for its leading role in the area of foreign language related education and research.
(4) Teaching and Academic Research
The College of Foreign Languages has five academic research centers: the Modern Linguistic Research Center, the Foreign Literature Research Center, the Second Language Acquisition Research Center, the Translation and Cross-cultural Studies Center and the Foreign Language Education Research Center.
The college has been highly praised for its achievements in both academic research and teaching. From 2011 to 2016, nine projects have been supported by the National Social Science Foundation of China, four by the Humanities and Social Science Project (The Ministry of Education), and more than 70 others by different provincial funds. Two of the research results were reviewed and won Second Prize, the Jiangxi Social Sciences Award, and three won the Third Prize. One textbook edited by teachers of the School was awarded the Second Prize of Excellent Textbooks Edited by General Institutes of Higher Education of Jiangxi, three were awarded the Third Prize and two groups were awarded the Second Prize for Teaching Achievements of Jiangxi. More than 80 academic papers have been published by top journals at home and abroad, and more than 150 have been accepted by other journals. Ten academic monographs, two translated books and another five textbooks were published at the same time. In the past five years, six teachers won special awards for their outstanding performance in the SFLEP National Foreign Language Teaching Contest (Jiangxi Division), with three winning the First Prize. One of the teachers won the First Prize in the National Foreign Language Teaching Contest, and two won the Second Prize.
(5) Talents Training
The College of Foreign languages serves as a vital training base for language talents in Jiangxi province. Currently, there are about 1700 undergraduates, over 300 full-time graduates and more than 300 part-time EMA students in our college. We have given constant prominence to undergraduate education and have taken bold actions in its reforms. The course “Intensive Reading” was acclaimed as a Jiangxi Provincial-level top quality course in 2009. Our English major was included as one of the pilot Projects of Jiangxi Higher Education Institution Reforms in 2013. In recent years, our students’ scores on the CET4 and CET6 tests have achieved top-ranking in Jiangxi. In addition to this, every year, on average 90% of English majors and Japanese majors pass the TEM 4 tests and over 70% of our English majors pass the TEM 8 by the time they graduate. Our college also puts emphasis ondeveloping well-rounded students through social practice work. From our Alumni Li Jiayu, who won Second Place in 2002 in the CCTV Cup English Speaking Contest, to Ai Lisha, who wonFirst Place in 2004, our students have been demonstrating their excellence over the years in various contests ranging from public speaking, to FTLRP debate, to TAC translating and interpreting. The employment rate of our graduates stands at around 95%, which has been secured with the help of our alumni whose outstanding language proficiency and teaching skills have been widely recognized among employers.
(6) Social Service
In line with the directive given by the Teachers Training Division of the Ministry of Education to encourage undergraduates of Teacher Training Colleges to do teaching practice in rural primary and middle schools, JXNU launched the “Red Earth” Teaching Practice Program. It is an innovative teacher training model oriented towards modernizing elementary education, especially in rural areas. It aims at improving trainees’ practical teaching abilities and stepping up our support for rural education reform within Jiangxi Province. Nearly 200 of our English majors have participated in “Red Earth” and contributed their due share to ESL teaching in Jiangxi rural primary and middle schools.
The National Primary and Middle School Teachers Training Program (NTTP) is an important measure taken by the Ministry of Education and Finance in 2010 in order to enhance teachers’ abilities, especially those in rural areas. In response to this call, our department has helped in the on-going training of almost 2000 primary and middle school teachers who attended the NTTP and Jiangxi Teachers Training Program since 2010. In the meantime, we have sent nearly 800 undergraduates to rural primary and middle schools to replace those teachers during their training period. It is a testament to our efforts in improving the qualifications of Jiangxi ESL teachers.
(7) International Cooperation
The College of Foreign Languages encourages international cooperation in various forms. One example of this was the Connie Speech Class, which was a creative form of international cooperation. The class was initiated in 2000 by Connie Gibson, with the aim of training students in public speaking and critical thinking. Connie is a well-known speech educator dedicated to training students in this area. She won the Lu Shan Friendship Award of Jiangxi Province in 2002 and the National Friendship Award in 2004. In 2011, she also won the Special Contribution Award granted by the FLTRP Cup National English Speech Contest.
Our students are encouraged to study abroad, and have opportunities for short term visits or longer term exchanges with other countries. We have close cooperation with several universities around the world, including the University of Sydney, the University of Melbourne, the University of York, the University of Glasgow and National Chung Cheng University in Taiwan.
We have a variety of international cooperation programs with Japanese universities and institutions as well. Since 2003, we have signed Cooperative-Cultivation Agreements with several Japanese universities, such as Okayama University, Kagawa University, Gifu Keizai University and Fukuyama University, and this has given about 1/3 of our Japanese majors the opportunity to study in Japanese universities for anywhere from a year to two and a half years. In 2015, Jiangxi Normal University collaborated with the Japanese International Exchange Fund Cultural Center in establishing the “Window of Communication in Nanchang” between China and Japan. The Center regularly donates a large number of resources and cultural products like magazines, books, and videos to our school. Presently, there are over 1000 Japanese books and 100 kimonos. Students obtain a clear picture of Japanese society and culture through various culture-related activities held by Jiangxi Normal University, such as the tea ceremony, flower arranging, and reading Japanese newspapers and magazines. Besides these activities, the project regularly sends students to participate in summer camps and other free short-term visits to Japan. In cooperation with the Japanese International Exchange Fund Cultural Center, the institute has offered a series of China-Japan exchange activities to undergraduates, Nanchang citizens, Japanese college students, and other overseas students. Teachers are encouraged to “go global”, and now they have many chances to attend international conferences and take part in government-sponsored overseas study.
A list of discipline&major of School of Foreign Languages
| NNo. | Category of discipline | Discipline | Code | Program Name | Level | Years | Introduction |
| 1 | Linguistics | Foreign Languages and Literatures | 050201 | English | Bachelor | 4 | The program aims at fostering students’ English language proficiency and international vision, so that they can be English teachers for all kinds of schools, professional personnel for language teaching and research and English trainers for large and medium-size enterprises. Through the learning of educational theory courses and teaching practice, students will master solid professional knowledge and teaching competence. Teaching, translation, research and management work in the sector of education, economic and trade, foreign affairs, science and technology, culture, and administration etc. will be the prospect work for the students. |
| 22 | Linguistics | Foreign Languages and Literature | | Translation and Interpreting | Bachelor | 4 | This program aims at cultivating well-rounded students equipped with bilingual language proficiency. Students are also expected to have broad cultural knowledge, a variety of expertise and strong adaptability as well as creativity and ability in translation and interpretation between Chinese and English so that they will be the translators who can undertake various fields of translation covering foreign affairs, business and trade, science and technology, literature, culture, tourism, education, etc. We offer opportunities to observe and hand-on experience in translation companies and Jiu Sheng International Foreign Trade Company and some major scenic spots. Besides, on-campus students can engage in service programs, like English volunteers association, Translation association, etc. |
| 33 | linguistics | Foreign language and Literature | | Japanese | Bachelor | 4 | The program cultivates student’s skills in Japanese language, literature and culture, aiming at training talents in translation practice of foreign affairs, commerce, science and technology, culture, tourism, education and other fields between Chinese and Japanese. |
| 44 | linguistics | Foreign Languages and Literature | | English Language and Literature | Master | 3 | English Language and Literature is the earliest foreign language key disciplines and foreign language brand major in Jiangxi Province, and identified by the Ministry of Education as the first class of national characteristic major. The program is the earliest major to confer master's degree in Jiangxi Province. In 1999, the program began to recruit graduate students. The discipline has a vibrant academic team with 10 professors, 39 associate professors and 21 doctors (including in reading).In the recent 5 years, 7 Projects of the National Social Science Fund has been organized. It has formed four distinct research directions: English and American literature research, theoretical linguistics research, translation theory and practice research, second language acquisition research. |
| 45 | linguistics | Foreign Languages and Literature | | Master of Education in English | Master | 3 | This program, based on modern foreign language education theory research and teaching reform experiment, aims at fostering students’ teaching abilities. We have long-term corporation with primary and secondary schools to serve as postgraduates practice base, which provides microteaching, teaching probation and observation, education practice for students. This program recruits in-service master of education since 2002 and full-time master of education since 2009.Over 500 students have graduated and they have grown to be the backbone of university teachers as well as primary and secondary schools English teacher in Jiangxi province. |
| 66 | linguistics | Foreign Languages and Literature | | Master of Translation and Interpretation | Master | 3 | The program was started in 2011, aiming at training high-end translators. We have simultaneous interpretation laboratories and several translation practice bases so that students can hand-on experience in translation and interpretation. We have close cooperation with the foreign affairs department of the local government, water sport center and BITE Translation Company, ensuring translation observation and internship for students. |
| 7 77 | linguistics | Foreign Languages and Literature | | MA in Intercultural Studies | Master | 3 | The program was started in 2014, focusing on the different values and behavior patterns of Chinese and foreign cultures, and studying the phenomenon of cultural conflict in intercultural communication and Chinese and foreign language education, from the perspective of sociology, sociolinguistics and anthropology. It aims at cultivating talents with cross-cultural awareness and intercultural communication competence as well as their cross-cultural knowledge. Students from this program can be employed by government agencies, overseas-funded enterprises and colleges. |
| 88 | | Foreign Languages and Literature | 050211 | MA of Foreign Languages and Literature | Master | 3 | Foreign Linguistics and Applied Linguistics is a sub-discipline under the discipline of Foreign Languages and Literature. It has three research fields including English linguistics, translation theory and practice and second language acquisition. Since 2003, with joint efforts and devotion over ten years the discipline has formed its research fields with special characteristics. |
A list of course of School of Foreign Languages
| No. | Code | Course Name | Level |
| 1 | 252012 | Integrated English | Bachelor |
| 2 | 251093 | English Audio and Visual Comprehension | Bachelor |
| 3 | 252030 | Oral English | Bachelor |
| 4 | 252044 | English Writing | Bachelor |
| 5 | 252016 | English Extensive Reading | Bachelor |
| 6 | 252043 | A Survey of English Speaking Countries | Bachelor |
| 7 | 252251 | English Literature | Bachelor |
| 8 | 252251 | American Literature | Bachelor |
| 9 | 252234 | English Linguistics | Bachelor |
| 10 | 252073 | English-Chinese Translation Course | Bachelor |
| 11 | 252253 | English Curriculum and Teaching | Bachelor |
| 12 | 252082 | English-Chinese Interpreting Course | Bachelor |
| 13 | 252062 | Academic Writing | Bachelor |
| 14 | 252002 | English Phonetics | Bachelor |
| 15 | 252034 | English Grammar | Bachelor |
| 16 | 252219 | Public Speaking | Bachelor |
| 17 | 252070 | Introduce Second Language Acquisition | Bachelor |
| 18 | 252343 | English Lesson Case Analysis | Bachelor |
| 19 | 252268 | English Materials Analysis of Middle Schools | Bachelor |
| 20 | 252273 | Computer Assisted Foreign Language Teaching | Bachelor |
| 21 | 250184 | Language Testing | Bachelor |
| 22 | 252272 | Reflective Teaching for English Teaching | Bachelor |
| 23 | 252290 | Introduction to Chinese Culture in English | Bachelor |
| 24 | 252005 | Selected Readings of British and American Newspapers | Bachelor |
| 25 | 252092 | Selected Readings of English Poems | Bachelor |
| 26 | 252192 | The Bible and English Language and Culture | Bachelor |
| 27 | 252008 | Selected Readings of English and American Drama | Bachelor |
| 28 | 252069 | English Rhetoric | Bachelor |
| 29 | 252004 | English Lexicology | Bachelor |
| 30 | 252091 | English Stylistics | Bachelor |
| 31 | 252225 | Social Linguistics | Bachelor |
| 32 | 252188 | Brief History of Western Translation Theories | Bachelor |
| 33 | 252187 | Brief History of Chinese Translation Theories | Bachelor |
| 34 | 252088 | English-Chinese Translation Appreciation | Bachelor |
| 35 | 252221 | Tourism English Translation | Bachelor |
| 36 | 252224 | Pragmatics | Bachelor |
| 37 | 252222 | Discourse Analysis | Bachelor |
| 38 | 252226 | Applied Linguistics | Bachelor |
| 39 | 252223 | Cognitive Linguistics | Bachelor |
| 40 | 252149 | Cross-cultural Communication | Bachelor |
| 41 | 252190 | Introduction to Western Cultures | Bachelor |
| 42 | 252094 | Introduction to European Culture | Bachelor |
| 43 | 252145 | Western Culture and Etiquette | Bachelor |
| 44 | 252265 | General Introduction to translation | Bachelor |
| 45 | 252256 | Basic Interpretation | Bachelor |
| 46 | 252259 | Advanced Interpretation | Bachelor |
| 47 | 252257 | Consecutive Interpreting | Bachelor |
| 48 | 252076 | Literary Translation | Bachelor |
| 49 | 252258 | Applied Translation | Bachelor |
| 50 | 252290 | Introduction to Chinese Culture in English | Bachelor |
| 51 | 252254 | Contrastive Analysis of English and Chinese | Bachelor |
| 52 | 251136 | Contemporary Chinese | Bachelor |
| 53 | 252261 | Simultaneous Interpretation | Bachelor |
| 54 | 252263 | Computer Aided Translation | Bachelor |
| 55 | 252264 | Technical Translation | Bachelor |
| 56 | 252260 | News Translation | Bachelor |
| 57 | 252262 | English Translation of Chinese Classics | Bachelor |
| 58 | 251002 | Comparison between Chinese culture and Western culture | Bachelor |
| 59 | 259175 | Secretarial Science | Bachelor |
| 56 | 9993001 | Political Theories(Teachers' professional ethics) | Master |
| 57 | 9993007 | Basis of Chinese Linguistics and Literature | Master |
| 58 | 9993003 | Education Theory | Master |
| 59 | 9993004 | Curriculum & Methodology | Master |
| 60 | 9993005 | Juvenile Psychological Development and Education | Master |
| 61 | 9993006 | Elementary and Secondary Education Research Methods | Master |
| 62 | 123001 | Analysis of English Curriculum and Teaching Material | Master |
| 63 | 123002 | English Teaching Design and Case Analysis | Master |
| 64 | 123003 | English Educational Measurement and Evaluation | Master |
| 65 | 123004 | English Language and Literature Studies | Master |
| 66 | 9993101 | Application of Modern Education | Master |
| 67 | 9993102 | Mental health Education in Elementary and Secondary Schools | Master |
| 68 | 9993103 | Basic Education Reform Research | Master |
| 69 | 9993104 | Brief History of Chinese and Foreign Education | Master |
| 70 | 9993105 | Education Policy and Law | Master |
| 71 | 123101 | Theory and Method of Foreign Language Learning | Master |
| 72 | 123103 | Research Method in Foreign Language Teaching | Master |
| 73 | 123104 | Psychology of Foreign Language Teaching | Master |
| 74 | 123105 | Appreciation of English and American Literature | Master |
| 75 | 123106 | History of Foreign Language Education | Master |
| 76 | 123107 | Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching | Master |
| 77 | 123108 | Translation theory and practice | Master |
| 78 | 123109 | Contrastive Analysis of Chinese and Western Grammar | Master |
| 79 | 9993201 | Education Practice | Master |
| 80 | 122001 | Translation theory and practice | Master |
| 81 | 122002 | Linguistics | Master |
| 82 | 122003 | English stylistics | Master |
| 83 | 122039 | Contrastive analysis between English and Chinese | Master |
| 84 | 122011 | Discourse analysis | Master |
| 85 | 122012 | Pragmatics | Master |
| 86 | 122036 | History of Western Culture | Master |
| 87 | 122037 | Comparison between Chinese and Western culture | Master |
| 88 | 122038 | Language and Culture | Master |
| 89 | 122016 | Principles of language teaching and learning | Master |
| 90 | 122017 | Study of second language acquisition | Master |
| 91 | 122018 | Psycholinguistics | Master |
| 92 | 122034 | Social Linguistics | Master |
| 93 | 122035 | Cognitive Linguistics | Master |
| 94 | 122020 | Functional Linguistics | Master |
| 95 | 122022 | Foreign Language Teaching and Research Methods | Master |
| 96 | 122025 | History of Linguistics | Master |
| 97 | 122027 | Foundations of Intercultural Communication | Master |
| 98 | 122028 | Language Testing | Master |
| 99 | 122031 | Instructional Design and Cases Study for English Language Teachers | Master |
| 100 | 122032 | Language and Culture | Master |
| 101 | 122001 | Translation theory and practice | Master |
| 102 | 122002 | Linguistics | Master |
| 103 | 122003 | English stylistics | Master |
| 104 | 122007 | English and American novels | Master |
| 105 | 122008 | English and American drama | Master |
| 106 | 122009 | Reading of literature in the West | Master |
| 107 | 122010 | Semantics | Master |
| 108 | 122011 | Discourse analysis | Master |
| 109 | 122012 | Pragmatics | Master |
| 110 | 122013 | Translation theory in China and foreign countries | Master |
| 112 | 122014 | History of Chinese translation | Master |
| 113 | 122015 | Contrastive analysis between English and Chinese | Master |
| 114 | 122016 | Principles of language teaching and learning | Master |
| 115 | 122017 | Study of second language acquisition D | Master |
| 116 | 122018 | Psycho Linguistics D | Master |
| 117 | 122034 | Social Linguistics | Master |
| 118 | 122035 | Cognitive Linguistics | Master |
| 119 | 122019 | Narratology A | Master |
| 120 | 122020 | Functional Linguistics B | Master |
| 130 | 122021 | Study of classical poetry translation C | Master |
| 131 | 122022 | Research methods for foreign language teaching D | Master |
| 132 | 122023 | Topics on Shakespeare A | Master |
| 133 | 122024 | Topics on English and American poetry A | Master |
| 134 | 122025 | History of linguistics | Master |
| 135 | 122026 | Interpretation theory and practice | Master |
| 136 | 122027 | Intercultural communication B D | Master |
| 137 | 122028 | Language Testing D B | Master |
| 138 | 122031 | Instructional Design and Cases Study for English Language Teachers B D | Master |
| 139 | 122032 | Language and culture A B C D | Master |
| 140 | 122029 | A study on British and American Novels of Post Modernism | Master |
| 141 | 123005 | General Introduction to Translation | Master |
| 142 | 123006 | Basic Interpretation | Master |
| 143 | 123007 | Translation Theory and Practice | Master |
| 144 | 123005 | Literary Translation | Master |
| 145 | 123005 | Finance and Trade Translation | Master |
| 146 | 123005 | Science and Technology Translation | Master |
| 147 | 123001 | 2nd Foreign Language | Master |
| 148 | 123102 | Brief History of Chinese and Foreign Translation Theories | Master |
| 149 | 123102 | Cross-cultural Communication | Master |
| 150 | 123103 | Translation of Chinese Classics | Master |
| 151 | 123104 | Translation for the Media | Master |
| 152 | 123105 | Translation Appreciation and Criticism | Master |
| 153 | 123107 | Webpage Translation | Master |
| 154 | 123108 | An Introduction to the Stylistic | Master |
| 155 | 123109 | Translating Law | Master |
| 156 | 123110 | Translation Assistant Tools | Master |
| 157 | 123106 | Business Interpretation | Master |
| 158 | 123107 | Interpretation for Foreign Affairs | Master |
| 159 | 123108 | Conference Interpretation | Master |
| 160 | 123109 | Sight Interpretation | Master |
| 161 | 123111 | Simulation Scenario Interpretation | Master |
| 162 | 123009 | Translation Practice | Master |
| 163 | 43009 | College English for Japanese major | Bachelor |
| 164 | 252142 | Essential Japanese | Bachelor |
| 165 | 252166 | Japanese Audio and Visual Comprehension | Bachelor |
| 166 | 252141 | Japanese Pronunciation | Bachelor |
| 167 | 252208 | Oral Japanese | Bachelor |
| 168 | 252173 | Japanese Writing | Bachelor |
| 169 | 252171 | Japanese Extensive Reading | Bachelor |
| 170 | 252236 | Japanese Grammar | Bachelor |
| 180 | 252206 | Advanced Japanese | Bachelor |
| 181 | 252295 | A Survey of Japan | Bachelor |
| 182 | 252235 | History and Anthology of Modern Japanese Literature | Bachelor |
| 183 | 252170 | History and Anthology of Ancient Japanese Literature | Bachelor |
| 184 | 252100 | Japanese Linguistics | Bachelor |
| 185 | 252237 | Japanese-Chinese Translation | Bachelor |
| 186 | 252179 | Japanese Culture History | Bachelor |
| 187 | 252182 | Selected Readings of Japanese Newspaper | Bachelor |
| 188 | 252338 | Japanese-Chinese Interpretation | Bachelor |
| 189 | 252296 | Japanese History | Bachelor |
| 190 | 252178 | Appreciation of Japanese Film | Bachelor |
| 191 | 252175 | Japanese Classical Grammar | Bachelor |
| 192 | 252177 | Etiquette of Japan | Bachelor |
| 193 | 252126 | Tourism Japanese | Bachelor |
| 194 | 252078 | Business Japanese | Bachelor |
| 195 | 252304 | Japanese Common Conversation | Bachelor |
