From October 15 to 17, the “2021 Annual Conference of China English Language Education Association” was successfully held online by China English Language Education Association (CELEA), organized by the School of Foreign Languages of Lanzhou University, and co-organized by Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press (FLTRP).Nearly 400 experts and scholars from universities at home and abroad gathered online around the theme of this year' seminar, “Tradition and Innovation of English Teaching in China: Theory and Practice”. The main venue was live-streamed through Tencent Meeting and Ding Talk Group with an audience of more than 1,000. There were 5 keynote speeches, 14 theme-based symposiums, 21 panel discussions and 6 small roundtable discussions.

 

 

GatheringOnlineto Celebrate the Big Conference

At the opening ceremony, Professor Sun Youzhong, President of CELEA and Vice President of Beijing Foreign Studies University, Professor He Deyan, Assistant Principal of Lanzhou University, as well as Ms. Chang Xiaoling, Deputy Editor-in-chief of Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press attended and delivered a speech. Also present were the vice presidents and executive directors of CELEA. The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Zhu Gang, Dean of School of Foreign Languages and Literatures.

 

 

President Sun Youzhong extended a warm welcome to all the experts and scholars, and expressed his sincere thanks to the Organizing Committee for their efforts and to all the experts of the Association Standing Council for their strong support.He explained the theme of the conference, “Tradition and Innovation of English Teaching in China: Theory and Practice”: “Tradition” means to uphold the fine tradition of English teaching in China; “Innovation” is embodied in the fields such as new liberal arts, ideological and political theories teaching in all courses, national and regional studies, as well as English teaching theory and practice. President Sun expressed his expectation for the conference, and wished Lanzhou University to uphold the school motto of “Unremitting self-improvement,Nothing in common” so as to create a new chapter of “World-class” university in western China.

 

 

Professor He introduced the running situation of Lanzhou University and School of Foreign Languages and Literatures, and pointed out the significance of this conference in cultivating inter-disciplinary talents proficient in foreign languages for the country.

 

 

Deputy editor-in-chief Chang Xiaoling, pointed out in her speech that this conference has launched a discussion on English teaching in China from various perspectives, reflecting the concern of experts and scholars to the real problems and tasks in English teaching in China at present, andit also embodies the mission and responsibility of CELEA to promote teaching research, lead teaching innovation and promote teacher development. She said that the FLTRP is looking forward to working with experts to contribute to the development of foreign language education in China.

 

 

Finally, Professor Shi Jian of Sichuan University, vice president of CELEA, read out the winners of the Excellent Paper Award of this conference. Ji Xiaoting and Xiao Ting from Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai Campus, Sun Xin and Zhou Xue from Dalian Foreign Studies University, and Lan Yu from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies nanguo Business School won the Excellent Paper award. Their papers will be published in Foreign Language Education in China.

 

 

Keynote speech——Tradition and Innovation

The first keynote speaker, Professor Sun Youzhong, spoke on the topic of “How to conduct ideological and political theories teaching in college English: cross-cultural speculative education”. Professor Sun focused on three questions: why do we need ideological and political theories teaching in all courses, what is “cross-cultural speculative education”, and how to implement “cross-cultural speculative education”, and discussed the fundamental way of ideological and political theories teaching in college English, which is to effectively improve language skills through intercultural language communication activities, speculative language communication activities and language communication activities that integrate intercultural and speculative skills so as to promote moral education. This keynote speech was chaired by Professor Shi Jian from Sichuan University.

The second keynote speaker, Professor Wang Qiang from Beijing Normal University, spoke on “Reconstructing the understanding of English subject knowledge and value from the perspective of nurturing people”. Professor Wang pointed out that foreign language teaching has long been more concerned with “how to teach” than with “what to teach”.He discussed in depth the composition of English subject knowledge from five aspects, including the education objectives of basic education in the new era, the analysis of major problems in foreign language teaching, the composition of foreign language curriculum/knowledge, and the ways to implement the subject education objectives. This keynote speech was chaired by Professor Chang Junyue from Dalian University of Foreign Studies.

 

 

The third keynote speaker, Professor Zeng Yongqiang from Guangdong Institute of Foreign Languages and Arts, spoke on the topic of “Secondary development of teaching materials based on the CSE”. Professor Zeng pointed out some problems existing in the practical application of the CSE, introduced the parameter system developed for the descriptors of the scale and the examples of the system applied to the development of teaching materials, and proposed that the secondary development of teaching materials is the process of corpuscularization of teaching materials. The goals to be achieved include the systematization of knowledge, the integration of research and use of teaching materials, and the construction of a new digital teaching model. This keynote speech was chaired by Professor Liu Shusen from Peking University.

 

 

 

The fourth keynote speaker was Professor Zhang Jun, University of Auckland, New Zealand. Based on a Corpus-based Analysis of texts in 40 Textbooks and 864 English Textbooks used by Chinese students, it is found that the selected texts unconsciously emphasize British and American culture, ignoring the cultures of other English-speaking countries and non-English speaking countries, and few articles are selected to introduce Chinese local culture. According to Professor Zhang, this phenomenon could lead to “Native speakerism” among students and teachers. He believes that in the future, due consideration should be given to the provision of textbooks that can enhance Chinese students' ability to tell Chinese stories in English. The keynote was chaired by Professor Zhu Gang of Lanzhou University.

The fifth keynote speaker was Professor Zhu Gang of Lanzhou University. The topic of Professor Zhu's speech is “Let's face the Real Problem and undertake the Real Task: A Little understanding of the construction of new liberal arts”. He pointed out that the core of the construction of new liberal arts is to build liberal arts education with Chinese characteristics, so that liberal arts education can be integrated into the overall construction of the country and meet the national strategic needs.Professor Zhu introduced the philosophy and practice of the new liberal arts construction of Lanzhou University, pointing out its characteristic is “facing the real problems, to undertake tasks”, and to take the key national construction and social development needs as the primary task of teaching reform, making it directly reflected in the teaching outline, materials, curriculums, and procedures. In this way can the learning of the foreign language professional/discipline perfectly meet the national requirements. The keynote speech is chaired by Professor Jin Limin from Beijing Foreign Studies University.

Parallel meeting——Discuss Teaching Together

This conference focuses on the theory and practice of English teaching in various stages, with rich topics and forms of discussion. The 14 panel discussions were conducted by Professor Chang Junyue from University of Foreign Languages, Professor Zhang Wenzhong from Nankai University, Professor Zhang Xin from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies , Professor Wang Xin from Shanghai International Studies University, Professor Xie Shijian from Guangxi Normal University, Editor of Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press Duan Changcheng, Professor Chen Jianlin from Lanzhou University, Professor Luo Lianggong from Central China Normal University, Professor Liu Yumei from Sichuan International Studies University, Professor Di Yanhua from Northeast Normal University, Professor Shi Juhong, Professor Shi Yanling from Lanzhou University, Professor Bian Yongwei from The School of International Relations, and Dr. Zhao Juan from Beijing Daxing District Teachers' Further Education School. Seventy-six experts and scholars have presented their views on such topics as “The demand for talents in the new era and the exploration and innovation of English teaching”, “Cultural presentation in foreign language textbooks and teacher cognition in the use of foreign language textbooks”, “The acquisition and teaching of English as a third language by ethnic minority students”, “Literature education and the cultivation of English majors”“Reflections and Prospects on Foreign Language Specialty Construction under the Background of New Liberal Arts”, etc., to engage in a heated discussion.

 

 

 

 

In 21 group presentations, 108 scholars delivered speeches; In 6 small roundtable discussions, 41 scholars made presentations.The scholars discussed and exchanged views on topics such as “English Education Theory Innovation with Chinese Characteristics and English Teaching Innovation in the Era of Education Informatization 2.0”, “English Teaching Reform in the Context of Ideological and Political Theories teaching in All Courses”,etc. The participating experts and scholars spoke enthusiastically and discussed warmly.

 

 

 

The closing ceremony was presided over by Chen Jianlin, Deputy Dean of School of Foreign Languages and Literatures, Lanzhou University. Professor Chang Junyue, Vice President of Dalian International Studies University and vice President of CELEA, concluded this successful conference.He also expressed his heartfelt thanks to more than 50 teachers and 80 graduate students from School of Foreign Languages of Lanzhou University who participated in the organizing work of the conference. Finally, Professor Zhang Wenzhong from Nankai University, speaking on behalf of the next conference organizer, invited everyone to attend the conference next year and meet in Tianjin, discussing the theory and practice of English teaching in China.