Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) held a promotional meeting for beginners oral textbooks for less commonly taught languages on March 4 to implement its 101 program and accelerate the construction of related teaching materials.

The meeting was presided over by Li Ying, deputy director of the Teaching Materials Department at BFSU, with both online and onsite participants.

BFSU holds a promotional meeting for beginners oral textbooks for less commonly taught languages on March 4. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Sun Youzhong, a member of the standing committee of the CPC BFSU committee and vice-president of the university, spoke highly of the compilation progress of the textbooks and put forward requirements and expectations for work in the next phase.

Sun said the compilation should pay attention to the integration of unity and diversity and the framework construction should refer to the original English version and make necessary innovations based on the specific characteristics of target languages.

He said the book series project marks a milestone for BFSU’s construction of the "double world-class” university project. It is also a pioneering project for textbook compiling and language teaching of corresponding languages in China.

Sun also urged the Teaching Materials Department to provide all-around support for the compilation work. 

Jin Limin, a representative of the expert committee of the textbook series, noted that when dealing with the differences between the English version and target languages, the compilation teams should make adjustments according to language characteristics and cultural customs of target countries.

Su Yingying, another representative of the committee, said the orientation, audience and complexity of the compilation will depend on features of its target languages. The compiling teams should attach importance to local adaptations, make sure the textbooks can reflect specific languages and culture, ensure the unity and flexibility of styles and adjust themes according to the socio-culture of target countries.

Zhang Wenchao, director of the Teaching Materials Department, talked about subsequent work arrangements. BFSU will strengthen professional guidance, establish a professional expert committee, build up a tutoring mechanism led by senior editors, hold regular compiling workshops to provide high-quality and efficient guidance and fund the compilation, publication and project conclusion in a timely manner. 

By enhancing communication between the working group, expert committee and complication teams, a manuscript is expected to be submitted by the end of July and published by the end of 2022, Zhang said.

Subsequently, chief editors of Bengali, Latvian and Amharic textbooks shared their compilation experience.

Zhai Zheng, associate professor from the School of English for Specific Purposes at BFSU and chief editor of the original English textbook, answered questions faced by editors in their compilation work.

Ju Hui, president of the China Language and Culture Publishing Branch of Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, and Wang Lin, assistant of Ju, explained the implementation of the editorial responsibility system, as well as general instructions, typesetting, recording and the selection of texts and pictures in teaching materials.