University sets languages target

To meet the State's strategic needs, China's leading foreign language university plans by 2020 to offer instruction in the languages of all countries that have diplomatic relations with China.

About 95 languages are spoken in these 175 countries.

"With its expanding economy and increasing global role, China urgently needs people with capabilities in less commonly taught languages in various fields, including homeland security, foreign affairs, international trade and cultural exchange," said Peng Long, president of Beijing Foreign Studies University.

China launched the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, aiming to link Asia and Europe through development, trade and culture. The expansion of language studies ties in directly with the initiative.

BFSU, the largest school of foreign languages in China, offers courses in 67 languages and plans to expand these to up to 70 this year. The inclusion of less commonly taught languages is part of its five-year plan.

"Many developed countries have set a goal of foreign language development to meet homeland security and national development needs. China, comparatively, lags behind in developing less commonly taught languages, not only in the number of programs, but also the research capabilities and scope," Peng said.

The university has greatly expanded instruction in less-common language programs since 2011, when it offered only 48.

At first, it concentrated on expanding European Union and Asian language programs. The university covers 24 official languages spoken in EU countries and 10 languages in ASEAN countries.

To stimulate interdisciplinary research, it added two research branches in 2012: EU language and cultural research, and Asian and African languages and studies.

Sun Xiaomeng, dean of the School of Asian and African Studies, encourages students to study in more than one language program to nurture interdisciplinary talent.

Ideally, students majoring in less commonly taught languages should be able to master a commonly used language as well, Sun said. Learning a third and even fourth language increases their prospects.

To provide high quality curricula and enhance communication, the university signed cooperation memorandums with elite overseas universities, most recently with the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh and Yogyakarta State University in Indonesia.

"BFSU will open a Bengali program soon," Peng said. "We will send faculty members to the University of Dhaka to gain more knowledge and experience and bring back better courses for our students."

With a deeper understanding of language and culture, more commercial cooperation and trade exchanges are expected between China and world, Peng added.

luowangshu@chinadaily.com.cn