Here at the Department of Foreign Languages you will find that: ‧The Applied English Diploma in a five year college program began in 1996. ‧Professionally designed courses offered improve employment prospects. ‧English for Special Purposes (ESP) is a major focus with specialist faculty. ‧The facilities are continually being improved to International standards. ‧Innovations in teaching and courses offered are being continuously sought.
In 1996 the Department of Foreign Languages (DFL) at Fooyin University established the Applied English Five-year College Program, with two main educational goals: teaching English with a sense of globalization and multiculturalism, and teaching English with intellectual and professional horizons.
With such a readiness to meet the national and regional developments of Taiwan, the DFL was inaugurated in 2002 as a prospering institute of English pedagogies, various English workshops and English for special purposes.
Mission
This department emphasizes the cultivation of basic and advanced English language skills, with professionally designed primary courses focusing on both theory and practice. To enhance students' competitiveness in the workplace, the “Program of Professional Secretarial Competence for International Business” is offered. Also held are multifunctional elective courses on subjects like literature (with cultural perspectives), linguistics, business management and translation. The purpose of these courses is to enable students to select courses which fit their interests, as well as cultivate other abilities according to their competence, aptitude, and career planning.
Innovations
1.To Equip Students with Sound Professional English Proficiency English is primarily used to instruct students in all foundation and professional subjects other than translation, and small-sized classes are adopted for oral presentation and writing. The department is also supported by several staff with native English backgrounds.
2.Core Program Tailored for the Job Market The Program of Professional Secretary Competence for International Business is designed to reinforce students’practical skills and promote their capabilities and competitiveness for the job market. Students undergoing the program are encouraged to obtain field proficiency certificates.
3.Multi-lateral Elective Programs Students can choose among many elective subjects of their interest to form a second major or a minor. A variety of culture, literature, linguistics, business management, and translation oriented courses are currently offered.
4.English Language Proficiency Tests and Thresholds for Graduation The Department offers courses which help students familiarize themselves with and prepare for English Language Proficiency Tests, such as GEPT, TOEIC, TOEFL, and IELTS. Students are required to participate in one of the language proficiency tests and reach a certain threshold of marks before graduation. Students of the Two-Year Day Program should obtain a minimum of 630 for TOEIC, and for students of the Four-Year Day Program, 550 is required.
5.Study Abroad While studying at Fooyin, students are encouraged to study at our partnered institutes abroad for as long as a semester, or by undertaking a joint degree.
Faculty
More than half the full-time faculty in the Department hold doctoral degrees in an English related field, and the percentage of Ph. D. holders is continually increasing. Most of their specialties focus on the fields of language teaching, British or American literature, translation, linguistics, and business management.
Professional courses
The department offers: 1.The secretarial module designed to help students handle the requirements of a modern commercial office environment. This module may provide students with workplace internships, and students will be encouraged to gain a professional license for a competitive job market.
2.The professional elective courses consisting of Culture and Literature, Linguistics, Business Management and Translation, which enables students to develop their second specialty.
Equipment & Facilities
The department provides professional classrooms (equipped with a projector, TV, and audio/video players), a language/interpretation lab, a multimedia e-classroom, an English self-access center, a writing center and an English classic reading area.
Perspectives
The Department, following the educational principles and concepts of a university, gains the latest information constantly to cultivate English professionals with humanity, awareness of global issues, familiarity with international etiquette, career ethics, and international vision.
Future Prospect
(1) Career Opportunities For those seeking employment immediately upon graduation, our graduates are encouraged to pursue a career in education and cultural industries (such as a children’s English teacher, an employee in a publishing company, child education, or language school manager), business administration (such as activity planner, bilingual secretary, or assistant), recreational industries (such as service personnel, flight attendant/ground crew of airline companies, tour guides, and personnel in other hospitality industries), international trade, service industries, financial industries, logistics industries, and other related fields in Taiwan and abroad.
(2) Advanced Studies Our graduates can apply for further studies to postgraduate programs in foreign languages, English literature, language teaching, culture studies, mass communications, translation/interpretation, and business administration in Taiwan. In addition, they can also study for master’s degree at our sister university in UK or seek for opportunities to study in U.S., Canada, and Australia.
Grant
The Ministry of Education has sponsored the Department on the project of “Enhancing the Fundamental Education of Universities—Constructing an Adaptive English Teaching and Learning Environment” during the academic years of 2001-2005. Within the four years, we improved our English Education environment by enriching teaching and learning with resources such as a self-access center, a writing center, a teaching resource center, and multimedia classrooms. Curriculum-wise, we offered an adaptive scheme to our students by placing them in the appropriate class according to their ability, choosing a suitable textbook, and using the proper teaching methods to accommodate each student’s needs.
