The Department of Foreign Languages and Applied Linguistics was established in August 1997 as the first department of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.  Our department provides a carefully worked-out program for the study of two major foreign languages, English and Japanese, as well as linguistic analysis and language applications, covering such fields as language teaching, translation and interpretation, multi-media and computer-aided language instruction, and English and Japanese for commercial applications. The requirement for graduation will be 136 credits.  Students can increase their proficiency in English and Japanese by taking intensive training in listening, speaking, reading and writing skills and also learn how to put their language proficiency into professional use.  Our curriculum not only prepares our graduates for a wide variety of career and academic choices, but also improves the foreign language skills of all the students at our University.

1. The Number of Teaching Faculty: full-time teachers: 13, part-time teachers: 36, teaching assistants: 2

2. The Number of Students: undergraduates: 239 (4 classes)

1.  The purpose of our department is to develop students’ professional abilities in foreign languages so that they can use them practically.  In addition to training the four language skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing) broadly in English and Japanese, which are needed for our country’s work force, we teach language-teaching materials design, the skills of translation, practical business and media language use, computer-assisted instruction, and research in multi-media language-teaching. We strive to give students a firm foundation in applied linguistics.

2.   Computerized teaching and internationalizing the campus:  In order to promote our students’ effective learning in a good environment, we use a wide choice of technological and pedagogical tools. We seek to increase faculty members that we need to internationalize the school and to create sister relationships with related departments in universities overseas.

3.  We want to cultivating foreign-language professionals in the business field in response to the situation of Taiwan’s entrance into the WTO.  Since Taiwan entered into the WTO in Jan. 2002, we find it imperative to cultivate professionals who have a vision of the future and an ability in foreign languages.

1.    Departmental Library: 2797 books in Chinese and other languages, 545 videotapes, 455 audiocassettes, and 35 sets of CDs.

2.    Audio-visual facilities: A multi-media language laboratory with 64 seats, a computer control system, language learning equipment with recording devices and earphones, monitors, speakers, VCRs, DVD players, real-object overhead projector, remotely-controlled screen, amplifiers, and triad projectors.

3.    Computer equipment: A computer classroom with 21 computers, 2 scanners, 2 laser printers, 1 ink-jet printer, and an educational broadcast system.

4.    Japanese Culture Classroom: has single-head overhead projector, DVD player, VCR, sound effect mixer, double-channel cordless receptor.

1.     Paths for further studies: In-country graduate programs in English, Japanese, Linguistics, Literatures, Applied Language Studies, and other related fields.

2.     Career Orientations: International Trade, English or Japanese Pedagogy, English/Japanese translation and interpretation, and development of multi-media teaching materials.