Upholding the motto of “Integrating Chinese and Global Perspectives, Fostering Ethical Integrity and Steadfast Action”, the School of Foreign Languages (SFL) at Nanning Normal University (NNNU) traces its origins to the Department of Foreign Languages established in 1978 at Nanning Teachers College. In the same year, it gained the authorization to confer bachelor’s degrees and began admitting undergraduate students. In January 2009, the Department of Foreign Languages merged with the College English Teaching Division to form the School of Foreign Languages. In January 2023, the incorporation of the former Guangxi College of Education into NNNU brought new vigor into the School of Foreign Languages, forming the SFL as it is known today. For more than 45 years, SFL has cultivated over 20,000 language professionals who now serve in various sectors of society.

Comprehensive Program Offerings

    SFL currently offers four undergraduate programs: English, Business English, Translation, and Japanese, which enroll students from across China. Since 2019, admission to the English, Business English, and Translation programs has been based on the national first-tier gaokao admission cutoff.

Robust Disciplinary Development

    SFL has achieved significant milestones in its disciplinary development. Postgraduate education began in 2006 with a Master’s program in English Language and Literature, which was established as a secondary discipline under the academic degree system. The following year, in 2007, SFL launched another academic program in Curriculum and Teaching Methodology, leading to a degree in Education. In 2010, it introduced professional degree education by launching a Master of Education (MEd) in English Subject Teaching. In 2011, the State Council Academic Degrees Committee approved SFL’s first-tier master’s program in Foreign Languages and Literatures, which includes four research areas: Foreign Language Teaching, Foreign Literature, Linguistics, and Translation Theory and Practice. In 2015, “English Language and Literature” was recognized as a Key Discipline at the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region level. SFL continued to broaden its professional degree offerings in 2018 with the Master of Translation and Interpreting (MTI) program. In the 2016 Ministry of Education Discipline Evaluation, the first-tier discipline of Foreign Languages and Literatures was ranked 46th nationally (3-star), recognized as one of NNNU’s six “China Well-Known Disciplines” and considered one of the top foreign language programs in Guangxi.

Distinctive Programs

    The English program has garnered consistent recognition, beginning with its designation as a High-Quality Undergraduate Program in Guangxi (2006). It was granted the Guangxi Characteristic Program and Curriculum Integration Project (2011), the Guangxi Higher Education Institutions Advantageous & Characteristic Program Development Project (2015), and was selected as a Provincial-Level First-Class Undergraduate Program Development Site (2019). It gained approval as a National First-Class Undergraduate Program Development Site in 2020 and passed the Ministry of Education’s Level 2 Accreditation for Teacher Education Programs in 2021. Between 2021 and 2022, the Business English, English, and Translation programs each received a Four-Star rating in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Comprehensive Program Evaluation.

Excellent Courses

    SFL has won numerous accolades in its curriculum development. “Basic English” was recognized as a Guangxi Key Course in 2002. In 2009, “English Teaching Methodology” was designated a Guangxi Teacher Education Quality Course, and “English-Chinese Translation” was rated a Provincial-Level Quality Course. In 2013, “Instructional Design for Middle School English” was selected as a National Teacher Education Quality Resource Sharing Course, while “English-Chinese Translation” and “English Language and Literature” were recognized as Guangxi Quality Courses. “Instructional Design for Middle School English”(2020) and “College English A1”(2023) were approved as National First-Class Undergraduate Courses.

Dedicated and Qualified Faculty

    SFL is supported by a dedicated team of 85 full-time faculty members, including 7 professors, 1 research fellow, 27 associate professors, 21 PhD holders, and 4 doctoral candidates, all of whom have international academic or professional training experience. They have received numerous honors, such as “National Excellent Teacher”, “National Advanced Individual in Professional Ethics”, “Regional Excellent Teacher”, “Guangxi May 1st Labor Medal”, and “Guangxi March 8th Red-Banner Pacesetter”. The “English Teaching Methodology Team” was recognized as a Guangxi Excellent Teacher Education Teaching Team in 2009. The SFL team also secured approval for a Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Innovation and Entrepreneurship Team project in 2016. Besides, SFL has two distinguished teaching teams at the provincial level: the“Teacher Education Teaching Team” and “Pre-service Excellent English Teacher Innovation and Entrepreneurship Teaching Team”. They have played an exemplary role in fostering talent, promoting collaboration, driving innovation, and serving the community.

    Guided by its motto and the educational philosophy of “Fostering Integrity, Pursuing Knowledge, Excelling in Teaching”, SFL employs a holistic approach, integrating in-class and extracurricular activities, online and offline learning, and close faculty-student collaboration. It is committed to building a distinguished brand of foreign language education known for its premier programs, courses, and faculty, thereby contributing talents and expertise to the development of Guangxi.

The Department of Foreign Languages at its original Mingxiu Campus (1970s-80s)

The former Foreign Languages building at Mingxiu Campus

The former Foreign Languages building at Wuhe Campus

The current School of Foreign Languages building at Wuming Campus