Research Methods in Foreign Language Teaching

Author: Liu Runqing (Editor)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-12-01
Features: The leaders of Beijing Foreign Studies University and the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press decided to launch three series of academic monographs: Language, Literature, and Culture. They also stated: "Maintain high standards, create a brand, embody the characteristics of BFSU, and even at a loss, we will publish." This is a visionary initiative and a meritorious act that will inevitably play a significant role in advancing China's foreign language teaching and research. Here, we express our sincere gratitude for their support.
What are the principles for compiling the Language Research Series? In summary, it is: continue to introduce what is necessary, but place greater emphasis on innovation. Foreign disciplines or theories that have not yet been introduced into China can, of course, continue to be introduced as before, but we hope to see Chinese scholars, while absorbing foreign research achievements, also carry out their own research by integrating China's social, cultural, linguistic, and teaching realities. Doctoral theses written by Chinese researchers in China or abroad, after being processed and organized, may be selected for this series.
Over the past two decades, our "introduction" efforts in general linguistics and applied linguistics have been highly effective. To date, diligent Chinese researchers have caught up with international standards. However, this does not mean that there will be no more "introductions" in the future. Foreign linguistic theories are always evolving, and the work of "introduction" will never fully cease. However, when introducing, it must be more selective, critical, forward-looking, and practical. Good "introduction" means fully understanding what is useful from abroad, digesting and filtering it, and then introducing the most nutritious parts in a way that is most easily accepted by Chinese readers (in writing). It is not about writing at the sight of something new, nor about writing without thorough understanding, nor about blindly copying, nor about writing without selection, nor about pretending to understand what one does not.
What we hope to see is someone who has read dozens of books, allows the content to settle and be filtered, and then introduces the advanced achievements of foreign countries to Chinese readers in an accessible and insightful manner.