Beijing Language and Culture University

Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU; Chinese: 北京语言大学; pinyin: Běijīng Yǔyán Dàxué), colloquially known in Chinese as Yuyan Xueyuan (Chinese: 语言学院; pinyin: Yǔyán Xuéyuàn), has the main aim of teaching the Chinese language and culture to foreign students. However, it also takes Chinese students specializing in foreign languages and other relevant subjects of humanities and social sciences, and trains teachers of Chinese as a foreign language. It used to be the only institute of this kind in China. After the push for massification of higher education starting in the 90s, nowadays many other universities in almost every major city in China have a similar offer. Thus bachelor, master or post-doc degrees in "Teaching Chinese as a second language to Foreigners", as well as bachelor's and master's degrees in several foreign languages, are no longer only to be found at BLCU.[1] Beijing Language and Culture University is often called "Little United Nations" in China because of its very large number of international students from various countries.

Beijing Language and Culture University
北京语言大学
Former names
Higher Preparatory School for Foreign Students (1962–4), Beijing Language Institute (1964–1996)
Established1962
PresidentLiu Li
Vice-presidentCao Zhiyun, Qi Dexiang, Dong Lijun
Chairperson of the University CouncilNi Haidong
Administrative staff
1,201
Undergraduates6,258 (4,486 domestic, 1,772 international)
Postgraduates2,216 (1,879 domestic, 337 international)
338 (242 domestic, 96 international)
Location
Beijing
,
 People's Republic of China

39°59′36″N 116°20′16″E
CampusUrban
NicknameBei Yu (北语)
MascotBeiyuer (宝贝鱼)
Websitewww.blcu.edu.cn
Beijing Language and Culture University
Simplified Chinese北京语言大学
Traditional Chinese北京語言大學
Yuyan Xueyuan
Simplified Chinese语言学院
Traditional Chinese語言學院

History

Early in the 1950s when the teaching of Chinese as a foreign language (TCFL) was still at the initial stage, the first generation of BLCU teachers took an active part in the pioneering work. As a result, the first school of higher education specially oriented to foreign students, "Higher Preparatory School for Foreign Students", was established in June 1962. In 1964, the school was officially named "Beijing Language Institute" (Chinese: 北京语言学院; pinyin: Běijīng yǔyán xuéyuàn). In June 1996, it was renamed "Beijing Language and Culture University" (Chinese: 北京语言文化大学; pinyin: Běijīng yǔyán wénhuà dàxué). Its Chinese name was shortened in July 2002 to "Beijing Language University" with the approval of the Ministry of Education, but the English name remained unchanged. September 6, 2002, witnessed the celebration of the 40th anniversary of BLCU, for which General-Secretary Jiang Zemin and Vice-Premier Li Lanqing wrote letters of congratulations, and the Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Li Peng wrote words of encouragement.[1] BLCU was granted the privilege to confer doctoral degrees in foreign languages and literature in 2011.[2]

Campus
South gate of BLCU
East gate of BLCU
University campus - Physical activities complex

The campus of BLCU is located in the Haidian District of Beijing. It takes about 330,289 m2, and total building area is about 427,342 m2. Most teaching facilities, including the main building, library and gym are in the teaching area, while dormitories for Chinese students are there as well. The special dormitory for foreign students is Building 17, located in the living area with apartments for staff and families. Some grocery stores are can be found in both the teaching and living areas, and the only market zone is near the north exit of the living area.

Chinese language studies

The Global Times ranks the Chinese language school for foreigners very highly, citing a good campus life, lively location and an experienced faculty.[3][4]

Bachelor's degree programs
  • Chinese Language and Literature
  • Teaching Chinese as a Second Language
  • English Language and Literature
  • French Language and Literature
  • German Language and Literature
  • Spanish Language and Literature
  • Russian Language and Literature
  • Arabic Language and Literature
  • Japanese Language and Literature
  • Korean Language and Literature
  • Italian Language and Literature
  • Portuguese Language and Literature
  • Turkish Language and Literature
  • Translation and Interpretation
  • Computer Science and Technology
  • Information Management and Information Systems
  • Technology of Digital Media
  • Finance
  • Accounting
  • Painting
  • Journalism
  • International Politics
  • International Economics and Trade

Master's degree programs
  • Chinese Linguistics and Philology
  • Linguistics and Applied Linguistics
  • Course Design and Teaching Theories
  • Special Historical Studies
  • Chinese Ancient Literature
  • International Politics
  • Foreign Linguistics and Applied Linguistics
  • Comparative Literature and World Literature
  • Contemporary Chinese Literature
  • Literary Theory
  • Ancient Chinese Philology
  • English Language and Literature
  • French Language and Literature
  • Japanese Language and Literature
  • Spanish Language and Literature
  • Arabic Language and Literature
  • European Languages and Literatures
  • Asian and African Languages and Literatures
  • Ideological and Political Education
  • Basic Psychology
  • Chinese Ethnic Languages and Literatures
  • Master's program of Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (MTCSOL)
  • Technology of Computer Application
  • Master of Translation and Interpreting

Doctoral degree programs
  • Arabic Language and Literature
  • Linguistics and Applied Linguistics
  • Comparative Literature and World Literature
  • Chinese Ancient Literature
  • English Language and Literature
  • Theory of Literature and Art
  • Chinese Philology
  • Studies of Ancient Chinese Documents
  • Modern and Contemporary Chinese Literature
  • Chinese Ethnic Languages and Literatures

Notable faculty

Notable alumni
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See also

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-04-13. Retrieved 2010-05-13.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "About BLCU". Beijing Language and Culture University.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-09-02. Retrieved 2011-11-08.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-09-02. Retrieved 2011-11-08.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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