Source: Faculty of Foreign Languages and International Studies
Written by: Faculty of Foreign Languages and International Studies
Translated by: Zheng Lei, Peng Ting
Edited by: Wang Dongmei

On the afternoon of November 8, the Celebration of the 90th Anniversary of Foreign Languages Teaching and Research at Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) & the Launch Ceremony of A Historical Sketch of Foreign Languages Teaching and Research at Sun Yat-sen University (1924-2014) and Recollections of Youthful Years: Stories of Foreign Languages Teachers and Students at Sun Yat-sen University were held at School of Foreign Languages (FLS) Building on South Campus. Faculty members, retired teachers and alumni of the Faculty of Foreign Languages and International Studies (FFLIS), a total of more than 500 people attended the event. Dr. Xu Dongli, Party Secretary of FFLIS, presided over the event.

Professor Chen Chunsheng, Executive Deputy Secretary and Vice President of SYSU, attended the ceremony and expressed congratulations on the 90th anniversary of foreign languages teaching and research as well as the launch of the two books on behalf of the university. Professor Huang Guowen, Dean of FFLIS, gave an introduction to foreign languages teaching and research at SYSU in the past 90 years, expressing the determination to carry on the distinguished tradition and reach new heights.

Professor Gui Shichun and Professor Huang Jianhua, experts in foreign languages education and research, delivered a speech respectively. Professor Gui Shichun, who graduated from SYSU in 1955, recalled the stories about Professor Dai Liuling, his rigorous attitude to research as well as his profound influence on students. Professor Huang Jianhua, who was enrolled in 1957, is one of the first graduates of the Department of French at SYSU. He conveyed his best wishes for the school, teachers, alumni and students, and hoped that such warm reunion would be held again during the centennial ceremony of SYSU.

The launch ceremony of A Historical Sketch of Foreign Languages Teaching and Research at Sun Yat-sen University (1924-2014) was presided over by Professor Cao Tianzhong from the Department of History of SYSU. He characterized the book with four keywords: "significance, creativity, gratitude and aspiration”. Professor Ou Hong, the editor-in-chief of Recollections of Youthful Years: Stories of Foreign Languages Teachers and Students at Sun Yat-sen University, told the audience that the tile of the book was adapted from a line in "Ornamented Zither”, a poem by Li Shangyin, the famous poet in Tang Dynasty.

After the launch ceremony of the two books, the Award Ceremony for Dai Liuling Scholarship, and the Unveiling Ceremony of Wang Zongyan Memorial Library and Class of 1984 Memorial Classroom were held. Mr. Zhou Zongzhe (Class of 1959) was awarded a donation medal. Class of 1964 and Class of 1983 alumni donated books, calligraphy and paintings to congratulate on the 90th anniversary of SYSU and foreign languages teaching and research at SYSU. Alumni Wang Zhongqing (Class of 1988) and Lin Lixin (Class of 1985) made generous donation to the compilation and publication of the two books. Mr. Wang Zhongqing hoped that more alumni would contribute to the development of SYSU.