Due to the global pandemic, nearly 40 international students of the School of International Studies (SIS), including the Chinese Language Students of Belt and Road Scholarship Program and international students of undergraduate and graduate degree-granting programs of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), were unable to return to school in 2020. Having overcome all kinds of obstacles, SIS adopted online specialized courses, Chinese tutoring and cultural exchanges for international students. These practices not only effectively guaranteed international students’ learning progress, but also showed the care from SIS for them across the world. On the noon of December 21st, 2020, leaders and teacher representatives of SIS held online discussion with international students and extended Winter Solstice greetings to them. It was attended by 37 international students and seven SIS teachers, including Huang Aicheng, Deputy Party Secretary of SIS; Ye Weiyin, International Student Counselor; Li Zhuo, the manager of Chinese Language Program for international students; Liu Yang, International Student Affairs Assistant; Xie Yuying, Director of International Student Association (ISA); and Cao Jingke and Zhang Zitong, Vice Directors of ISA. Although the discussion was held online, the teachers and students enjoyed a pleasant atmosphere, in which they sent greetings to each other like old long-parted friends. Students enthusiastically shared their recent learning experiences with other attendees. Teachers expressed their care for international students, responded to students’ concerns and placed high expectations for their study. During the discussion, Ye Myo Tun, a Burmese junior student from Department of Korean, Yongki Adhi Nugroho, an Indonesian sophomore from Department of Spanish, and Dang Thi Phuong Uyen, a Vietnamese fresh student from Department of Arabic, successively shared their feelings and difficulties when taking online courses. In response to students’ failure to return to China which might hinder their attendance in major-related internship and band-4 and band-8 test for the major, teachers indicated that they would pay close attention and give rapid feedback about the test notice for them. In terms of internship, SIS would design special programs on the basis of major characteristics and individual development demands for international students so as to help them complete the internship. The 2020 representatives of Chinese Language Students of Belt and Road Scholarship Program, including Vuong Gia Han and Tran Thi Quynh Anh from Vietnam, Celine Novenna and Richard Tan from Indonesia, and Changxoypheth Daomany from Laos, shared their experiences in Chinese learning and cultural exchanges this semester. All students thanked SYSU for providing them with valuable opportunities to learn Chinese. Not only did conscientious teachers of SIS offer informative online Chinese courses, but also SIS thoughtfully assigned postgraduates and Chinese tutors to assist international students’ Chinese learning, which solved their problems in study. What’s more, ISA of SIS held online icebreaker games and “Chinese Cultural Month” activity. Through these colorful events, students had a deeper understanding of the beauty of Chinese culture and made more international friends. In spite of the limitations of the online courses, students said that they would work harder to improve their Chinese proficiency. They sincerely hoped that the pandemic would be controlled ASAP, and that they could return to SYSU soon to study together. Facing students’ feedback and questions, teachers in the discussion gave detailed responses. Ye Weiyin said that SIS attached high importance to international students’ study and lives. As the pandemic got worse in the world, SIS hoped that students could take strict protection measures and keep healthy. Li Zhuo indicated that though online study brought some disadvantages, he hoped that Chinese Language Students would make full use of their time to improve their Chinese and pass the HSK as early as possible so that they could continue to pursue their dreams in SYSU. In the end, Deputy Secretary Huang Aicheng concluded that in 2020 international students stayed around the world, but the leaders and teachers of SIS cared and missed them very much. Taking courses online was a new challenge for students. SIS hoped that all students could take positive attitude to challenges, improve their Chinese proficiency and learn professional knowledge with passion. Through cultural activities held by SIS, they could learn more about and love Chinese culture. If they met any difficulties, they could proactively communicate with teachers and classmates of SIS and they should also keep taking self-protection measures.

On the morning of December 20th, 2020, the third East Asian Vision Lecture of the Center for East Asian Studies at the School of International Studies (SIS) was successfully held online. Professor Wang Dan was invited to give a wonderful lecture on Korean and Korean Education for SIS teachers and students. The lecture was presided over by Associate Professor Liu Yu, SIS. Nearly 80 teachers and students from the Center for East Asian Studies and the Department of Korean of SIS participated in this event.Professor Wang Dan is the Deputy Dean of School of Foreign Languages (SFL), Peking University, Chair of the Department of Korean Language and Culture, Director of Center for the Korean Peninsula Studies, and member of Advisory Sub-committee of Less Commonly Taught Languages Teaching, Advisory Committee of Foreign Language Teaching, Ministry of Education, P.R. China.At the beginning of the lecture, Dean Chang Chenguang delivered a welcome speech, in which he expressed his gratitude to Professor Wang Dan for accepting the invitation. He also introduced the development status of the foreign language discipline of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) and the school-running characteristics of SIS and expressed his expectation to jointly promote international and regional studies with SFL of Peking University. Besides, Dean Chang affirmed the quality of professional cultivation and the harmonious and united atmosphere of the Department of Korean of SIS. Professor Wang Dan expressed her thanks to Dean Chang Chenguang for his welcome and her expectation to strengthen the cooperation and exchanges between the two institutes in the future and appreciated Chair Liu Yu for her enthusiasm and hard work in Korean discipline construction over the past decade.(Dean Chang Chenguang (right) delivering a speech)The lecture by Professor Wang Dan included four parts: the distribution of the Korean Language and the system to which Korean belongs, the creation and characteristics of Korean characters, the main characteristics of Korean, and the history and current situation of Korean Education in China. First of all, she introduced the status of Korean in the world's language landscape and traced the academic discussions about the system to which Korean belongs. From the perspective of the history of Korean, Professor Wang then introduced in detail the methods used by ancient Koreans to solve the problem of inconsistency between speech and writing, the history and principles of Korean character creation. She also summarized the views of international academic circles on Korean’s scientific and original nature. After that, Professor Wang systematically introduced the characteristics of Korean from three aspects: pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar. By comparing Korean with other languages such as Chinese and English, she clarified the characteristics of Korean and its similarities to other languages. In addition, she introduced the research system and fields of Korean linguistics. In the end, Professor Wang fondly reviewed the development of Korean education in China, sharing with the audience the school running history of the Department of Oriental Languages and Literature of Peking University and many valuable first-hand historical materials. In 1945, the Korean Department of National College of Oriental Studies was established and later National College of Oriental Studies were integrated with the Department of Oriental Languages and Literature of Peking University in 1949. After the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Korea in 1992, Korean education across the country saw a large-scale and rapid development. All in all, Korean education in China has embarked on a bumpy yet meaningful journey in the past 70-odd years. Professor Wang was pleased with the current development of Korean education in China, and hoped that the strategic shift could be realized in Korean education from "extensive development characterized by scale expansion" to "connotative development centered on quality improvement".Group photo of the first graduates and their teachers of National College of Oriental Studies(April 1948, provided by Professor Wang Dan)Professor Wang Dan has studied Korean linguistics and Korean education and has engaged in front-line teaching and textbook compilation for many years, which contributes to her good grasp of the language characteristics and teaching rules of Korean. The lecture was systematic yet specific, and comprehensive yet in-depth, helping students absorb and assimilate the information easily. At the end of the lecture, Professor Wang Dan also enthusiastically introduced to the students the admission of the postgraduate program of Asian-African Language and Literature of Peking University. She encouraged them to enhance their professional identity, consolidate their foundation, and work hard for further studies. Then, students can give full play to their advantages as Korean professionals to make more contributions to the country's foreign exchanges and socio-economic development.(Group photo)

The 8th National Forum for Postgraduates Majoring in Arabic concluded on December 12th at the School of Foreign Languages, Peking University (PKU). The forum was jointly organized by the Arabic Department of the School of Foreign Languages of PKU, the Middle East Studies Center of PKU, the Arabic Language Education Research Association of China and the Arabic Literature Association of China. The forum consists of four sub-forums in Literature, Linguistics, Middle East Studies, and History and Culture. Over 100 attendees delivered wonderful speeches at sub-forums, and they were postgraduate students, doctoral students and young scholars from Peking University, Beijing International Studies University, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Beijing Language and Culture University, University of International Business and Economics, Sun Yat-sen University, Shanghai International Studies University, Dalian University of Foreign Languages, Xi'an International Studies University, Sichuan International Studies University, Tianjin Foreign Studies University, Ningxia University, Yangzhou University and other universities. After the speech was finished, specially invited experts gave comments. In-depth academic discussions, exchanges and discussions were held between the participants. Twenty excellent papers were selected out of over 100 papers, including three papers of 1st prize, six of 2nd prize and 11 of 3rd prize. Huang Xiaojing, a 2020 postgraduate student from Arabic Department of SIS, participated in the forum through Tencent Conference and read out her paper entitled The Development of Saudi Cross-border Electronic Commerce under the Background of COVID-19 pandemic". Her wonderful performance won her the third prize and the recognition of judges. On November 11th, Huang Xiaojing also participated in the Second High-level Academic Forum for Postgraduates, held by the School of Arabic Studies, Beijing Foreign Studies University. With a paper entitled Analysis of the Digital Transformation and Development of Saudi Government under COVID-19 pandemic，she stood out from more than 30 contestants and won the first place. Under the leadership of SIS, the Arabic Department has always attached great importance to cultivating the academic research ability of graduate students. To encourage students’ enthusiasm for academic research, the department regularly holds events after class, such as the weekly "Teacher-Student Academic Exchange Workshop" led by Ma Yanzhe, chair of the department. Teachers and students hold special discussions on foreign language learning and application, literature collection and analysis, field investigation, current affairs and hot spot tracking and paper writing, so as to cultivate professionals with “solid liberal arts foundation, dual foreign language ability, international vision and high academic level”. At present, postgraduate students are enthusiastic about learning and are actively participating in various high-end academic exchange activities.

From December 25th to 27th, 2020, the 11th International Young Scholars Forum of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) was held in Zhuhai both online and offline. Through the theme conference and the sub-forums of schools and departments (affiliated hospitals), the forum gathered 1,600 young scholars from home and abroad to conduct academic exploration and insight sharing and witness the rapid development of SYSU in the new era. On the morning of December 26th, the theme conference was held at the S.T. Wu Center for Academic Exchange. Among the attendees were Li Chong, vice mayor of Zhuhai, and responsible personnel from the concerned government departments; Professor Luo Jun, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and President of SYSU; Professor Zhang Peizhen, academician of the CAS; Lin Dongwei, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission of SYSU; Wang Xuehua, Lan Ping and Tai Zhongzhi, Vice Presidents of SYSU; Yang Donghua, Assistant President of SYSU; young scholars from home and abroad; heads of relevant school departments; heads of schools, departments and affiliated hospitals; and teacher and doctor representatives.Vice President Wang Xuehua delivering the welcome speech Vice President Wang Xuehua presided over the theme conference and delivered the welcome speech. On behalf of SYSU, he warmly welcomed the participants and expressed his gratitude to the CPC Zhuhai Municipal Committee and Municipal Government for their support and concern over the years. He said that disciplines related to the space sector, the deep sea, the deep earth, information technologies and artificial intelligence have been developed on Zhuhai campus to form a discipline cluster of advanced marine science. In the future, the Zhuhai campus would become an international coastal campus of world-class education quality and international reputation with Chinese characteristics. He hoped that young scholars would join SYSU in its pursuit of becoming a world-class university with Chinese characteristics while China and Guangdong were implementing major strategies.Vice mayor Li Chong delivering a speech On behalf of the Municipal Committee and Government, vice mayor Li Chong congratulated on the successful holding of the forum and welcomed the young scholars attended. He said that a great number of outstanding scholars had been attracted to Zhuhai since the first forum, which showed SYSU’s boldness and inclusiveness to welcome global talents to work for it. He stressed that Zhuhai is open and inclusive, and values people of outstanding abilities. In 2018, Zhuhai launched the “Zhuhai Talent Program”, demonstrating its determination to introduce talents. According to the vice mayor, Zhuhai would be constructed into a modern international city featuring future-oriented, smart and environmentally-friendly. He also described Zhuhai’s development blueprint of quality development, high-level institutional opening-up and comfortable life. Zhuhai would do its best to provide numerous development opportunities, quality services and support for talents of various fields.President Luo Jun delivering a keynote speech President Luo Jun delivered a keynote speech entitled Join Hands for the Prosperous of China through Education in the New Era. In the speech, he reviewed the history of SYSU and comprehensively introduced its development in the new era, the blueprint of the Zhuhai campus and the policies of introducing and nurturing outstanding scholars. The President mentioned that SYSU had profound academic foundation. It has developed into a comprehensive university with integrated development of liberal arts, science and engineering, medical science, agriculture and arts since reform and opening up. SYSU has been striving to be a world-class university and is committed to making due contributions to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the development of society and higher education in China. President Luo Jun said that during the period of the 13th Five-Year Plan, SYSU has worked tirelessly for a new era and entered into a new development stage in which it should bring out its full potential and pursue excellence to build a world-class university. He summarized the comprehensive strength and education level of SYSU from four perspectives: new orientation, new pattern, new trend and new situation. According to him, SYSU has witnessed steady and sound development in various aspects for the past few years, and its overall strength ranks in the forefront of domestic universities. Situated in Guangzhou, Zhuhai and Shenzhen, three core cities of the Greater Bay Area (GBA), it has shaped the university structure of “five campuses in three cities” and the disciplinary pattern of integrated development of liberal arts, science and engineering, medical science, agriculture and arts. In this way, SYSU has embarked on a new period and pattern of school development. In the speech, the President introduced the orientation, scale, disciplines and construction of the Zhuhai campus. He said that the campus, with a focus on the national major strategies, has established discipline clusters of advanced marine science and high-level science and engineering. It has also actively engaged in the construction of the GBA to support the national strategies for the South China Sea and the development of marine economy of the GBA. The President stressed that “the talents guarantee the success of a cause and will work together for it”. He said that SYSU would resolutely implement the strategy on strengthening the university through professionals and uphold the tradition of valuing outstanding scholars. He expected more young scholars to join SYSU for new splendor on the new journey to build a world-class university. In the theme conference, dean representatives of some schools and president representatives of affiliated hospitals gave speeches to introduce in details the objectives and development prospects of their units respectively. The representatives included Professor Wang Dongxiao, Dean of School of Marine Sciences; Professor Wang Wei, Dean of Sino-French Institute of Nuclear Engineering and Technology; Professor Cai Ming, Deputy Dean of School of Intelligent Systems Engineering; Professor Cheng Bin, President of the Hospital of Stomatology, SYSU; and Professor Zeng Jinsheng, Vice President of the First Affiliated Hospital. During this forum, schools and departments (affiliated hospitals) of SYSU held sub-forums and academic seminars. Nearly 2,000 outstanding young scholars from the well-known universities and institutes around the world applied for participation, and over 1,600 scholars among them were invited to attend the events after selection. Some scholars have confirmed their intention to join SYSU after preliminary communication.

Arabic is an ancient language that has played an important role in preserving and promoting human civilization. As a widely spoken language, Arabic is now mainly used in West Asia and North Africa. It is also the official language of 22 Arab countries and regions, and is one of the six main working languages of the United Nations. At present, the number of Arabic native speakers has exceeded 470 million worldwide. On December 18th, 1973, the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) approved Arabic as the sixth official working language of the organization. To commemorate the event and increase the presence of the Arabic language in the Arab world and other areas of the world, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2012 decided to designate December 18th of every year as World Arabic Language Day, and to include it in the international days and weeks observed by the organization. On this year’s World Arabic Language Day, on behalf of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), Associate Professor Ma Yanzhe, Chair of Department of Arabic of the School of International Studies (SIS), took part in an online international conference on celebrating the World Arabic Language Day. This conference was organized by Isra University in Jordan and has attracted the participation of about 120 experts and scholars from all over the world. During the conference, Dr. Ma introduced the history of SIS’ Department of Arabic, its current development and future teaching plans. He also expressed the expectation of further academic exchanges and cooperation between the Department and colleges and universities around the world. To observe the special occasion, Department of Arabic, SIS also held an offline exchange event on the afternoon of December 21st. Led by Dr. Ma and foreign teacher Dawood, students from four undergraduate grades and graduate students participated in the event. The event began with a speech by Dr. Ma, who introduced a series of general knowledge about Arabic to the students so as to enhance their understanding and knowledge of the language. He also expressed his great expectation for the students to continue their efforts in studying Arabic and conducting academic researches. Then Dawood recited a long poem passionately entitled The Arabic Language Mourns its Luck. The poem was written by poet Hafez Ibrahim in Arabic by the narrative tone of the first person. Through this poem, the poet called on all Arabic writers, scholars and those who study Arabic to protect the Arabic language and strengthen their confidence in learning and spreading this language, so as to pass such confidence on to the next generation. Moreover, Wang Zhilin and Pan Shuyi, two junior students of the Department sang the song Glorious Years, whose perfromance was so great that the audience was shocked. In the end, students and teachers of Department of Arabic enjoyed Arabic coffee and unique Arabic snacks together. Students talked about their confusion in learning Arabic and teachers shared their experiences in settling such problems. All the students took the opportunity to get along and exchange ideas. Participants said that this activity was meaningful and was helpful in relieving their study pressure and enhancing their friendship. It has also stimulated their passion for future study in Arabic.

The first China Video Translation Contest, jointly organized by the Center for Translation and Communication in Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, China Film Times Culture Development (Wuhan) Co., Ltd. and Transn (传神) Internet of Languages Technology Co., Ltd., recently announced the final award list. A total of 16,495 contestants from 24 administrative divisions in China and overseas regions participated in the competition. They came from 390 institutions of higher learning and submitted 5,158 entries. After 112 days, 32 contestants were selected to the final. The contest set one “Transner award”, three first prizes, 8 second prizes and 20 third prizes. MTI student Xiao Zikai of the School of International Studies (SIS), won the second prize.The competition focused on pan-culture short videos, such as film, television and other forms of entertainment. The selected work can be cartoons, documentaries and feature films, and they should be translated from Chinese to English. Through machine screening, public selection and expert opinions, Multi-dimensional assessment was carried out on the works of the contestants, whose comprehensive abilities in translation, subtitling, dubbing, post-production and teamwork were fully evaluated.“I am honored to represent SIS to come to the final. I would like to thank my teachers and classmates for their support, especially my instructor Liang Sili. The contest focused on subtitle translation and dubbing, on which I received professional guidance and systematic training in Liang’s Multimedia Translation course. Besides, she also provided me with insightful views on the contest. I have benefited a lot during the process. Nothing impressed me more than the persistence of details in multimedia translation and the mentality of not giving up. Details are truly the key to success. I hope whoever is interested in the Video Translation Contest and multimedia translation can seize the opportunity, work hard and achieve great results.”——Xiao Zikai