An Inevitable Fact: What Difficulties Has the English Department at FJU Been Facing?

- Monica Chang

According to the latest data from the University Entrance Examination and Placement Committee (UEC), the foreign language group has the highest shortage of 62.47% for undergraduate enrollment among all departments, which results in the language-related departments of public and private schools suffering from this severe shortage. Hence, there is an inevitable fact that the English Department at Fu Jen University has also been encountering a demanding enrollment crisis since this year.

Yun-Pi Yuan, an associate professor in the Fu Jen English department specializing in linguistics, language assessment, and remedial teaching, considers the hardships of student recruiting as a result of not only Taiwan’s low birth rate but its political policy. As a result of Taiwan’s opposition to China in recent years, there has been a gradual loss of exchange and international mainland Chinese students, which has influenced the number of overseas students in the English department. “Without adequate students, higher institutions encountering severe enrollment shortage is just a matter of time, even if the department’s faculty and curriculum are already flawless,” Professor Yuan said.

Provided by Monica

Although the total enrollment for BA admission was not affected harshly, Julie Lee, the secretary of the English department at FJU, explains that the quality of students is less satisfactory than in previous years. In the past, the department used oral exams to examine students at the individual application stage of the academic test to recruit students with a strong motivation for learning English literature and language. Unfortunately, due to the decrease in the number of students who not only attended the college entrance exam but also decided to forgo studying foreign languages this year, fewer students were selected in the individual application stage than in previous years. Hence, the remaining vacancies in the FJU English department had to be filled with students from the second stage of the placement exam, meaning they may not be as enthusiastic as those who entered the first stage. Consequently, the number of students in the FJU English department is sufficient, but their quality is decreasing.

In addition to the issue of quantity and quality of enrollment, Julie further mentions the prejudice caused by the bilingual policy. “In my personal view, I regard the bias that Taiwanese believe studying in the English department is worthless since everyone can speak English by receiving compulsory education is the most prominent crisis we are facing now.” To put it another way, learning English as a subject is ultimately different from treating it as a language. The skills that an English department can offer students are more than communicating and composing in English, such as developing critical thinking, self-perspective, and teamwork. Thus, it is an urgent challenge to deepen high school students’ understanding of the English department and motivate their interest in learning English literature and cultures.

To reverse prejudices about the English Department, Professor Yuan and secretary Julie both share how the department attempted to combine English literature with technology, business, and teaching so that students’ future pathways can be more diverse. In fact, according to Professor Yuan, such a strategy has already brought a significant effect on MA admission. “During the interview for the master’s degree program, some interviewees came here because they are interested in courses such as TESOL and Multimedia Instruction Track, which is currently the particular course offered only by Fu Jen English department,” says Professor Yuan. “Therefore, what we can do now is to keep endeavoring to design courses that are exclusive in the English department.”

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