Inauguration and Debut Lecture of “Chunhui Lecture” at SFL Achieve Resounding Success

This Friday afternoon, the School of Foreign Languages celebrated the inauguration and debut lecture of “Chunhui Lecture”. Esteemed alumni Tian Zhensheng and Cao Qing, from the 1967 English Teacher Training Class, and Associate Professor Lai Chun, an alumnus of the 1992 Science English major and current faculty at the University of Hong Kong, graced the event with their presence. A gathering of nearly a hundred teachers and students from the School of Foreign Languages, joined by the school’s leadership, attended this significant ceremony, which was hosted by Vice Dean Liu Jiaji.

The inauguration of the “Chunhui Lecture” was held first. Alumni Tian Zhensheng, Cao Qing, Secretary of the school party committee Zhang Wenli, and Dean Wang Lisong jointly unveiled the plaque for the “Chunhui Lecture”.

The School introduces the “Chunhui Lecture”, a platform designed to host distinguished experts and scholars for lectures and discussions. It seeks to delve into the cutting-edge of current academic research from diverse angles, fostering academic debates and the exchanges of ideas. The initiative aims to assist the teachers and students in broadening their scholarly perspectives, cultivating an environment rich in academic inquiry, and facilitating scholarly communication, thereby elevating the school’s overall standards in teaching and research.

Vice Dean Liu Jiaji introduced to the participants that the word “Chunhui” in the “Chunhui Lecture” comes from the alumni of the 1967 English Teacher Training Class at Tianjin University, who contributed 9 million yuan to establish the “Peiyang Chunhui Education Fund”. “Who says mine heart like a blade of grass, Could repay her love’s gentle beams of spring sun?” This phrase reflects the alumni’s gratitude for the nurturing they received from Tianjin University and their commitment to advancing the foreign language disciplines of the university.

Tian Zhensheng, with deep emotions, recounted to everyone the history of the 1967 English Teacher Training Class and the establishment of the education fund. At that time, in response to the country’s needs, Tianjin University selected 15 students with both moral integrity and strong English capabilities from seven schools across the university to form the English Teacher Training Class. After graduation, they were assigned to various parts of the country and achieved certain accomplishments in their respective fields.

The motive for establishing the Chunhui Education Fund is to express gratitude for the cultivation received from Tianjin University and to give back to the alma mater. He hopes that all alumni will never forget the kindness of their alma mater and always remember the affection between teachers and students.

After that, Lai Chun was invited to deliver a keynote lecture entitled “Design and Publication of Language Education Research”. Lai Chun graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Tianjin university and once taught here before pursuing his doctoral degree at Michigan State University in the U.S. She now holds the position of Associate Professor at the Faculty of Education, the University of Hong Kong. With over 80 publications in international journals, she has led numerous Hong Kong research funding projects and serves as an editorial board member of international journals.

Lai Chun, in her lecture, introduced the research design and operational process through case studies in language education research, including the selection of research methods, the design of research tools, and the collection and analysis of research data. Additionally, she used examples to elucidate the main considerations, common issues, and their respective solutions in academic writing.

Throughout the lecture, Professor Lai engaged in interactive sessions with teachers and students multiple times, and the enlightening presentation came to a successful end, met with resounding applause.