Introduction

Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) is the only one of its kind in China with its main task set at teaching the Chinese language and culture to foreign students. Meanwhile it also undertakes the tasks of Chinese students education specialized in foreign languages and other relevant subjects of humanities and social sciences, training teachers of Chinese as a foreign language, and intensive training of foreign languages.

Early in the 1950s when the undertaking of teaching Chinese as a foreign language (TCFL) was still at the initial stage, the first generation of Beijing Language and Culture University teachers had taken 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 as Beijing Language Institute and later was renamed as Beijing Language and Culture University in June, 1996, which was shortened as Beijing Language University (in Chinese) in July, 2002 with the approval of the Ministry of Education. September 6th, 2002 witnesses the gorgeous celebration of the 40th anniversary of Beijing Language and Culture University, for which General-Secretary Jiang Zemin and Vice-Premier Li Lanqing wrote letters of congratulation and the Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Li Peng wrote words of encouragement. The great event has turned off a new page in the history of Beijing Language and Culture University.

With the improvement of China’s international status and the development of its exchanges and co-operations with other countries, the role of Chinese language in international communications is becoming increasingly important, and the compatibility and universality of Chinese culture is becoming more and more remarkable. As the base for spreading Chinese, Beijing Language and Culture University undertakes a noble but arduous mission. Faculties and students at Beijing Language and Culture University are making unremitting and enterprising efforts to turn it into an international language-oriented University covering a wide scope of fields ranging from humanities, social sciences to information science and with equal stress put on teaching and scientific research.

(Source: Beijing Language and Culture University)