Symposium on the Assessment of Foreign Languages for Professional Purposes in Hainan FTP cum the Development of Police English Training and Testing System Held Successfully

Symposium on the Assessment of Foreign Languages for Professional Purposes in Hainan FTP cum the Development of Police English Training and Testing System was successfully held at the Hainan Foreign Languages Lecture Hall on the afternoon of February 25, 2023. Guided by the Hainan Provincial Public Security Department and the Hainan Federation of Social Sciences Association, the symposium was hosted by Hainan Institute of Translation Studies and undertaken by Hainan Yunlian Blockchain Application Research Institute.

Now it is significant to fully implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress and to make preparations for independent customs operations in Hainan FTP. Contributing to further fulfilling the requirements of documents issued by the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee and the Hainan Provincial Government, such as The Action Plan for the Comprehensive Improvement of the Citizens' Foreign Language Proficiency in Hainan Province and The Action Plan for the Comprehensive Improvement of the Public Servants' Foreign Language Proficiency in Hainan Province from 2020 to 2025, the symposium aimed at promoting the practical implementation of The Foreign Languages Training and Testing Plan for Personnel of Public Service Windows in Hainan Province, developing the local business environment into the world-class level, promoting the construction of a FTP with global influence and advancing China's institutional opening-up. Dozens of experts and scholars attended and offered suggestions.

Li Xingliang, vice chairman of the Hainan Federation of Social Sciences Association, delivered the opening speech. And then the symposium was presented by several guests including Wang Sheng, President of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies; Chen Heliang, First-Class Principal Staff Member of the Education and Training Division of the Hainan Provincial Public Security Department's Political Department; Prof. Liu Jianda, Vice President at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies; and Li Xiang, Professor at Guangdong Police College.

In his opening speech, Li Xingliang said that the construction of Hainan FTP will become more and more significant and urgent during the process of making new ground in pursuing opening up on all fronts in China. Li also emphasized that it is important to improve language services' quality and contents, so as to raise Hainan FTP's international profile, to refine the local business environment and to provide more reliable language services to the FTP.

Wang Sheng gave a keynote speech entitled Comprehensively Improving Foreign Language Services and Optimizing the Internationalized Language Environment in the FTP. He presented viewpoints on how to effectively improve the foreign language proficiency of Hainan citizens, particularly the key personnel providing public services. Firstly, it is necessary to improve the levels and diversity of foreign language programs covering all citizens in Hainan. For personnel in public service industries, related foreign language training and testing should be improved and enhanced. For major public service industries in Hainan, targeted testing systems should be developed on the basis of China's Standards of English Language Ability (CSE), which can effectively select and classify foreign language talents for public service window positions. Additionally, it is necessary to enhance public participation in creating internationalized language environment, such as standardizing foreign language signage in public places. Meanwhile, it is vital to develop a translation platform with authority, which can promote information flows among China and other countries.

Chen Heliang shared the experience and future plans of Hainan Provincial Public Security Department for building a police foreign language practice and training system from the aspects of language training and testing. He said that in recent years, the department has taken effective measures to refine its foreign language training system according to government documents. To be more specific, the department provided guidance on the writing of comprehensive study materials entitled Practical Police English, ran targeted training courses, and built a platform for police officers to practice foreign languages by holding Salons, English proficiency competitions, etc. By the end of 2024, the department will develop a sound system to train and assess international versatile talents and establish an international modern team tackling foreign policing affairs, which supports Hainan FTP's independent customs operations and high-quality development with high-level public security services.

Prof. Liu Jianda suggested CSE as standards on developing the assessment system of foreign languages for professional purposes in Hainan FTP, so as to assess related learning outcomes and to improve local citizens' foreign language proficiency. In relation to developing the testing system of police English, Prof. Liu made four suggestions: using training materials to forming the base of the system, focusing on practice with an emphasis on listening and speaking, grading test results from A to D, and integrating online and traditional assessment.

At the book launch of Practical Police English, editor-in-chief Li Xiang gave a general description of the the newly released book, shared the principles of writing in accordance with facts and real situations, and talked about the book's roles in refining foreign languages training system for police officers.

The discussion session was chaired by Prof. Xie Bangxiu, a researcher of the Hainan Yunlian Blockchain Application Research Institute. During the session, attendees engaged in lively discussions on various topics including how to create an environment where all citizens learn and use foreign languages in Hainan FTP, how to establish a training and testing system for local employees' foreign language proficiency, and how to develop a practice and training center for police English. Participants freely expressed their views, shared their experiences, and provided essential suggestions.

At last, Prof. Xie Wenxin, Director of Teaching Staff Division at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, gave a few concluding remarks. Prof. Xie thought the symposium provided far-sighted, profound, diversified and considered insights, which is an emblem of the coordinated development of the government, enterprises, universities, and research institutions. He also said that as always Guangdong University of Foreign Studies would contribute to the development of Hainan FTP and support the rapid and healthy development of HNFL.COM. It is hoped that there will be more similar brainstorming sessions in the future.

Attendees shared practical experience on improving police officers' competence in dealing with foreign affairs, and conducted in-depth discussions on the construction of the assessment of foreign languages for professional purposes in Hainan FTP and the development of police English training and testing system. Advancing the coordinated development of the government, enterprises, universities, and research institutions, the symposium promoted the practical implementation of The Foreign Languages Training and Testing Plan for Personnel of Public Service Windows in Hainan Province and facilitated the high-quality development of a high-standard police English training and testing system, which enhances the international development and institutional opening-up of the FTP.

During the symposium, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies achieved cooperation with HNFL.COM in establishing “Hainan Foreign Language Training and Assessment Center”, encouraging HNFL.COM to remain true to its original aspiration, press forward steadily and fulfill its mission.

Putting down roots in Hainan FTP, HNFL.COM is committed to creating a foreign language platform. Relying on abundant educational and academic resources and brilliant linguistic and cultural achievements of Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, an international university in southern China, HNFL.COM gathers high-quality resources at home and abroad to provide language services and cultural support for Hainan FTP's development and to build bridges between Hainan and the world, so as to realize the vision of working together to create a shared future for mankind.

      HNFL.COM

March 1, 2023