On June 3, Prof. James P. Lantolf started his three-day academic visit to our college at the invitation of Prof. Pei Zhengwei. Prof. James P. Lantolf, a world-famous linguist, who is from The University of Pennsylvania, took part in several academic lectures, discussions with teachers, graduate students of our college and the research team led by Prof. Pei Zhengwei during the three days.
Prof. Lantolf, after the project presentations by graduate students, made comments for each. Lantolf expressed his approval of the graduate students’ work, and at the same time he pointed out possible problems in the research, for which he gave his own advice.
Prof. Lantolf and the English major students from Class 142 and Class 143 held a communication program about the undergraduate student education of China and the U.S. Students from the two classes gave a brief introduction of NJAU and the campus life of the undergraduate students. It was pretty interesting for Prof. Lantolf when some of the students wearing Chinese clothing explained the history and culture of this Chinese clothing to him, who was already interested in Chinese culture. Finally, Prof. Lantolf answered the questions raised by the students in detail about undergraduate education in the U.S. and the differences in undergraduate education between the two countries.
Lantolf gave a lecture entitled Reading the Research Literature: A Note of Caution! to some of the graduate students of our college in Classroom B218 of the Teaching Building. He particularly emphasized the comprehensive reading of researching papers, a rational attitude towards the conclusion in the papers and a rational selecting of the papers related to one’s own research before a critical review. Then, Lantolf vividly explained the importance of the critical paper reading, featuring a piece of real paper. This lecture helped the graduate students to solve questions about academic research and writing papers, and also to have a new understanding of reading papers and writing paper overviews efficiently.
Prof. Lantolf gave a lecture entitled Promoting Language Development through Systematic Explicit Instruction to teachers from our college, which explained how to promote English teaching in China from perspectives of socio-cultural theory and concept teaching. Prof. Lantolf introduced specific applications of conception teaching in the process of English grammar teaching. He believes that education promotes the development of language in explicit, systemic, and organized special ways, and the importance of teachers’ role as the medium of teaching.
Additionally, Prof. Lantolf had a conversation with Teacher Yang from Nanjing University on conception teaching and the issues they discussed included the origins, theoretical framework, localization and specific applications of conception.
Prof. James P. Lantolf is a leader in SCT who established Concept-Based Instruction and developed the idea of Dynamic Assessment. As the director of the Center for Language Acquisition of PSU and the Center for Advanced Language Proficiency Education and Research, Prof. Lantolf is also a chief editor for several world-class magazines, has published more than 100 articles and 9 books and has made many speeches in international academic conferences, making great contributions to the development of SCT. Prof. Lantolf’s visit this time promoted the academic exchange and cooperation between the College of Foreign Studies and world famous universities and experts, and boosted the discipline influence of the College of Foreign Studies.
