傳統下的獨白－談「應用外語」科系的未來走向

Monologue under Tradition-What the Future of the Department of Applied Foreign Languages Will Be

蔡瑤(Yau Tsai)

《技術及職業教育學報》 4期 (2001/07) Pp. 159-172

摘要

有鑑於國際社會對外語人才的迫切需求，以及電子網路科技的高度發展，近幾年政府在推動全民外語學習上，可謂不遺餘力，而所謂「應用外語」科系在此同時欣欣向榮，似乎也象徵了政府對外語教育另一種新的期許。只是，當這個熱門科系在政府大力召喚下，如雨後春筍般快速成長時，卻令人不免感到困惑。也就是學習者或社會大眾故名忠義或許都知道「應用外語」斜系比一般外語斜靠更實用，但是，絕大多數的人卻未必真正了解「應用」層面所賦予的意義，而辦學者及教學者遲遲無法落實「應用」層面的教學內容更是普遍，這是值得大家省思的問題。針對此，本文目的在了解社會大眾對「應用外語」斜靠的看法，並同時分析與比較國內外語相關斜靠之教學者與學習者的看法，期凝聚大家的共識，讓「應用外語」斜靠這個突起的異軍，早日突破傳統下的迷思，走出一個全新的放位。

並列摘要

In response to the urgent needs of foreign-language professionals and the advanced development of the Internet and electronic technology, the government has consistently endeavored to promote the foreign-language learning atmosphere among people in Taiwan in recent years. The fact that the Department of Applied Foreign Languages meanwhile flourishes among universities and colleges also symbolizes the new expectation of the government towards foreign-language education in Taiwan. Even as the Department of Applied Foreign Languages grows so fast, most people in Taiwan seem still confused about what it is. Although learners and the public may catch the meaning of the term ”applied.
foreign languages” and know the Department of Applied Foreign Languages is more practical than the Department of Foreign Languages, they still do not appreciate what one can eventually learn from applied foreign-language curriculum. Until now, it is even very common that administrators and teachers in the Department of Applied Foreign Languages do not really implement to the fullest the contents of ”applied” aspects. These issues produce challenging questions that deserve people to think about. Therefore, the purpose of the essay is to understand what the public think about the Department of Applied Foreign Languages and to compare the opinions of the learners and teachers who are from these two kinds of departments. It is hoped that the conclusion will help the Department of Applied Foreign Languages find a new direction and transform from the Department of Foreign Languages which has existed for years into a completely new department in the near future.