1. Introduction to the specialties offering master's degrees under the Department of English Education, College of Foreign Languages

The Department of English Education under the College of Foreign Languages recruits graduate students for master's degree in the theory of course and teaching (English) specialty (authorized in 1984) and the foreign linguistics and applied linguistics specialty (authorized in 1998). These two specialties have cultivated more than 50 advanced talents in English, and all of them have become the backbone in teaching and scientific research. Recently the quality of examinees is being improved continuously, and the examinee-matriculate ratio has been increased to 10:1. Examinees can select any of the above two specialties according to his own circumstance. In the re-examination for admission, much emphasis is given to the oral expression ability of the examinees. After being admitted, the students must successfully complete the courses in two years, and publish articles or books related to the corresponding specialty. As for the dissertations, integration of theory with practice is required and innovative researches are encouraged.

Currently the two specialties have 12 tutors all together. Among them, 5 are professors and 15 associate professors.

2. Introduction to the specialties offering master's degrees under the Department of French, College of Foreign Languages

French language and literature

This master point was approved in 2003. However, the Department of French has recruited graduate students for master's degree in foreign linguistics and applied linguistics for 2 consecutive years before. The main research directions are:

Theory and practice of French education & teaching: France, Switzerland, Belgium and other French-speaking countries either have a long history of education or have unique characteristics in education. Not a few internal famous educationists are from these countries, and still have great influences on the world's education. The opening of this specialty is helpful for combining the researches on education & teaching theory and practice in related countries with the researches on foreign language teaching and practice, so as to expand the cultivation range of graduate students in foreign languages, and to promote the development of foreign language teaching. Provided with brilliant characteristics, this direction can be recognized as "initial" in our country. It not only can bring our advantages into full swing, but also will enrich the contents and fields of trans-cultural studies in our country, and partially make up the shortcomings that have existed in the French specialty and other related specialties for a long time.

French literature and culture: French literature has a long history, not a few schools, and enriched contents, and it is always a key point for the scholars to study. However, there are two tendencies cannot be ignored. That is, researches on modern literature and on culture and civilization, the inside information of literature, are too insufficient or skin-deep. Based on the heritage of Chinese and foreign researches on French literature, this direction tries to put the studies into a big frame of the culture and civilization on which the literature relies to live, and uses the historical view, social view, literature & art view and methodology of Marxism to widen and deepen the studies in this field, in a bid to advance toward an all-around and multi-subject way. This is not only the difference between us and some similar research directions in fellow colleges and universities, but also is to promote and make contributions to the related researches and the cultivation of talents.

3. Introduction to the specialties offering master's degrees under the Department of English Language and Literature

English language and literature

The English language and literature master point was approved in 2003, and has assisted the Department of English Education in cultivation of graduate students for many years before, and so has accumulated enriched experiences in teaching.

English and American literature research direction: not only emphasize the study of literature texts, but also pay enough attention to the study of traditional and modern theories of literature criticism. Especially, prominence is given to the openness of literature critical views, and comparative studies are thought much of. In teaching and research, different views are consciously collected to build a free and active atmosphere for making studies.

English language research direction: specially stress the researches on modern English language and on culture, which is the internal information of language, make use of the heritage of researches on English and American language, and tries to put the linguistic researches into the cultural environment on which the literature relies to live, and to widen and deepen the scope of research, and advance toward an all-around and interdisciplinary way. Graduate students cultivated in such a mode will be provided with enriched knowledge of humanities, widened thinking range, and strong time spirits, able to show strong adaptability and potential in study and work.

4. Introduction to the specialties offering master's degrees under the Department of Japanese

Japanese language and literature

The Japanese language and literature specialty has three research directions: 1.Japanese linguistic studies, 2.Japanese literature studies, and 3.Japanese social culture studies. Each of the three directions has its own key points, but has a close relation to each other. In methodology, trans-directional studies are advocated, and Japanese culture should be studied under the background of the Chinese cultural circle. Therefore, the researchers are required to research Japanese linguistics, Japanese literature and Japanese social culture from the mutual combination of different research directions and the Chinese-Japanese comparison point of view, so as to make contributions to the cultural exchange between China and Japan as well as the cultural construction of the multipolar world in the new century. Transversal exchange and international cooperation is one of the characteristics of this specialty. Professors and scholars from famous domestic colleges and universities as well as Hiroshima University (one of Japan's key national universities) and Doshisha University (a famous private university in Japan) are invited to assume part-time teachers, and excellent graduate students are selected and sent to Hiroshima university to study doctoral courses (joint cultivation by Capital Normal University and Hiroshima university).

5. Introduction to the specialties offering master's degrees under the Department of Russian

Russian language and literature

This specialty began to recruit graduate students for master's degree in 1980, and got the authority to award master's degree in 1985, and up to now has cultivated nearly one hundred masters. Currently the master point has 7 tutors, including 3 professors and 4 associate professors, and Russian experts from Moscow University of Languages are invited to participate in teaching and direction. The research directions are separately: modern Russian (grammar, rhetoric, oral Russian, language culture, semantics, pragmatics), translation, and literature. Provided with advanced teaching conditions and facilities, the master point recruits students from every corner of the country, and always keeps a high level in cultivating graduate students. All the graduate students can receive good training in theory and practice, and many of them have published articles or cooperated in writing monographs, textbooks and dictionaries, and participated in or independently apply for scientific research projects just in the period of learning. Most of the graduates of the previous sessions are working in diplomacy, foreign trade, tourism, colleges and universities, research institutes or state or Beijing municipal administrative departments.