Established in September 2003, the Center for Language Studies at National Chung Cheng University (hereafter referred to as CCU) initially aimed to promote the university’s English proficiency graduation requirement for undergraduate students and to foster a campus-wide environment for English and foreign language learning.
Our center currently houses seven multimedia and digitally equipped language classrooms, a technologically advanced and user-friendly interactive learning corridor, and a recreational interaction corner. Each semester, our center offers over 50 credit-bearing courses in English (or other foreign languages), as well as Mandarin Chinese courses for international students. In addition, it provides a university-wide digital English learning platform, English consultation and academic support, and 15 hours per week of guided independent learning.
To further strengthen English proficiency across the university community, our center maintains an English proficiency testing system accessible to students, faculty, and staff. Through diverse online materials and assessments, our center aims to enhance learning motivation and encourage long-term language development. The goal is to help students improve their workplace competitiveness and global communication skills prior to graduation.
Our center has designed a comprehensive English learning pathway for undergraduate students at CCU. Students who have obtained official English proficiency certifications prior to enrollment may submit relevant documentation to the main office for verification. Upon approval, the certified document must be submitted to the Division of Curriculum and Instruction to apply for exemption from the first-year foreign language proficiency training course.
Unlike language centers at most other universities, the Center for Language Studies at CCU is an independent, first-tier academic unit. Its courses aim to shift students away from the test-oriented English learning model prevalent in high school, and instead foster university-level learning focused on English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and English for Specific Purposes (ESP). Courses such as Academic English and Business Communication English are offered to develop competitive English and other foreign language abilities for international communication. In 2008, the university launched the cross-disciplinary Applied Language Studies Certificate Program, focusing on three areas: EAP, ESP, and English for General Purposes (EGP). The program is distinguished by its clear course orientation, cross-degree accessibility (open to undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students), and leveled structure (basic, intermediate, advanced, and high-advanced levels). With its unique features, the program has attracted increasing student interest. In May 2014, the university signed a three-year academic-industry collaboration with ETS Taiwan, under which formal TOEFL ITP tests have been adopted as pre- and post-course assessments to track course effectiveness over time.
Since September 2010, our center has officially overseen the university’s Foreign Language Curriculum under General Education, now titled General English. Significant reforms have been made to both its content and structure. The curriculum is aligned with five key global foreign language competencies—communication, cultural understanding, interdisciplinary learning, language literacy, and community engagement—and integrates course leveling and a dual-course structure: Applied Language Proficiency and Practical Language Skills. Following the first year of implementation, the percentage of first-year students who passed standardized English proficiency tests and qualified for exemption rose from under 10% to over 40%. After seven years of continued curriculum innovation, the proportion of undergraduate students meeting the graduation English requirement through standardized tests has exceeded 75%, significantly enhancing their competitiveness in the job market.