Egenti Martha Chidimma and Orji Dereck Martins Akachukwu, two linguistics scholars in the Young Scholars Delegation to China from Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Nigeria, were at CFLC on September 28-30 for an academic exchange program.

On the morning of their first day at XMU, the two visiting scholars toured the University’s library and CFLC’s teaching and research facilities, accompanied by two CFLC graduate students. They were impressed with the vast collection of books on linguistics and the massive electronic database in the library.

In the afternoon, the two visitors toured the CFCL building and reviewed a selection of dissertations for master’s and doctoral degrees. Ms. Chen Wenna, secretary of graduate programs, gave them an introduction to the courses in the master’s and Ph.D. programs in the Department of English Language and Literature at CFLC.

On the morning of their second day at XMU, the two visiting scholars observed two classroom lectures at CFLC, one by Prof. Yang Xinzhang on functional linguistics and the other by Prof. Jiang Guiying on cognitive linguistics. In Prof. Jiang’s classroom, two graduate students made presentations on their research and answered questions from the visitors.

In the afternoon, the visitors met with a group of first-year graduate students specializing in linguistics. The two sides introduced their respective curricula and areas of research.

On the last day of their visit, the Nigerian scholars held a talk with CFLC faculty members and doctoral students specializing in linguistics. The visiting scholars shared the research for their doctoral dissertations, and CFLC Prof. Xin Zhiying talked about the courses, research and employment prospects of CFLC students. There were also discussions of innovations in research and linguistic and cultural differences, followed by an exchange of academic journals.

The talk concluded with a tentative agreement for cooperation in teaching and research.