A conference that focused on critical issues facing China's college-level English education was held on Oct 19-20.

A total of 166 speakers from more than 600 colleges and universities nationwide converged at the FLTRP International Convention Centre in Beijing to discuss various subjects of English language education, including mode of cultivation, curriculum, teaching methodology, evaluation methods and staff training.

Aiming at a breakthrough in teaching English to majors, the conference, under the theme "Reform and Innovation of Teaching English to Majors in View of Diverse Talent — A Look into the Future of China and Its English Language Teaching", was co-hosted by the National Advisory Committee on Teaching English to Majors in Higher Education under the Ministry of Education, the National Research Centre for Foreign Language Education of Beijing Foreign Studies University, and the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.

The forum centered on the following issues: improving curriculum, exploring diversified modes of cultivating talent, future program development and tailoring curriculum to fit individual institutions.

The major of English language and literature has undergone ongoing development and reform since the early 1980s. With the emergence of the majors of translation and interpreting, business English and teaching English to foreigners, majors have entered a new era.

About hundreds of thousands of English language graduates come into the job market, which has become less and less interested in students majoring in one language. Besides, it proves that only 5 percent of foreign languages learners fully conduct cross-cultural communication.