晚清外语翻译人才培养的途径和特点——以京师同文馆为中心的考察

The Approaches and Characteristics of the Cultivation of Foreign Language Translation Talents in the Late Qing Dynasty—Taking Tungwen College as an Example

晚清外语翻译人才培养是基于两个目的开展的,一是为了应对纷繁复杂的外交事务;二是为了学习西方科学技术,富国强兵。在此办学定位下,从师资选聘、生源选择、课程设置、翻译教学与实践等诸方面都突出了学以致用的务实色彩。晚清官办外语教学具有办学定位明确、课程设置合理、教学内容实用、注重能力培养、外语与专业学习相结合等特点。以京师同文馆为代表的晚清外语学堂,其办学方式和成功经验仍然值得今天的外语教育者研究学习。

In the late Qing Dynasty, foreign-language-translation-talents training was carried out based on two purposes： one was to handle the complicated foreign affairs; the other was to learn advanced science and technology from western world, hoping to make the country stronger, more prosperous and more powerful and to protect itself from being bullied and attacked. In order to a- chieve the goals, the foreign language colleges were established officially, where teachers and students were selected; the curricula were set carefully and teaching methods were used prudently. At the same time, the curricula, teaching practices, the translation practice and other aspects were highlighted in their pragmatic color. With a specific aim to focus on the practical ability training, its official foreign language teaching was characterized by a clear orientation, reasonable curriculum, quality teaching contents, effective combinations of foreign-language skill learning and professional learning. Among others, Tungwen College was one of the good exam- pies, which represents the most successful foreign language school in the late Qing Dynasty. Some of its valuable experiences are still worth mentioning and learning today.