外语教育与区域国别研究的互构关系——以伦敦大学亚非学院为例

The mutual constructive relationship between foreign language education and area studies:Case study of SOAS

伦敦大学亚非学院的外语教育久负盛名。它也是全球范围内最早开展区域国别研究的高等教育机构。历经百年发展变革,伦敦大学亚非学院由创建伊始的语言培训机构演变为全球范围内的亚非研究学术重镇。本文通过系统回顾伦敦大学亚非学院的发展历程、教学和研究机构设置、人才培养和课程体系,力图厘清外语教育与区域国别研究之间的互构关系,即外语教育始终是开展区域国别研究的前提和基础,而区域国别研究反之又促进了外语语种数量的增长,推动了外语教育的跨学科发展,进而为我国的区域国别研究提供借鉴与参考。

The School of Oriental and African Studies,University of London(SOAS)has a longstanding reputation for foreign language education,and is also the first higher education institution worldwide to conduct area studies.After a century of development and transformation,SOAS has evolved from a language training institution at the beginning of its establishment into a global academic center for Asian and African studies.This article systematically reviews the development process,establishment of educational and research institutions,talent cultivation,and curriculum system of SOAS to clarify the mutual constructive relationship between foreign language education and area studies.Foreign language education has always been the prerequisite and foundation for area studies,while area studies have expanded the range of foreign languages and promoted the interdisciplinary development of foreign language education.This study provides a reference for the development of area studies in China.