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Global Research in Higher Education 
ISSN 2576-196X (Print) ISSN 2576-1951 (Online) 

Vol. 3, No. 2, 2020 
www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/grhe 

59 
 

Original Paper 

Research on Ecological Development of Foreign Language 

Journals—Based on Foreign language Teaching and Research 

Zhao Shuo1,2* & Wang Siyu2 
1 School of International Studies, Communication University of China, Beijing, China 
2 School of Foreign Studies, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China 
* Zhao Shuo, School of International Studies, Communication University of China, Beijing, China; 

School of Foreign Studies, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China 

 

Received: March 6, 2020       Accepted: March 23, 2020       Online Published: April 28, 2020 

doi:10.22158/grhe.v3n2p59             URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.22158/grhe.v3n2p59 

 

Abstract 

A foreign language journal is an ecosystem because each foreign language journal has different 

columns. This paper takes Foreign Language Teaching and Research as an example to analyze the 

ecological development of foreign language journals and give some suggestions on the future 

development of foreign language journals. 

Keywords 

Ecological development, foreign language, journals 

 

1. Introduction 

Ecology is a branch of biology that studies the interactions among organisms and their biophysical 

environment, which includes both biotic and a biotic components. Topics of interest include the 

biodiversity, distribution, biomass, and populations of organisms, as well as cooperation and 

competition within and between species. Ecosystems are dynamically interacting systems of organisms, 

the communities they make up, and non-living components of their environment. The ecosystem of 

Foreign Language is a system related to economic, cultural and every aspects of society. A foreign 

language journal is an ecosystem because each foreign language journal has different columns such as 

applied linguistics, translation studies, literature, cross-cultural communication. Various columns 

constitute the ecosystem of a foreign language journal. The functions of journals can be concluded as 

follows. Firstly, journals of foreign languages should be a stage for teachers and researchers to 

exchange the latest research fruits. Secondly, they need to contribute to teacher education and teaching. 

Thirdly, they are supposed to meet the needs of foreign language enthusiasts and the public. Last but 



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not least, they are important resources for lifelong education. For example, the column of literature is 

not only a platform for researchers to exchange new thoughts but also a resource for literature 

enthusiasts to learn more about literature.  

Foreign Language Teaching and Research is a Chinese journal of Foreign Language Teaching and 

Research Press which is attached to Beijing Foreign Studies University, formerly known as Western 

Languages. It is the first academic journal in foreign languages and was founded on June 1957 and 

becomes one of the best journals in foreign languages and literature. Foreign Language Teaching and 

Research is in line with international academic frontiers. The review system and editorial procedure are 

strictly in accordance with international conventions. Such famous Chinese scholars as Professor Wang 

Zuoliang and Professor Xu Guozhang, ever served as editorial reviewer of the journal. The journal has 

columns of Linguistics, Foreign Language Education, Translation Studies, Language Studies and 

Foreign Literature Studies, covering all major aspects of foreign language disciplines. Among them, 

linguistics and foreign language education are the brands and strengths of this journal. Among these 

columns, Linguistics Research is original research and commentary on various fields of linguistics and 

various marginal disciplines. Language Research is a separate study of language and culture that has a 

certain universal significance and a comparative study with Chinese language and culture. Foreign 

Language Education is mainly about research, experiments and investigation reports on theories and 

methods of second language acquisition and foreign language teaching. Translation Studies is about 

research on translation history, translation theories and methods. Foreign Literature Studies concludes 

analysis and commentary on foreign literary works and writers’ thoughts. And Book Review mainly 

publishes book reviews, notes, reports, interviews, etc. 

This paper will take Foreign Language Teaching and Research as an example to analyze the ecological 

development of foreign language journals and give some suggestions on the future development of 

foreign language journals. 

 

2. The Ecological Development of Foreign Language Teaching and Research 

The journal of Foreign Language Teaching and Research has Linguistics, Foreign Language Education, 

Translation Studies, Language Studies and Foreign Literature Studies, covering all major aspects of 

foreign language disciplines. This paper searches all the articles published in the journal in the past five 

years, and collects articles of different disciplines in the past five years according to keywords. In terms 

of publishing quantity, papers in linguistics and language teaching research account for a large 

proportion. And research on literature and translation studies often overlaps with linguistics and 

language teaching. 

In the column of Linguistics, there are both research on specific linguistic problem and reviews of the 

latest foreign linguistic works, which is representative. However, some studies only stay at the 

theoretical level and cannot be applied in real life to generate value. The journal may select some more 

practical papers.  



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In the column of Foreign Language Education, there are both analysis and discussion on the existing 

language education topics and discussions on language education policies, as well as some specific 

topics in the language education process. They are influential on China language education. However, 

some suggestions are too broad to perceive and lack of operability. Therefore practical enlightenment 

of relevant papers for foreign language education will be focused in Chinese education. 

In the column of Translation Studies, a few articles on translation studies have been published, and 

most of these articles on translation studies are combined with other disciplines like linguistics and 

literature, which represents the latest research direction in translation. There are few articles on the 

comprehensive development of translation theory and translation practice. Therefore, the journal will 

reveal and present more translation theory as well as practice if it’s possible.  

As for the column of Foreign Literature Studies, the number of papers published on this journal is also 

authoritative and classical. Moreover, the literary works analyzed in the paper are representative but 

limited. It may select papers on more representative literary works that have profound meanings for 

today’s society. 

 

3. Conclusion 

People live in a big ecological environment of international development, cross-cultural 

communication and multi-language development. Thus different foreign language journals should give 

full play to their educational function, teacher education function, and talent training function. This 

paper adopts the journal of Foreign Language Teaching and Research as an example to analyze the 

ecological development of foreign language journals. Articles of different disciplines published in the 

past five years are collected. Papers on Linguistics, Foreign Language Education, Translation Studies 

and Foreign Literature Studies have advantages and weaknesses. The articles collected by the journal 

are mainly focused on Linguistics and Language Teaching. And the interactions among these 

disciplines are well matched as well. However, there are also some shortcomings, that is, some of the 

articles are lack of practicality and operability. Since a foreign language journal is a complete 

ecosystem the setting of different columns should serve for the whole ecological environment. It is 

meaningful that the journal will balance different research area in language teaching and research to 

keep its academic guidance in talents cultivation.  

 

Acknowledgement 

1) The research is supported by Higher Education Research Fund of NPU (SKJJZ2019003); 2) The 

research is supported by the innovative team project of Fundamental Research Fund for the Central 

Universities of China (3102019WGYTD03). 

 

 

 



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References 

Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press. (2020). Journal Introduction. Journal of Foreign 

Language Teaching and Research. Retrieved from 

http://www.fltr.ac.cn/CN/column/column1.shtml 

Wikipedia. (2019). Ecology. The Free Encyclopedia. 

 


