The School of Foreign Languages was founded in March, 2011. Its predecessor was the Section of Foreign Language Teaching and Research, which was set up in 1950s, and renamed the Department of Foreign Languages in 2001.

The School consists of the English Department, the College English Department, the Medical English Department, the Language Training Center, etc. It offers undergraduate English program and English training for staff of the affiliated hospitals. Besides, it teaches English and Japanese to non-English-major graduates, undergraduates and adult students in other schools of the University.

At present, there are 43 full-time teachers in the School, with 6 associate professors among them. 91% of the teachers have master degrees and many of them graduated from famous universities at home and abroad. Besides, there is 1 adjunct professor and 3-4 foreign experts in English language. Over the past three years, a dozen teachers have achieved great results in provincial and university teaching skills contests and a number of teachers won the titles of “Outstanding CPC Member”, “Excellent Teacher”, “Teacher with Advanced Professional Ethics”, etc.

The School has been devoted to disciplinary development constantly. Its main research fields cover linguistics, applied linguistics, cross-cultural communication, English literature studies and medical English teaching and research in particular. In recent years, the School has undertaken many research projects sponsored by the province and other organizations, and its teaching staff have translated 9 books and compiled 8 textbooks and reference books in addition to the publication of academic papers. There are two teachers working as translation editors of medical journals, e.g. Chinese Journal of Hypertension. A number of teachers ever worked as translators and interpreters in various academic conferences in the University. The School is now standing member of the Fujian Translators’ Association and the Fujian Foreign Languages and Literatures Association.

The four-year undergraduate English program offered by the School was approved by the Ministry of Education in 2007. From the first enrollment in 2008, the School admits 60 students every year, with 235 English-major students now. In 2012, it was granted the right to confer the Bachelor of Arts degree.