PERSPECTIVES:
In the Middle Ages, a man approached two masons and asked them what they were doing. The first mason replied, “I am laying stones.” The other answered, “I am building a magnificent cathedral in which God’s love will be preached.” As teachers, when we go into our classes, we have to ask ourselves: Are we teaching our students to pass the exams and get their degrees and certificates, or are we helping students attain knowledge that they can use for the rest of their lives? The latter requires a very different perspective and inspires teachers in a totally different way.

NECESSITY for ESTABLISHMENT of the AFLD:
The importance of learning English in an increasingly interconnected and globalized world cannot be exaggerated. Learning to communicate in English is important for entering and ultimately succeeding in mainstream society. A working knowledge of the English language can create many opportunities in the international marketplace. English is the fourth most widely spoken native language in the world, and in terms of sheer number of speakers, it is the most widely spoken [second] language in the world. It is the primary language used in international affairs. The English language has official status even in nations where it is not the primary spoken language. English is indisputably the primary language of global trade and commerce. In many countries, most tourism authorities and other officials in contact with the public speak English to interact and engage with tourists and immigrants. Taiwan's rapid industrialization and economic growth during the past 50 years set a good example for other developing and underdeveloped countries. A high level of proficiency in the English language can play a crucial role in one’s career. In recognition of this, the Department of Applied Foreign Languages of Technology and Science Institute of Northern Taiwan was founded in the fall of 1996.

PROGRAMS:
5-Year Junior College【Day-Division】
　 For students who have graduated from junior high school
4-Year College 【Day-Division】
　For students who have graduated from senior or vocational high school
4-Year College 【Evening-Division】
　For students who have graduated from senior or vocational high school
2-Year Junior College【for either weekends or weekdays 】
　For students who have graduated from senior or vocational high school

FEATURES OF CURRICULUM DESIGN:
The courses of all programs are carefully designed to meet the needs of the students for achieving their career goals.
Unlike in traditional English departments in most Taiwanese universities or colleges where literature is always the core of the curriculum, the AFLD emphasizes the four basic skills of English proficiency, namely listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Furthermore, classes such as business English, journalistic English, Anglo-American language and culture, cross-cultural communication, introductory literature, drama performance, mythology, translation, and interpretation supplement the basic English language skills. In addition to English, Japanese is required in all programs of the department since it is another widely spoken foreign language in Taiwan. Spanish, German, and French are electives for students to choose from.
Besides languages, a thorough knowledge of business and computers is also extremely important in order to sharpen the students’ competitiveness in their careers. General business courses include accounting, economics, international trade, business administration, and secretarial training, whereas general computer courses include introductory computing, word processing, data processing, and the Internet.

FACILITIES: 
　Multi-Media Language Lab 
　Language Learning Center 
　Language Lab 
　Drama Performance Rehearsal Room 
　Department Library

FACULTY:
All teachers in the department, full-time or part-time, have either master’s or Ph.D. degrees. They not only have specialized fields of study but also have strong enthusiasm for teaching. Moreover, five of the fifteen full-time teachers are pursuing Ph.Ds. Their degrees will be obtained in the near future. These experienced teachers devote themselves to teaching, doing academic research, advising students, and the development of our department.

OBJECTIVES: 
　Through foreign languages, the students can gain greater awareness of other cultures and of other ways of thinking, feeling, and acting. Their whole perspective on life will be dramatically expanded through foreign language learning.
 All language-related courses are conducted exclusively in English, Japanese, and Spanish for junior and senior year students.
 The students who graduate from our department can enter a wide variety of careers, obtaining jobs as kindergarten English teachers, tourist guides, secretaries, interpreters, translators, entrepreneurs, computer programmers, etc.
 For students who wish to pursue master’s or even Ph. D. degrees are closely advised and counseled by our experienced teachers.
 We have plans to hold many intercollegiate language competitions and encourage our students to participate in them.
 In the upcoming years, we expect to cooperate with numerous enterprises and get many internship opportunities for our students.
 Our students are encouraged to obtain certificates in language proficiency, business related fields, and computer skills so that they will be better prepared for further study and employment.