Fudan University will set up the city's first undergraduate translation program this September to meet the growing demand for professional translators.

Several foreign language professors in the city have questioned the program, however, saying translation isn't suitable for undergraduate level education.

Fudan plans to enroll 16 to 17 high school graduates from all over the country as the first batch of English-Chinese translation majors this year.

Students will be required to take professional skill trainings, such as translation and interpretation, as well as cultural education courses including Chinese literature.

He Gangqiang, dean of Fudan's translation department, said that people tend to think that those who can understand a foreign language are able to translate.

"That is absolutely wrong," He said, adding that only English-speakers with professional translation training are qualified for such a job.

But setting up undergraduate translation program isn't a good solution to the problem, said Chai Mingjiong, a professor at Shanghai International Studies University.

"Translation is a highly demanding skill that should be based on students mastery of a foreign language," Chai said.

"Since most freshmen don't have solid English abilities, that means teachers still have to start with basic English teaching in the initial school years," he said.

Those courses will make no difference between translation and ordinary English majors, which will waste educational resources, Chai added.

He said translation training should reserved for postgraduates who have already mastered a second language.

About 300 million people across China are currently learning English as a foreign language.

But most of the English-learners are low-level beginners.

"We should come to realize that the country is still facing severe shortage of top foreign language professionals, especially translators and interpreters," Wu Qidi, Vice Minister of Education said.

(Shanghai Daily March 27, 2006)