To ensure the quality of graduate education and effectively advance the progress of thesis writing, the SFL successfully held the mid-term thesis defense for the 2023 cohort of master’s students on June 30, 2025. The defense was conducted across three venues—Rooms 203, 202, and 210 in Building 7 at the Binhai Campus—and covered three research fields: Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, English Language and Literature, and Japanese Language and Literature. The event adopted a hybrid format, combining in-person and online participation via Tencent Meeting, ensuring flexibility and accessibility.Each defense panel consisted of faculty members specializing in the respective research areas, forming an evaluation committee responsible for comprehensively assessing and guiding the students’ research progress.

The Linguistics and Applied Linguistics group was chaired by Associate Professor Liu Xiangdong, with committee members including Professor Zhang Ruihua, Associate Professors Zheng Dongsheng, Gu Xiaowei, and Lecturer Wang Youjia. Five graduate students from this field sequentially presented their mid-term research progress.

The English Language and Literature group was presided over by Associate Professor Jiang Zhigang, with review experts including Professor Gu Yi, Associate Professors Ji Xiaohong, Song Sainan, and Xu Jing. A total of nine students from this discipline participated in the defense.

The Japanese Language and Literature group was led by Professor Chao Luomeng, with committee members comprising Associate Professors Zhao Junhuai, Wang Ying, Yang Zhenzhen, and Li Min. Nine graduate students from this group also presented their mid-term research outcomes.

The defense strictly followed the relevant regulations of TUST regarding master’s thesis evaluations. Each student delivered a comprehensive presentation on their research progress since the proposal, including preliminary achievements, challenges encountered and solutions implemented, and plans for future work. The committee members upheld a rigorous academic attitude, attentively listened to each presentation, carefully reviewed submitted materials, and conducted in-depth questioning and precise feedback on key aspects such as theoretical frameworks, research methodologies, logical structure, data analysis, academic integrity, and the feasibility of subsequent research.The students were well-prepared, presented clearly, and responded fluently to the questions. They humbly accepted and meticulously recorded the valuable feedback and suggestions from the committee, which will serve as a critical foundation for revising and refining their theses. The entire defense process was orderly, intellectually engaging, and rich in academic atmosphere. While adhering to principles of fairness and objectivity, the faculty also provided constructive guidance and encouraging support based on their own research experience.

The mid-term thesis review is a crucial component of graduate training, playing a vital role in maintaining thesis quality and ensuring students’ timely graduation. Consistently guided by the university’s “Top Tust Plan”, the SFL continues to deepen reforms in graduate education, enhance the precision of academic management, and actively advance the “Excellence in Research and Education” Action Plan. By doing so, the SFL is committed to winning the battle for high-quality, connotative development and laying a solid foundation for cultivating high-level, innovative foreign language talents.