.
Background
The school of foreign languages and journalism is one of the oldest school/ departments in Haramaya University. Before it grows to school level, has got different name in line with its development and expansion. A decade ago, it was known as Department of English since the establishment of Alemaya college of Agriculture. During that time, the Department offered common courses such as Freshman English, Sophomore English and other common courses accordingly to all departments.
Following the establishment of Faculty of Education, Department of English has started running undergraduate program since 1998. By this, it contributed a lot for the country producing English Teacher Educators until the Faculty split into three colleges. Accordingly, it was reestablished under CSSH in 2009. Meanwhile, it launched the second undergraduate program in French and soon started giving short term trainings in Arabic languages. Moreover, in the year 2011 and 2012 expands its program running postgraduate program in M.Ed. & MA in TEFL. As a result of this expansion, it changed its name from Department of English to school of foreign languages Studies. Besides, in the year 2013, the school opened new undergraduate program in Journalism and Mass Communication as per the demand of the program. Finally, in the middle of 2014, the former School of Foreign Language Studies converted to School of Foreign Languages and Journalism in order to entail all the programs under the school.
Vision
The vision of the School of Foreign Languages and Journalism is to become a center of excellence in Foreign Languages , Cultures and in Journalism (Ethiopian and East/Horn of African) Studies and Education. As such, it aspires to becoming the leading in this part of Africa in training/educating highly skilled professionals at Masters’ and PhD levels in these areas. It also aspires to becoming a leader in producing rigorous and advanced level research products in foreign and vernacular/bilingual language education, teacher education and scientific/linguistic studies in languages and cultures of Ethiopian and East/Horn of African languages.
Mission
The mission of SFLJ is to empower students in two foreign languages, i.e., enable them to be proficient in all the four skills, competent in accuracy and use, and effective to communicate internationally. Regarding to journalism and mass communication, the school is also to empower students to be skillful journalists with knowledge and technical skill to the broader news media and also enables them to be professionals with high ethical and moral touch. Unique from the other two streams/departments, the English Language program’s aim is multifaceted. On the one hand, it aims at empowering students so that they effectively use English as Medium for Academic Purpose studying other disciplines through English medium. On the other hand, the Department’s teacher education program aims at preparing secondary and tertiary English teachers and teacher educators competent in the contemporary theories of language, education, and learning