Since 2018, Haikou Maritime Court has innovated training in maritime legal English and improved its effect based on practices and maritime justice needs.

First, better-targeted training is provided based on judicial needs. Training has been provided with the aim of benefiting practices and meeting judicial needs. All of the judges, court staff, and judicial personnel have been consulted for advice for maritime legal English training, and an Implementation Plan for Improving Maritime Legal English Training has been drawn up based on the training needs. We have adopted innovative training modes, cooperated with specialized training agencies, and made systematic and staged learning plans for staff of different English competencies. These well-targeted plans meet the staff’s different needs and significantly improve their motivation for learning.

Second, collective training is given to improve the overall English competency. We have organized maritime legal English lectures, cooperated with universities, research institutions and administrative authorities, and invited experts and scholars to lecture on foreign maritime cases and information about international maritime justice in both Chinese and English languages.

This year, we have already organized two maritime legal English lectures and invited senior judges from Shanghai Maritime Court and the Higher People’s Court of Hainan Province to give training in Legal English in Maritime Trials, Learning and Improving Legal English, and other subjects. Through the training, all of the judges, court staff, and judicial personnel now have a deeper understanding of the successful experience and practices of the translation team made up of young judges of Shanghai Maritime Court, as well as basic knowledge of common law such as the sources of law, case law, characteristics of proceedings, profession system and litigation features.

In addition, we regularly host English salons in which our staff can discuss legal terms, legal news, legal movies, and thoughts about English learning.

Third, individual self-teaching is encouraged for making personalized breakthroughs. We recommend our staff using apps such as Liulishuo and Mint to assist their study. They use the app’s check-in function to track their progress and build up vocabulary. This helps them lay a good foundation for learning maritime legal English listening, speaking, reading, writing and translation, and in turn boosts their confidence. They are also urged to take regular notes and form good learning habits, which improves the efficiency and ensures the sustainability of learning.

Fourth, more opportunities for practices are provided to improve the ability to use the language in real situations. We have set up a WeChat voice interactive platform on which we release English videos and other learning materials based on the subject of each maritime legal English lecture. The staff send their practice audios after studying the videos, which helps them get a better sense of the English language. We have established long-term cooperation with the maritime safety administration, the Customs and other maritime administrative authorities, and regularly organized study and exchange tours to foreign ships and the vessel traffic management centre, providing more opportunities for our staff to use English in practices. We have actively explored means of cooperation and communication with other maritime courts in relation to foreign-related cases. By dispatching our staff to be members of collegial benches and present at court hearings, and via video communication, we have participated in other maritime courts’ trial of foreign-related cases. Through this we have gained experience in trial of foreign-related cases to facilitate our future practices.

Fifth, an application platform is set up to promote the international influence of maritime justice. We have explored into the set-up of a maritime justice translation team, and have conveyed China’s ideas about and latest achievements in maritime justice to the world by releasing judicial news, highlights in maritime trials, guiding cases in maritime justice, and latest laws and regulations of the country. Considering that maritime trials concern foreign elements and are highly specialized, we regularly gather, translate and release foreign maritime cases, latest trends in the global shipping market, and the frontiers of international maritime justice, providing reference for judging cases up to international standards. We also sort out, translate and release the adjudication abstracts of elite and typical cases, which improves the transparency of maritime adjudication, polices, the rule of law and further enhances the international credibility of maritime justice.