The Toronto Star sent this report from its Asia Bureau: Mad about English: Chinese flock to learn. It told the story of two generations of Chinese–grandparent as old as 78-year old and kid as young as 4-year old–studying English together in the same classroom. And they are only a few among millions, according to the article:
China’s Ministry of Education says there are more than 100 million students studying English in elementary, junior and senior high schools, as well as college.
Across the country, English study is compulsory from the age of 9. But in Beijing and many other urban areas, students begin learning it from the age of 6.
No wonder British Prime Minister Gordon Brown flew to China this week to encourage more Chinese to learn “the world’s language”. A 100-million consumer market is just too bloody huge to be ignored.
January 30, 2008 at 5:57 am
Can we say that they are lucky?