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In support of the city's bid for the 2008 Olympic
Games, Beijingers have become more enthusiastic than ever about
learning English.
The Beijing People's Broadcasting Station started
Monday, December 4, a program called "Beijingers' 100 English
Sentences" to help more people get acquainted with English.
The radio program will enable people with middle-school
education to communicate in simple English, said Jiang Gongmin,
an editor at the radio station.
Unlike the traditional way of English teaching
in textbooks, which starts with grammar and phonetic symbols, this
program only deals with everyday oral English sentences. The program
is broadcasted four times a day on three of the station's radio
channels.
The public English-learning wave is sweeping
over the city. Beijing's commercial and public transport sectors
have worked out their English study schedule.
Foreigners to Beijing will no longer be astonished
when greeted cordially in English by local residents on the street.
From government employees to housewives, Beijingers feel proud to
be able to speak in English, which they consider important in building
Beijing into an international metropolitan.
English language road signs have recently been
seen near the city's major scenic spots. The municipal government
has invited English consultants to correct English signs and introductions
located on roads and in public places.
??People's Beijing 12/05/2000??
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