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Some 600,000 residents in China's capital are learning English
in all forms, according to Beijing Mayor Liu Qi.
Local people have been conducting the English-learning program
since the beginning of last year in support of Beijing's bid for
the holding of 2008 Olympic Games.
More and more people, from government officials, taxi drivers,
shop assistants to senior female neighborhood committee workers
regard it as an honor to be able to speak a little English. They
hope their efforts can help Beijing win the bid.
In order to improve people's English, the Beijing TV Station has
been running an educational program on how to learn English. Also,
Beijing Radio and Beijing Foreign Studies University have jointly
produced two educational programs, "100 English Sentences for
Beijingers" and "300 English Sentences for Beijingers",
which are broadcast on three radio frequencies four times every
day.
These programs have evoked wide repercussions in Beijing. Many
people have bought the teaching materials and have been listening
to and watching the programs, and taking an active part in the hotline
live programs.
Some work units are organizing their employees to learn together,
and some schools invite teachers to give English lessons to nearby
residents. English learning has become a major component of Beijingers'
spare-time cultural life.
Now the ratio of Beijingers with a fairly good knowledge of English
is 15 percent. The Beijing Municipal Government wishes to increase
the ratio substantially by encouraging more residents to learn and
speak English.
(People's Daily 04/02)
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