Some 50,000 citizens flocked into Chaoyang Park in the eastern
Beijing to kick off the annual campaign promoting English-learning
last Saturday.
Declaring the "English-learning Week" open, Beijing Vice Mayor
Zhang Mao made a speech in English, noting that the municipal
government has encouraged Beijingners to learn and use foreign
languages with an aim to successfully host the 29th Olympic
Games.
As a result of the massive participation in recent years, the
number of the citizens who can speak foreign languages may reach
four million this year, most of whom being public servants and the
workers at the service sector, campaign organizers said.
Lectures, meetings with well-known persons, interactive games,
book sales, foreign language corners and donations featured the
campaign which attracted also representatives of education agencies
of foreign countries, foreign students and foreign businessmen in
Beijing, embassy staff as well as overseas media.
A highlight of the activity was the recruitment of foreign
language volunteers, who will go into neighborhoods to help
learners resolve their questions.
(BOCOG May 16, 2006)
