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Elderly Beijing Residents Attend
English Classes to Prepare
for 2008 Olympics
Channel News Asia
China
September 7, 2004
China's athletes are not the only ones gearing up for the next Olympics.
With the 2008 Games due in Beijing, residents too want to be good hosts by brushing up on their command of English.
Our correspondent visits a group of senior citizens whose enthusiasm in learning the language certainly hasn't diminished with age.
In one Beijing neighbourhood, English lessons are conducted every week.
The students are no fresh-faced youngsters but elderly folks in their 50s, with the oldest - a 71-year-old.
Most of them do not have prior command of the English language - not even letters of the alphabet.
But for two years, they have never missed a class, conducted by a retired government official.
One of their favourite class activities is singing English songs.
While the young have various avenues to learn English, these senior citizens say they are trying to make up for lost time, and lost opportunities.
Wang Lianying, English student, said: "Unlike the young, it's difficult to remember what I've been taught. I repeat the sentences over and over again at home. Children only have to repeat 10 times but I have to repeat a hundred times."
Lessons are conducted free of charge and eagerly lapped up by the residents who want to be ready when the next Olympic Games heads to Beijing.
Zhang Yuting, Volunteer English teacher, said: "One goal of the Olympics is to create a better social and linguistic environment. As ordinary citizens, we can also contribute to the Olympics. I have some basics in English but it's not that good, so I also learn along the way."
It may seem like hard work now but the students are confident that come 2008, they can, in their simple English, make visitors to Beijing feel more welcome.
Feng Lianrong, English student, said: "We should be able to greet visitors, and guide them if they get lost. We also hope to be able to talk about the places of interest in Beijing, or show them to the sporting venues."
Even though their accents and pronunciations are far from perfect, what is certainly commendable is their strong spirit of learning, dedication, as well as determination.
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