Jul. 13 – Foreigners visiting Beijing may soon have an easier time touring the city as authorities push for a new campaign that aims to teach English to majority of the capital’s residents.
The goal is to make Beijing a “world city,” according to state media. The campaign is a renewed effort from a similar drive launched in 2002 for the Beijing Olympics. All kindergarten schools in the city will be required to launch English courses in the next five years.
Moreover, it will be compulsory for at least 60 percent of all shop assistants, receptionists and hairdressers under 40 years old to take English tests by 2015. The same requirement will apply to 80 percent of police officers working in the capital.
Civil servants under 40 years old with at least a bachelor’s degree must also be able to speak a minimum of 1,000 English sentences. The campaign will lead to “greater convenience to foreigners working or studying in the capital and enhance international relations and cooperation.”
The campaign even has a dedicated web site, though there is no English option available at this time.
China has been pushing “English” for some time now. I would really like to know how successful they have been, thus far. It seems to me that the Orientals (Mongloids) don’t pick up English very easily.