(Chinese) Students urged to practice foreign tongue (English)
As part of an activity organized by the British embassy's cultural and education office this month, students at Shanghai Jiao Tong University had to face foreign chefs when they lined up in the canteen for lunch.
Dare to Speak, organized in Chinese universities and schools, aims to encourage students to speak English as much as possible.
Lyu Hui, product manager of IELTS (the International English Language Testing System) in China with the British embassy, said they hope to encourage more English learners and IELTS takers in China to speak and practice more through real-life scenarios.
"Many Chinese students are nervous and shy when talking to foreigners, although many were actually willing to speak," she said. "They don't know how to start an easy and carefree conversation."
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90882/8468508.html
Chinese have a language advantage, since they will know English, the most widely spoken language, as a second language, and they will know Chinese, the next most widely spoken language, as a first language.
Most Americans will know English, and some will know another language that is less widely spoken than Chinese.
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