Podcast

Govt puts word out it wants to improve English

Updated: 2010-07-13 13:16

 

進入英語學習論壇下載音頻   去聽寫專區一展身手

 

英語學習論壇的“聽力練習區”正式與大家見面啦。歡迎大家來這里練習聽力，交流經驗，共同進步。

本練習區的音頻文件選自英語點津的“聽中國日報”、“VOA常速”、“流行金曲”及“名人演講”等欄目，題材豐富，難度各異，適合不同階段的英語學習者。

英語點津會定期發布音頻材料，大家可以在跟帖中貼出自己聽寫出的音頻文字稿。每個音頻材料的標準文字稿會在帖子發布兩天后公布。

進入該文章的聽寫練習頁面

 

In China, it is possible to encounter hilarious Chinglish mistakes on public transportation and at other facilities.

While many expats joke about the phenomenon, Chinglish is a serious problem.

Since the 2008 Olympics, Beijing has been receiving more and more foreign tourists, students, and employees. Unlike a decade ago, not all of these people are businessmen who can afford full-time translators or students who have studied the Chinese language for years.

How much trouble does a printed mistake cause for a foreigner who doesn't know Chinese? What if he or she needs emergent information but cannot understand the Chinglish, or, even worse, pinyin "translations"? It must be very frustrating for foreigners to deal with Chinglish-only public servants.

Liora Pearlman is a stay-at-home mother who has been in Beijing for five years. As an American, she said that she has been seeing more and more poorly written English signs.

"At first, the only signs I noticed were in shops, things like 'Bump don't head' and I thought it was cute. Now, I just have to look outside of our apartment complex to see several examples of bad English," said Pearlman.

She has gone as far as mentioning examples of poor English on signs to shop owners in a friendly way. According to Pearlman, the shopkeepers "didn't seem to care too much".

She said she has hesitated to report such things to the government for fear that she may get someone in trouble. "Is it really necessary to get the government involved?" she asked.

But the government has answered Pearlman's rhetorical question by announcing a four-year-policy aimed at improving Beijing's public English offerings and making things more convenient for foreigners.

The policy, "Establishing the Capital's International Language Conditions Project Plan (2011-15)," has not only the goal of clearing up Chinglish on signs but specific objectives that extend to other sectors, such as improving citizens' English proficiency through fun activities, standardizing information services and increasing bilingual media.

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）

About the broadcaster:

Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.