At 75, Beijinger guides a new path with language

[Amelia]

At 75, Beijinger guides a new path with language

Beijing 2008 Olympics and the World-blog

August 10, 2008

http://olympics.blogs.cnn.com/

BEIJING, China — You’ve got your walking shoes on, your backpack is filled with adequate water to counter the fluid-sapping Beijing heat, and you’re on schedule to see your first live Olympics event at the Bird’s Nest stadium.

But in this sprawling capital, you’ve quickly become lost, and you have no idea which way to turn.

Thank goodness then for Beijing’s Olympic volunteer guides, who have spent years learning English to deal with just this situation.

One popular learning center is the Golden Years English Salon, which started in 2004.

I’m welcomed into the classroom like a long-lost cousin and quickly introduced by 70-year-old Summer, one of the founders of the institution.

“David, where are you from!? Tell everyone about yourself!” he enthusiastically requests.

The class, with an average size of about 60 people, is free to attend, and the teachers, usually one Westerner and one Chinese, are unpaid volunteers.

The group sessions are held every Saturday morning and afternoon, and are attended by people from all over the city.

They’re rowdy, friendly and keen, and their enthusiasm is infectious.

“Some people here want to learn English to become Olympics volunteers, others for a hobby. I wanted both,” Summer says.

“When I was young, I realized English is the international language, and wanted to serve the people from all over the world during the Beijing 2008 Games.”

I leave the class and visit another Golden Years English Salon founder, 75-year-old Jason Yang, who works in an Olympics information booth in the Sanlitun area for four to six hours per daily, six days a week.

A former mechanical engineer, Yang says his English improved dramatically once he began attending classes, and cites the Olympics and his grandson as the main catalysts for learning English.

“After Beijing won its Olympics bid in 2001, I knew many would come and need help in 2008. So I thought ‘maybe I can help them and show them the way’,” he explains.

“Also in 2001, my grandson was 5 and coming home from school and trying to speak English words. So if I learned English, I could also speak to him in this language.”

During mid-interview, Jason is sidetracked by a Westerner asking for help, and quickly becomes animated in his instructions.

Deed successfully done, his grin betrays his satisfaction.

“It’s great, but it won’t end here,” he says. “After the Games, I will help in schools, hospitals, and other communities. So many Chinese people want to learn English, and I’ll help them.”