manninchina

My Chinese sucks, I admit it. I know enough to get around, basic conversation, bar talk, restaurants, etc… I should know more after being here for 1 year, but I don’t. However, I’m not driving foreigners around the city getting them lost, or flying airplanes in China.
Should international pilots from China have to speak English (at least, enough English to communicate with flight control)? Of course!

I came across this via Virtual China. I do disagree with him on this point of having an alternate form of communication…they should speak English, period.

I’m not saying everyone in China needs to speak English. In fact, more people around the world should learn Chinese. But, if China wants to grow and gain more opportunities and respect around the world, English really needs to be a focus.

Last night, I decided that from now until the start of the Olympics, I will ask every taxi driver that I get a ride with whether or not they can speak English. I will ask in English first, then Chinese. If they can speak English, I will test for key words (like…airport, forbidden city, olympic park, gymnastics, etc…). I think a monthly view of this will be more interesting.

So far, the tally is … 1 taxi - no English.