English and Reform and Opening up Policy of China
Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon! I’m very glad to be here with all of you! Today I’d like to share my stories and opinions about English and Reform and Opening up Policy of China.
When I was a child of 5 years old, I met two foreigners for the first time.I was playing with mom beside the Moon Lake.A lot of neighbors gathered around the two foreigners, talking and laughing, because they had never seen foreigners before and didn’t know any English.My mom was an English teacher at that time.She had taught me a little English.So I went up and said to them in a loud voice:” Hello! Where are you from?” All the neighbors were quiet down immediately.The men were surprised for a short moment but then smiled.They gave me a long answer and a bottle of drink that I had never seen, it was Coca-Cola.I was so happy and said in a louder voice: ”Thank you!” Of course, I shared my gift with all my relatives and was praised a lot on that day.
Twenty-seven years paed, my daughter is 5 years old now.She can speak much more English than I could then.She learns English from some Americans in her kindergarten.All of her schoolmates can speak English and sing English songs.They are used to playing with foreigners.To my surprise, when I attended the parents meeting of the kindergarten, I found that all the parents could speak English smoothly.I recognize that English has come deep into our lives in these 30 years.
Thirty years ago, it was very rare to see foreigners in China.Now more and more foreigners come to our country to teach English, to learn Chinese culture, or to work.We sing English songs, we watch English movies, we read English newspapers, we enjoy foreign foods and drinks, we manage busine with foreigners, even we travel overseas.English has changed our lives a lot, and all of these changes are attributed to the Reform and Opening up Policy of China.It is the Policy that brings English into our lives.
Benefiting from the Reform and Opening up Policy in 1978, China has become one of the most attractive countries in the world.The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games showed the world how beautiful and fantastic China is, how proud and confident the Chinese people are, and how great and unique Chinese culture is.Such succeful and amazing Olympic Games would not have been poible if not been for the Policy in the past thirty years.
The great Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping opened a doorway to wealth and happine for us 30 years ago.I strongly believe that as long as we master the tool of English, and keep carrying out the great policy, we are sure to make our country wealthier and stronger.
