Is English more commonly understood in China now, than it was even 4-5 years back?

Question

I gather this impression from the sheer number of online magazines, websites featuring business and technical content and other news stories emerging from China. Xinhua, Shanghai Daily, China Business Review, People.com.cn all have English subscriptions.

While 4-5 year back there was practically none of this available, it seems no longer the case - a lot of information about China is now available in English making it easier for foreigners.

On a comparative scale, I found the English websites from China to be more in numbers and quality strength compared to many other non-English countries - comparable to Russia, Germany and Scandinavian countries and better than Italy, France or Brazil which tend to have more content in their local languages.

Also it shows in Wikipedia that most youngsters in Shanghai are comfortable in English as it is now compulsarily taught in middle school - does that mean a high level of "street fluency"?

I guess I'm impressed there's way to go !

Answer 1

Yes, it is but don't expect what you call "street fluency". Many Chinese learn about grammer and spelling of words in school but are not good at speaking it. You'll find that except in the major hotels and tourist related sites that much of the spoken English cannot be compared to what you get in native English speaking countries. However like you said, many Chinese know the importance of speaking good English especially when doing business outside China and there's a drive to get Chinese exposed to English for the coming Olympic Games in 2008.

On the internet and major publications catering to the English readers there are plenty of websites and publications.

Answer 2

The reality is that there are "two Chinas". No, not politically (I'm not getting embroiled in the Taiwan debate =p), but socially and economically...

There's the China of modern cities and the bourgeoisie: Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong... where many people live in comfortable flats, get a decent education, and receive a monthly paycheque. These are the places where many are proficient in English, and there are certainly enough English-speaking Chinese people to embrace English-language media and translate Chinese websites into English.

Then there's the China of grimy factory towns and the backward countryside, where people toil seven days a week for a meagre living. They and their children certainly aren't able to read English-language newspapers (a fair proportion probably can't even read Chinese). Unfortunately, this China is far bigger in population and area.

Answer 3

I don't think so. Maybe in Shanghai but not in other parts of China. Most people from the provinces still don't know how to speak english. Even there hotels, airports, police doesn't speak the language. Some companies offer english speaking employees to help it's foreign customers but still their english is not good.

Answer 4

Not many speak it. Mainly, business people, college students and those in hotels and tourist areas. The cabs do not and only in a few in the airport.

Answer 5

yes, it seems that the english language is spreading all over the world at a very rapid pace

Answer 6

I was in Beijing last May, and the only people who spoke English well enough to communicate in it were the "art students" trying to scam Western tourists. :(

Answer 7

more people speak english now but there are only eight million english speakers of a nation of around 1.3 billion people.