SUPER CITY

Apr. 2005

My dream

I have a dream that one day all the foreign businessmen could grasp the Chinese language, enjoy their lives in China, and return to their motherlands with their good memories in China.The origin of my dream,As the local representative of the Jikei Group of Japan, I came back to Shanghai in 2001. I have had a lot of chances to communicate with the Japanese who live in Shanghai because of my job. However, what a pity was that a lot of Japanese employees and managers knew little Chinese. Most of them who have already lived in China for more than 5 years, could just say such easy words like “Miss **, you are so pretty”. Like that, I wonder how they could communicate with the Chinese people. And what’s the reason for this phenomenon? I am wondering, whether they like China, the Chinese language or understand China or not? Or, maybe they all have drivers who can speak Japanese well and interpreters who always do the interpretations for them. If so, they may think it is not necessary to learn the Chinese language. At that time, I even couldn’t believe that they loved China when they said so. However, the more I communicate with them, the more pity I feel for their study limitations, say, they must be responsible for their company’s duty, live in a very nervous life, go for frequent business trips and deal with the endless business entertainments. How could they have their own time to study Chinese? And they are really expecting to learn Chinese. Therefore, for them, to grasp the Chinese language is a dream that needs long time to be made to come true.

The first step to make the dream come true

I started to analyze their Chinese-study limitations as follows,

1They can not go to the university to have the daytime classes

2Conventional courses are not fit for them for they could not take a leave from time to time if needed.

3 Even if they choose one-on-one course, they could only have the class after reservation is made which is troublesome for they have to cancel the reservations often.

4 They may also think of having private teachers, but again they may probably be embarrassed after many times of not having lessons on time. Therefore, after a period of time, they may give up. 

5 Besides, they may be so tired after work that it is the new burden for them to study a new language. Even if they have made the decision to go to school for study, it is really hard for them to persevere until the goal truly achieved. Concluding from my own language-learning experience, to learn a new language not only need to use the brain, but also need to use the body. Therefore, I try to describe an ideal place to solve the problem, where is

1 an open study Sharon

2 a place for real Chinese culture experience

3 a place for foreign friends to communicate with Chinese businessmen freely

Steps to make the dream come true

1 I got the support from the Jikei Group from Japan

2 I got the support from the Japanese bank

3 I got the support from the Bureau of Education of Luwan district in Shanghai and their extracurricular-universities. I got the business license, too; I got an old French Villa which has a 80-year’s history in Shanghai.

4  Guided by the deputy president of International Chinese department of East China Normal University, we compiled our own textbook.

5 Culture elites in Shanghai hold the culture lectures every week.

6 We have the excellent teacher group, who are chosen from 3000 candidates.

Do not give up the dream to study Chinese! Let’s share the dream and work hard together!

Yuanyuan· Sun