China is probably one of the few countries in the world where learning English has almost become a national obsession. However, most people cost much but gain little. Our teaching and test systems have deviated from the initial purpose of English learning in that it teaches and encourages elite English instead of practical one. Beneficiaries are limited to those who intend to study overseas. Yet, to the millions who have little use of the language, it is a great waste of time, energy and resources.

What's more outrageous is that the importance of English skills has been exaggerated to the extent that it overweighs almost everything in assessing a person's competency. Learning a language is, in a sense, a study of the culture on which the language is based. In that light, we should put more emphasis on learning Chinese than on English.We're losing somthing traditional and basal.

And the problem is English is now used as a tool for various tests rather than a tool for communication. In Hong Kong, children in the kindergartens are speaking English. They are learning the language in the simplest way, by listening and speaking. Look at us in the mainland, even a graduate student cannot speak the language properly or read English newspapers after some 20 years' efforts. Why? It's because we pay too much attention on grammars.

We are not learning English,but Chinglish...

Interesting ZG. Here we want our kids to learn other languages as well. Perhaps oneday everyone will be able to communicate and peace by the people will happen, rather then the illusions governments try to illustrate.

I hope that day will come soon,I'm tired and waste much time

Learning a language is a good thing,but while we learning a foreign language,we should not lose our own.

in 20 years people will speak their own language to another, and the other will hear the speech in his own language. how? little very perfect simultaneous translating devices close to your brain. (or so).

Presently my family, (and a number of other people here in the States) are learning Mandarin. So maybe with some hybrid of the two we will meet in the middle.