Learning English can be as difficult and boring a job to some Chinese children as learning Chinese can be to some foreigners.

An English learning programme entitled "Wonderful Future," which aims to arouse children' interest in the language, has been launched by China Radio International.

Broadcast from 8:30 to 9:00 am daily at FM 91.5 mHz, the programme creates an easy, fun atmosphere in which English is taught with songs, jokes, short stories and small talk.

The programme's textbooks have been sent this week to 100 kindergartens in Beijing. "The programme is good as it encourages parents to learn English together with their children and to exchange small talk with their children in English. Parents and children are in this way 'classmates'," remarked Wu Beiqiu, a renowned expert on children' education.

"The whole of my family sings together and plays the roles in the stories told in the programme. Our child becomes more extrovert and is no longer shy about speaking English," said Huang Yuling, the mother of a five-year-old boy.
(China Daily September 19, 2003)