Everyone Says English (Beginner)

Author: Hou Yiling
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-01-01
Features: With China's entry into the WTO, the acceleration of opening up and participation in global competition, and especially the 2008 Olympics to be held in Beijing, Beijing urgently needs a large number of professionals proficient in foreign languages and capable of direct communication with foreigners, as well as high-quality service providers. To build a first-class modern international metropolis by 2010, Beijing also urgently needs to create a language environment and an atmosphere of international exchange. However, the English proficiency of Beijing residents, particularly their oral communication skills, falls far short of the requirements for building an international metropolis and the demands of international exchanges. To address this, the Beijing Municipal Committee and the Beijing Municipal Government proposed that, based on Beijing's status and functions, the English proficiency of its residents should be comprehensively improved, especially their oral communication skills, to enhance the overall quality of the citizens and create a better humanistic environment, investment environment, tourism environment, and high-quality service environment. In collaboration with 11 municipal commissions and offices, including the Beijing Municipal Education Commission, the Beijing Municipal Committee for Spiritual Civilization Construction, the Beijing Municipal Economic Commission, the Beijing Municipal Commercial Commission, the Beijing Municipal Rural Work Commission, the Beijing Municipal Construction Commission, the Beijing Municipal Commission for Foreign Economic and Trade, the Beijing Municipal Municipal Administration and Management Commission, the Beijing Municipal Transport Bureau, the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, and the Beijing Municipal Local Taxation Bureau, a standardized, focused, and highly targeted Beijing English Oral Proficiency Certificate Examination was launched. This examination is designed to meet the needs of Beijing residents in improving their English oral and listening skills and is suitable for the 2008 Olympics.
The target audience for the English Oral Proficiency Certificate Examination primarily includes professionals, employed workers, and the general public across various industries, departments, and enterprises; it also targets students in all levels of education systems in Beijing, including primary schools, junior high schools, high schools, vocational schools, private schools, adult colleges, and regular universities. Organizing the English Oral Proficiency Certificate Examination to improve oral communication skills is not only an image project for the enhancement of Beijing residents' quality but also a major reform in English teaching within the education system. To support the launch of this examination, the Beijing Municipal Education Commission specially organized renowned domestic experts and scholars to compile the book Everyone Speaks English as the designated training and examination material for the Beijing English Oral Proficiency Certificate Examination. This three-volume series is designed for primary, intermediate, and advanced examination needs.
The key features of this textbook series are its departure from the traditional model of English teaching, which emphasizes grammar and the perfection of academic systems. Instead, it adopts a step-by-step approach, focusing on oral training and addresses the difficulties Chinese learners face in learning foreign languages. It boldly employs innovative teaching methods such as project-based learning and situational teaching, making it engaging, memorable, and highly practical for oral training. This book can serve as a training material for English oral proficiency across various industries and can also be used as a textbook for English oral proficiency in regular primary and secondary schools, vocational schools, regular universities, and adult colleges. The content of this book has been reviewed and approved by renowned domestic and international experts and scholars. During the compilation and publication of this book, strong support was provided by relevant departments of the municipal government. Special thanks are also extended to Liu Yang, Shao Heping, Tan Deshen, Shi Wenlong, Yi Rong, Rong Yanning, Feng Jiasheng, and other comrades who made significant contributions to this book.
The book is divided into 35 units, covering topics in business, catering, tourism, transportation, and the service industry, essentially encompassing all aspects of daily life. Each unit includes three dialogues that explore the topic from different perspectives.