Mad About English (1 x 60' & 1 x 90')
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Another year to go before the 2008 Olympics but the first race has already begun. All across Beijing, the Chinese are falling over themselves to speak English - once the forbidden tongue of the decadent West. Since China’s successful bid to host the next Olympics, its citizens have been stricken with what the Chinese call ying wen re or 'study English fever', sparking a passionate love affair with the world’s most-used language. Mad About English! captures this charming and hilarious linguistic revolution through the lives of ordinary Chinese citizens in the run up to the Olympics. From taxi drivers and school kids to elderly retirees and evangelist-styled English teachers, we witness a nation singularly obsessed with speaking English. The Games have provided an unprecedented push for picking up the language. Along with spitting, bad manners and smelly taxis, unintelligible English is high on the list of things Olympics organisers want to ban. Mad About English! explores this curious and amusing linguistic phenomenon brought about by a city-wide grassroots programme to promote English among those likely to come into contact with the Games' international visitors. (The goal, by the way, is to produce 10 million fluent English speakers in the capital by next summer!). More than just an English fad, Mad About English! captures the new China in all its glory. As many Chinese see the Olympics as the nation’s coming-out party and a milestone in its ascent to power, anticipation of the games is fuelling a surge of national pride and a ferocious hunger to speak the language of the world. Inspiring, comical and charming, watch the Chinese go completely Mad About English!