The Biggest Classroom

Turn on the radio. After a day’s work, now, it’s English time. 

“Welcome! This is the English Broadcasting Channel, and I am the broadcast announcer for this learning period. Hope you will enjoy the study journey!”

This was the daily routine for most people learning English in the 1970s in China, that is, listening to the radio.

At that time, the importance and effectiveness of English learning had just begun to draw public attention. However, access to learning materials was limited. For those who were willing to learn English, the tiny radio served as the only window to the world of English in their limited spare time.

Mr. Guan was one of millions of workers who worked in a famous Chinese factory in Beijing at that time. He was labelled as “a crazy guy” by his co-workers because he devoted nearly every single moment to learning English, whether it be on the bicycle, on the stairs, or elsewhere. He tried to seize every chance to practice, for his only access to standard English learning was through the radio broadcasts. Although he spoke English with many mistakes at first, he made the biggest progress among his colearners in his industry.

Opportunities always wait for those who are prepared. When an international company came to start a brand-new business chain, Mr. Guan was chosen to be one of the original team members since he was the only one who could use English to communicate among the workers.

And what was it like on the other side of the broadcast?

Many young English teachers and senior English learners were well prepared for every single minute of the whole class. They faced millions of listeners and students whom they had never met before. They didn’t know each other, and perhaps they would never be connected again, however, at that moment, the passion for English and self-development linked them together through the radio waves across the country. The learners could contact
the hosts through letters to communicate their suggestions, questions or insights.

Many years later after the program ended, Miss Zhang, one of the teachers on the radio, received a call from a man who claimed to be one of her students. She didn’t recognize the gentleman because they had never met before.
This student was one of millions who were on the receiving end of the broadcast. The man came from a small remote village but eventually made his way to become one of the teachers at BFSU, just like Miss Zhang herself. This wouldn’t have happened to him had he not listened to and learned from the English radio broadcasts.

The broadcasting method provided an open classroom for millions of learners on a regular basis. However, there is an even bigger classroom that exists, that is, our willingness to learn for self-development and for the needs of the country. With hope and determination, there is always a class to join, to share and to transform.

作者：罗唯一 北京外国语大学