For the second time, Beijing citizen Jiang Hai took her 4-year-old son to the annual Beijing Foreign Language Festival, hoping the environment get her son interested in the language.

 

"When he grows up, he will definitely have to communicate with foreigners. I hope he learns English as early as possible," Jiang told Xinhua during the festival last weekend.

 

The festival, which started in 2002, emphasizes communication, interactivity and the practical use of foreign languages.

 

To try to teach the little boy English, Jiang tells him stories in English and teaches him English words at any time and any place.

 

For many years, English has been considered one of the three most important subjects in Chinese school, along with Chinese and Math. Most provinces and cities offer English classes from elementary school, but the tradition of emphasizing English appears to be on the wane.

 

In Beijing, the value of English will be reduced to 100 points from the current 150 in the college entrance exam in 2016. 

 

Provinces like Jiangsu and Shandong are also reported to be downplaying English's role. Despite this, more and more parents like Jiang are urging their kids to start learning at an early age.

 

Wang Xue, event director of an English school for learners as young as 4 years old, said the company has been expanding due to the strong demand from parents, as some parents believed English should be taught as early as possible.

 

The cost, however, is high. A survey late last year by Beijing Foreign Language University showed that in 2012, Chinese parents spent 14 billion CNY (about 2 billion USD) on their kids' early English education.

 

According to Wang, the fee for one hour of native speaker's class is around 130 CNY, adding up to about 20,000 CNY for a one-year program. Some schools even offer program worth 40,000 CNY, in which kids are taught one to one by an English native speaker.

 

Li Wei has had his 7-year-old son in such English programs for four years. In Beijing where the average annual disposable income is 40,000 CNY, he said the money is well spent.

 

For native English speakers in China, Chinese parents' passion means more opportunities. Jasmine Briggs, who is from England and began teaching English in China in February, said she was impressed by Chinese parents. 

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