OLYMPIC ENGLISH LESSONS

With the Olympic Games coming to the end the Chinese have been making the most of the English language…

Apparently the 2008 Games have given birth to a new genre of paperbacks here: ‘Olympic English’ phrasebooks. They’re selling fast in Beijing, where a handful of giant, state-run bookstores monopolize the reading scene. China’s Olympic organizers have pumped out texts tailored to volunteers’, seniors’ and security officers’ specific needs.

What qualifies as ‘Olympic English?’

Here’s a sampling from ‘Aoyun Yingyu Sanbaiju‘ (’300 English Sentences for Olympic Games’):

Greetings
Welcome to Beijing.
How do you do?
Did you come to China for the Olympic Games?
How long will you stay in China?
China’s porcelain and silk are famous.
It’s very hot in July and August in beijing. The air temperature is around 30 degrees centigrade.

Giving directions
Are you lost?
Beijing Shooting Range? Not far from here. You can go by foot.
Do you see that white house? The public toilet is over there.
It is electronic. You can touch the screen, the map is there.
I will go to the Capital Indoor Stadium, too. Follow me please.

Day’s topic
It’s raining cats and dogs. 
What’s your name?
It’s August 8th.
Sorry, I’m really/so/terribly sorry.
It’s my fault.
Will you ever forgive me?

Being a taxi driver
Where to, sir?
Please stop smoking.
Here’s your change. Bye-bye.
Are you carsick? 
Let’s open the window.

Working in a restaurant
Here’s an English menu.
How do you want your steak?
Enjoy your meal.

Selling at a store
The red t-shirt fits you.
This is the latest fashion.
The purse is cheap.
I’m afraid I can’t bring the price down.

Topics for sports
Let’s go watch the football match.
Could you teach me something about equestrian?
I’m a green hand at handball.
I like rhythmic gymnastics. How about you?

Topics for Olympics
What’s the slogan of the 29th Olympics?
One world, one dream.

Watching a game
The excellent athlete was eliminated in the preliminaries.
Hi, Mike. What a game! I’m sure that our team will win for the final.
Why did Cameroon’s team lose to French’s team.
Wang Tao overtook his counterpart 3 to 1.
China may win the gold medal.
My heart is jumping!
Our team losed to the Japanese team.
Good shot!

Source www.theseattletimes.com