Despite government clampdown, Chinese upbeat about learning English

English is a core subject in primary and secondary schools, and a compulsory paper in the national "gaokao", or college entrance exams. PHOTO: AFP
New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

BEIJING - Growing anti-Western nationalism has seen China downgrade the learning and official use of English, but that has not suppressed demand among the Chinese for ways to master the language.

Students and working adults have turned increasingly to live streams, drama classes and forming study sessions.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.