More Beijing commuters are spending time stuck in traffic jams to polish their language skills, with sales of smart phone applications seeing a sharp rise this year.

Although the capital's chronic congestion is a headache for most, software developers are reaping the benefits as bus and subway passengers search for better ways to fill time.

"Dictionaries and language study programs, such as for English, French and Japanese, account for most of the mobile software downloaded by our users," said Zhang Keping at Shoujileyuan, a website that sells apps for cell phones.

The site's bestseller, Youdao, a Chinese-to-English dictionary, has been downloaded more than 1.1 million times since the end of last year. Zhang said mobile learning programs on sale in 2009 were downloaded just 100,000 times.

"With the fast development of smart phones and tablet PCs, (the market for) learning products have been developing quickly," he said. "Most of our customers are college students and young professionals."

Staff at three more tech firms echoed Zhang's comments: Diannaozhijia (or PChome), Yuanfang Shengshi and Powerplus, the first company to provide online courses and e-learning products in China.

"Mobile learning makes up almost 20 percent of our business," said Wang, marketing manager at Yuanfang Shengshi, who did not want his full name used. "Our clients include universities and companies. For one deal, our product can reach 500,000 users."

Many of these users, especially in the capital, are taking full advantage during morning and evening rush hours, according to a study by Sina, a major Chinese news and micro blogging website.

As of May 30, 55 percent of the more than 3,000 netizens who responded to its live online poll said they use mobile learning products, with 18.3 percent most frequently using it on buses and subways. English training software was the most popular (38 percent), with economic study guides second (16.5 percent).

Zhao Huijin, 24, who works at a travel agency, told METRO that she downloaded a language app for her iPhone and now reads it every day on the subway as she travels to work. "It makes English learning fun and I can make good use of the time," she said.

Jiang Yalong, a postgraduate student at Tsinghua University majoring in journalism, said he is addicted to checking up words and vocabulary on his cell phone outside of class.

"It gives me loads of information," he said excitedly. "Famous proverbs, bilingual news every day; it's really convenient when dealing with thorny problems. It can be used anywhere and at any time, which makes my study more efficient."

However, not everyone is sold on in-transit teaching tools. Li Chenguang, a self-professed "gadget geek" who works for a Beijing telecom company, argued that if the software is just being used to kill time, it cannot be as effective as real study.

"In crowded and uncomfortable subways or buses, I can't concentrate on anything, let alone study a foreign language," he added. "Besides, these products are often too simple and rough."

Education expert Xiong Bingqi agreed. He warned against students relying too heavily on cell phone software, as the programs are largely designed as entertainment.

"The effect relates to a study plan and learning attitude, not the learning mechanism," said the director of the 21st Century Education Research Institute. "Combining the technologies with traditional study would be better option."

Liu Yujie and Wang Wen contributed to this story.

China Daily

(China Daily 06/07/2011)