Shenzhen police officers practice English for games

(Shenzhen Daily)
Updated: 2006-12-12 14:28

BEIJING, Dec. 12 -- More than 40 police officers from the Shenzhen Municipal Public Security Bureau attended a special English club Monday afternoon in preparation for FISU's inspection of the bureau on Dec. 13.

Two police officers, Huang Fengzhu and Xiao Tianshan, both officers with the entry-exit department who will brief FISU guests in English on Shenzhen police's security drills and antiterrorism equipment, rehearsed their presentation.

Their speeches were enthusiastically praised by two American teachers, Dawn Byers from Iowa and Andrew Gottula from Nebraska. Byers has been a regular teacher at the police's English club since it was founded in March, while Gottula was a guest teacher specially invited to help with the two officers' English presentation yesterday.

"They are doing an excellent job. It sounds like an exciting demonstration," said Gottula, an English teacher at Shenzhen Radio and TV University.

The two teachers gave detailed suggestions on pronunciation and wording. "Some of the technical words sound unfamiliar to native speakers like us, so we suggested they change them. We also asked them to stress more syllables so that the introduction would be easier to understand," said Gottula and Byers.

Having worked with the police officers in the weekly English club for nine months, Byers said teaching them was a unique experience. "We talk about police-related issues and current topics. While I teach them English, they are teaching me about the topics," said the graduate of international peace and conflict resolution from American University.

The two American teachers were also impressed by the officers' easygoing approach to the English club - belying the smart way they picked up English.




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