English-language institute inks deal with Cambridge Press

An English-language training institute in China is making its courses more international in an agreement with Cambridge University Press in England.

Lejiale English Teaching, which is affiliated with Tomorrow Advancing Life Education Group, one of the most popular private education companies in Beijing, signed a contract with Cambridge University Press, one of the oldest publishing companies in the world, on Aug 28.

Under the agreement, the two agreed to cooperate in teacher resources and methods as well as training teachers.

Under the deal, the teachers of Hello English will get professional and international training from Cambridge University Press.

"Over many years, we've developed methodologies and basic research to help students who learn English," said Peter Philips, CEO of Cambridge University Press. "What we have with our cooperation here is taking our methodologies and our research basis to build and provide a great experience to students in China."

This is the first time in China that Cambridge University Press is not taking an existing course and adapting it for China, but instead creating a new course in partnership with Lejiale to design something specifically for Chinese teachers and students.

Wu Xiaowei, director of Lejiale English Teaching, said the language material provided by Cambridge University Press is "fresh" and "has a close combination with practical life". For example, she said, some of the material in the textbooks are adapted TED speeches, given by outstanding people in fields that include technology, entertainment and design.

"By learning such texts, our English learners can keep pace with what is happening around the world and put what they learn into practice," she said.