Never too late to study

“成都大运会来了

我们村里会迎来很多外国游客”

这个朴素的想法鼓舞着

成都市温江区岷江村一群农村妇女们

聚到一起学习英语

听课、唱英文歌、手机打卡背单词

四年来从未间断

"Chengdu FISU World University Games is coming, and our village will greet many foreign tourists." This simple idea inspired a group of rural women in Minjiang Village, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, to learn English, and it has last for four years.

白天，她们是在村里民宿上班的阿姨、在家里带孙儿的奶奶、在地里劳作的农人。而晚上的教室里，她们是最认真勤奋的学生，笔记本上密密麻麻记满单词。她们说认为面对面沟通才会有真正的交流。语言也为她们打开了一扇窗口，这些农村阿姨们所触摸到的那个世界，日益变得更深刻、更广阔。

During the daytime, some of them work at the village B&Bs, some take care of their grandchildren, or work in the fields. In the classroom at night, they are the most serious and diligent students, with their notebooks filled with notes. They believe that face-to-face communication is the only way to have real communication. Language learning also opened a window for them, and their world became increasingly deeper and broader.

“I love you” 怎么说出口

第一堂英语课开始于2019年的夏夜，十几位妇女在村委会的召集下聚到办公室围了一桌。老师是村里的返乡大学生，老师把词句写在黑板上，“学生们”抄下来，再跟读两遍。

The first English lesson began on a summer night in 2019. The teacher, a returning university student from this village, wrote the words and phrases on the blackboard, and the "students" wrote them down and read them twice.

村民正在集中学习简单的英语日常用语

阿姨们跟读容易，自己念却有些难。她们在抄录的单词旁边“发明”了汉语谐音——“thanks 旦可斯”“have fun嘿雾放”；针对食物，有“noodles 努豆是”“chicken 切可”“pear 拍儿”；还有“Go straight 沟是最得”“left 来佛特”等指路场景。几乎把外国人来村的吃喝玩乐都“排练”了一遍。

It was easy to follow the teacher, but difficult to read by themselves. They "invented" Chinese harmonics next to the words they transcribed - "thanks is Dankesi", "have fun is Heiwufang"; for food, there are "noodles is Nudoushi", "chicken is Qieke", "pear is Paier"; and for directions, "go straight is Goushizuide", "left is Laifute". They almost "rehearsed" all the situations when foreigners eat, drink in the village.

村民的英语笔记本

当“I love you”第一次从阿姨们嘴里念出来的时候，造成了小小的骚动。老师解释，这是外国人表达亲切的方式，通俗来说就是“你人真好。”互相练习时，阿姨们捂着脸一边笑一边念，念完赶紧害羞地别过头去。这晚下课后，她们围在桌边讨论起来：I love you，到底能不能说？最后大家一致同意，找到了一个满意的解释——“我们是代表村子爱他们，代表成都爱他们。”

When learning the term "I love you", it caused a little commotion. The teacher explained that this is a foreigner's way of expressing affection, which means "you are so nice." They practiced shyly, and after class, they gathered around to discuss: is it appropriate to say "I love you"? Finally they reached an agreement: "We love them on behalf of the village, we also love them on behalf of Chengdu."

从英语学习中看见更广阔的人生

学习英语的时候，杨冬华有了属于自己的时刻。为了田地、生意和家庭，她操劳了大半辈子，而翻开书本，一个新世界徐徐展开。

When learning English, Yang Donghua has a moment for herself. She had worked most of her life for her fields, her business and her family. After unfolding the pages of her books, a new world arises.

4年来，杨冬华随身带着课堂用的笔记本，得空就拿出来翻一翻。通过笔记本里记录的英语表达和英文歌曲，她看到了未曾见过的生活和风光。孙女放学回来，她也要缠着孙女问，“学了什么新单词没有？”“学了要教家婆。”

For four years, Yang has been carrying her notebook with her, once she has time, she takes it out to browse. Through the English expressions and English songs recorded in the notebook, she has seen life and scenery she had never seen before. When her granddaughter returns from school, she always asks her granddaughter, "Did you learn any new words?", "You must teach me if you learnt!"

杨冬华谈自己学习英语的经历

这些学英语的农村女性们经常面对所学没有用武之地的误解。良田屋舍和儿孙绕膝，似乎如此就可以度过一生。但杨冬华说，总有一天要去世界走走，看看外面的世界。只要是向前走，生命的每分每秒都值得。

These rural English-learners face the misconception that what they have learned is useless. It seems like her whole life is all about a piece of field, a house, and her descendants. But Yang says that one day she will go out to explore the world. As long as you are moving forward, every second of your life is meaningful.