You know, not long ago, my wife's sister told us a funny but also kind of a sad story.

So her son, who's in fourth grade now, came to her the other day while doing his homework and asked,Mom, why do I have to study English?

And then she froze for a second there and then said,Well, because everybody does it.

I laughed when I heard that, but the more I thought about it, the more it hit me.

This is actually how most parents in China think about English.

It's something that you have to do, like math or physics, without really understanding why.

You know, for many families, English only seems important if the child goes abroad some day.

If not, then English just becomes a subject to pass.

Set of grammar rules and endless vocabulary lists.

Something that ends after 高考 or CT4,But I honestly think that it's one of the biggest misunderstandings in education today.

You know, because English isn't just a foreign language.

It's a skill that opens doors to information, technology and opportunities.

You don't need to leave China to see this.

Think about it.

Every major AI tool, every scientific paper, every new invention starts in English.

The best tutorials, the newest research, the most inspiring TED Talks are all first published in English.

So if your child understands English, then you can directly learn from the source, which is always good.

They don't have to wait for someone else to translate the world for them.

That's not about going abroad.

That's about keeping up with the times.

And even in China, English shows up everywhere.

Tech companies, universities, international projects all use English.

AI tools like, say, chat.

gpt, for example, works best in English.

Imagine two students talking to chat.

gpt.

One types in English and the other one in Chinese.

Of course, the one who uses English gets richer, more natural, more detailed results.

Not because AI is biased or prefers foreigners, but because English is the default language of the digital age.

And that's why I always tell parents English isn't about leaving China.

It's about making sure your child can thrive in tomorrow's China.

So next time your kiddo asks you, why do I have to study English, please don't say, because everyone does it.

Tell them, because English helps you understand the world and helps you stay connected to the future.

学英语不是为了出国,而是为了跟上世代。

And that is something every parent should understand.