Whether it is for their academic or professional future, or to learn more about the outside world, young Chinese are falling over themselves to learn English, turning English training into an industry.

The latest report on consumption in China, conducted by the Social Survey Institute of China (SSIC), claims that the total value of the country's English training market has reached 15 billion yuan, equal to the annual production output of a mid-sized city.

There are now more than 50,000 English training organizations in China, according to the report.

Some English training classes help students prepare the TOFEL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and GRE (Graduate Record Examination) before going overseas to study, other courses help white collar workers improve their oral English or their business and financial English.

Some management and finance courses are also taught in English nowadays, allowing trainees to improve their professional knowledge and their language proficiency at the same time.

Li Fangran, an employee in the legal consultation division of the Agricultural Bank of China in Beijing, said she had just completed a three-month-long oral English training course, which cost 800 yuan a month.

"The class was helpful. At least now I dare open my mouth and speak English," she said, explaining that she needs English because her bank has overseas business. More importantly, many of her colleagues have overseas degrees and can speak fluent English, which put a lot of pressure on her.

A research fellow with the SSIC predicted the market value of China's English training industry would exceed 30 billion yuan by 2010.

He said people's enthusiasm for English was also driven by China's membership of the World Trade Organization and the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games and the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

The report said Chinese citizens devote one tenth of their income to education, spending heavily on English training, computer courses and child education.

Source: Xinhua