Students strive for better English signage

A volunteer team established over the weekend hopes to ensure the correct use of language in public places, such as on shop signs.

The city language work committee began asking high school students to monitor language use in public places in 2016, and 6,500 high school students have since taken part.

The problems they have pointed out include the use of “subway” (with different meanings in different countries) and their efforts to ensure all road signs to use “Metro.”

They’ve also changed some Chinglish terms, such as “first last train,” which actually should be “first and last trains.”

While the city’s general volunteer team was set up, 20 high schools, including Luwan Senior High School, were designated for the language “woodpecker” service.

Local linguists Sun Huan and Pan Wenguo also provided training on volunteers on regulations on proper use of language and Chinese-English translation over the weekend.

The language work committees will later focus on language use related to China International Import Expo and other important events in Shanghai. The volunteer students from the designated schools will carry out inspections and publicize laws and regulations on language use to promote public awareness.