English As A Second Language; Courses Available at Local College.

1992-10-14:: Today I recieved your letter of the 4th October from which I can see that you are already tired of playing every day with Jiang and the rest of your friends. I will of course write to the College to ask whether you can be enrolled for a course of English lessons, starting in Spring of 1993, until Spring 1994. When I have received their reply I will let you know what they say. It will have to be our local college because then Quang or myself can look after you, which would not be convenient if you were living in London. The important thing is that you should start your study now. If you are allowed to join the lessons in the Spring time you might find it very difficult if your knowledge of the language was not very good. You cannot say that you do not have the time! It depends whether you are determined to have a better knowledge of the language. If you are determined, then you will study. If you are just 'dreaming', then you will waste your time in play and television watching. I hope you have almost completed the examination questions I sent to you, carefully and properly, and have not lost the papers or have thrown them into the rubbish bin. After you asked me to get you another copy of the Readers Digest, I went to the shop to buy one, but I cannot send it to you as I have used up all the address labels you sent me. I am still waiting for the return of the labels I sent to you, on which you should have written your address. I will use the address cut from the your envelope to send this letter, but the Readers Digest will have to be sent in a different envelope, otherwise the postage would be too expensive.
*****

*****
There are in fact two dates on which you could start at the College. You already know that the Summer Term started on the 14th September and will end on the 14th December. The next term starts on the 4th January, 1993 and ends on the 29th March, 1993. The Spring term starts on the 19th April and ends on the 5th July, 1993. There will be no problem at all joining the course on the 4th January or the 19th April, and continue through to early 1994. The College have already told me this over the telephone today, but I need to get a letter from them to confirm your acceptance. Of course, the first thing they asked me was, 'How much English does Mr Zhong know? Is he studying English at the present time ?' I had to tell them that you were very lazy and did not do any studying, and spent all your free time playing with Jiang and other friends. They said, 'Oh! Oh! Oh!' So you must decide what you really want to do, and when you think you should be able to get your visa to come to the UK. Dont forget it will take 40 days from the day you post copies oif your passport and visa to me, before you can fly from Beijing to the UK. I have already told you this in previous letters, and this has not changed.
If you want to start at the College on the 19th April, then you must send a copy of your passport and visa to me no later than 9th March. This time it is important that you keep telling me what you are doing, as soon as you do it; dont wait ten weeks before sending me the information. It you write to the Embassy, then tell me about it on the same day. If you get a reply from them, then tell me about it on the same day. As soon as you do anything that affects your visit, then tell me about it straight away on the same day. If you decide to visit Beijing, then tell me about it in plenty of time, otherwise when you want me, or want me to do something for you, I may not be here! I might be in China, or France, or America, so I will not be able to help you. Of course, the one to blame will be Lazy Sheng ! I can not help you if I dont know what you are doing week by week! Take care of yourself and be happy!

Go to FIRST page. ..... Go to NEXT page. .....