(14 February 2007 6:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Users of Chinese web portal QQ.com can now learn English directly from the site thanks to a partnership deal with BBC World Service. It is the first Chinese portal to enter content partnership with the BBC.

From today 14 February 2007, users of the portal will be able to access BBC Learning English content specially tailored for Chinese speakers.

BBC Learning English teaches reading, listening and comprehension. It explains various points of the English language through human interest stories and topics including UK lifestyle and culture.

The BBC will start English teaching on QQ.com with two popular features, Take Away English and Quizzes. Take Away English the BBC says has been a hit with Chinese users as it offers MP3 audio and pdf text downloads, so the learner can quite literally take away the BBC's English lessons.

Topics range from the latest Harry Potter book and online gaming to Chinese football players, and include listening, reading, exercises and an audio glossary. Quizzes offers learners an interactive test of their English vocabulary and grammar and helps them with teacher feedback.

Looking ahead at what BBC Learning English has in store for Chinese online users, Alison Konieczny, who is the editor of BBC English Language Teaching China team said, "We are planning to treat Chinese learners to two more features which will enrich their English vocabulary in fun and entertaining ways. Real English teaches words and phrases learners won't necessarily find in their dictionaries, and Word Master is an interactive game which tests and teaches vocabulary common in English proficiency exams."

"I can't think of a better day to launch our partnership with QQ.com than 14 February, which of course is Valentine's Day. It's a memorable day for a lot of people, and I hope Chinese learners will fall in love with our BBC pages and make us a regular date!"

BBC World Service's Business Development Manager for China and North Asia, Raymond Li said, "We are delighted to partner with one of the leading national portal sites in China to provide quality English learning content to many learners in China. Internet has become an increasingly popular and effective learning platform among young people, and the BBC has been building up successful partnership with China's local portal sites over last few years. Our new partnership deal with QQ.com will help us reach more online learners in China, therefore bringing more benefit to them, too."

BBC Learning English offers English language teaching programmes and online content for a global radio and online audience.

English learning materials are available online at bblearningenglish.com and, for Chinese speakers, on bbcchina.com.cn.