Reports of Chinese boycott of France

In response to protests during the Olympic Torch rally in France, Chinese tourists are being dissuaded from going to France on holiday, according to press reports. "It is a catastrophic year for Chinese tourism in France,"

Philippe Yao, Director of the China Comfort Travel agency in France, told AFP new agency on Thursday. The pro-Tibet demonstrations in Paris have prompted the possible retaliatory action although no official advice to tourism companies has been confirmed.

Maison de la France, the French tourism promotion agency, said its office in Beijing was trying, along with the French ambassador in China, to clarify the situation.

New online English test

A new online English test for lower-level English speakers is being developed in a joint venture between the University of the Arts in London, UK, and English Language Testing, a UK company run by Caroline Browne, former UK Regional Director of Into University Partnerships.

The test, called Password, offers language schools and international departments at universities a quick and efficient way to assess the language abilities of students wanting to study on foundation, academic preparation or other pre-sessional courses. Browne said that Password was not a rival to Ielts or Toefl and instead was being developed for students with a lower level of English who would not be able to be accurately assessed under the Ielts or Toefl exam system.

Two new schools for EF

Language school chain EF is continuing its policy of expansion and has opened two new schools in Chicago and Hawaii in the USA.

Anders Ahlund, President of International Sales and Marketing, said that the two new schools were part of ongoing expansion plans. “We are constantly looking at new destinations,” he said. “We are trying to open a couple of new schools every year. This year we have already opened Chicago and Honolulu and we have a few more to come by the end of the year.”