Life After the Video that Made Beijing’s English-Speaking Sanitation Worker Famous

Life After the Video that Made Beijing’s English-Speaking Sanitation Worker Famous
May 01, 2014 By eChinacities.com

Editor’s note: Last year, a video of an English-speaking sanitation worker near Nanluoguxiang in Beijing went viral, winning the hearts of millions. But a lot has changed for Uncle Li since his fling with fame. From travelling to England to appearing on a TV show to becoming a qualified teacher, it seems that nothing can stop this determined and ambitious man from fulfilling his dreams. This translated article from wenxuecity.com gives the inside scoop on Uncle Li’s achievements since uploading that life-changing video of himself online a year ago.

Remember Uncle Li, the sanitation worker in the Nanluoguxiang subway station who spoke English fluently? The Beijing Youth Daily recently learned since last year’s video of him speaking English while sweeping the streets went viral online, Uncle Li has resigned from his post as a sanitation worker and has signed on start training to become an English teacher. He said that it had been his Beijing dream to teach English.


Uncle Li, a Nanluoguxiang sanitation worker speaking with a foreign visitor

English-speaking sanitation worker was originally an English teacher

 “I did not just want to learn English grammar; I wanted to learn about the cultures of English-speaking countries.” Last October the video of Uncle Li speaking English reached nearly a million views online in the space of just one week. In the video, the sanitation worker shared his experiences of learning English and called on the youth to learn English well. Although he speaks with a strong accent, Netizens are still enthusiastic about his story. Many Netizens called his story inspirational and said that they themselves would begin to study English again because of Uncle Li.

On October 18, a newspaper story reported on the love that the sanitation worker had for the English language. Uncle Li, or Li Jingang, originally from Zaozhuang, Shandong Province, speaks fluent English because of his thirteen years of experience as an English teacher. He retired from his post last September and left Shandong to live in the “coveted” city of Beijing. In order to stay in Beijing as long as possible and to better understand the city, he took a job as a sanitation worker sweeping the streets. This job provided him with accommodation near Nanluoguxiang, where he began to have conversations in English with foreign tourists. Uncle Li explained in English that people were so enthusiastic and receptive to him that it gave him the idea to shoot a video to put online.

From English speeches on TV to a visit to Shakespeare’s home

Uncle Li’s life has changed in the past year since his video went viral online. Last November, a director from Dream TV saw the video and saw Uncle Li give a news report in English and subsequently invited him to record his own television program.

Not having ever been on television before, Li did not want to participate after initially receiving the offer from the director. “I watched an episode of the program online and saw that it had lots of performers singing or dancing. I can’t do that!” The director ended up persuading him to give it a try. “The director said I wouldn’t have to sing or dance and that I could make a speech in English. I have no problem with speaking English, so I went.”

When recording the program, Li’s persistence in learning English for so many years shone through and he gained the recognition he deserved. Finally, he got the chance to achieve another English-related dream. “I wanted to go see Shakespeare’s hometown,” he said.

Earlier this month, after several months of waiting, Uncle Li finally took a weeklong trip to England to visit Shakespeare’s home. “I saw Shakespeare’s home. The place is very beautiful and simple. I felt close to the master himself and was really happy.”

Li signs on with an education training institute to teach English in Beijing

After fulfilling his Shakespeare related dream, Li had a new dream: to teach English in Beijing. “I have good news. I am now officially signed up to teach students at an educational institute,” Li told reporters recently. He added that he had already resigned from his job as a sanitation worker and formally signed on to work with the Asian Games Village branch of “Yucaiyuan Education” training institute. Li told reporters that in October of last year he initially planned to teach English in a tutorial setting with friends. No one expected, however, that he would realize his dream of becoming a teacher in just over half a year. 

It was easy for Li to get the English teaching job after working in Nanluoguxiang as a sanitation worker. Mr. Kuang, who lived nearby, noticed him speaking English to foreign tourists and introduced him to a teacher from Yucaiyuan Education. The teacher saw that Uncle Li had persistently studied English for many years and was impressed by his initiative to communicate with foreigners. The school decided to let him work with the students in their school and used him to encourage other young people to study English.

After participating in several television programs in different cities and realizing his dream to travel to England, Li officially began his new career teaching students in the classroom. “I’m going to settle down and concentrate on doing the job at hand: my English teaching job.” Li also has a new plan for the future: “If everything goes well, I want to build a transnational company that focuses on cultural exchange in order to spread Chinese culture to the world.”

Source: wenxuecity.com

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Keywords: sanitation worker in Beijing English-speaking sanitation worker life after viral video

20 Comments

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Guest2781358

I wonder want happened to him after then fame?

Jul 12, 2015 00:27 Report Abuse

Guest2781358

Nice story

Feb 24, 2015 03:58 Report Abuse

JacobJohn

It makes be proud of such of skilled Chinese person yet so humble. Congratulations!

May 07, 2014 19:01 Report Abuse

mike168229

It's all very nice but, isn't being an English teacher what his job was in the first place? I can't seem to see anything remarkable other than the fact he has gone back to his previous career. Maybe I am just cynical.

May 07, 2014 13:10 Report Abuse

TonyH

Even though I've seen lots of people speaking a very good English in china, but anyway, nice to see this guy eventually took a serious step in his life and achieved something which I believe made him happy and that is the most important thing after all.

May 01, 2014 15:13 Report Abuse

dyanisis

he was an english teacher, he quit became a cleaner and then went back to teaching, whats all the fuss about

May 01, 2014 10:48 Report Abuse

Robk

Which is probably a lot more than you have achieved... judging by your English, comments and outlook. He also achieved his goals, which was no small feat.

May 01, 2014 12:46 Report Abuse

dyanisis

again i say to you dickhead dickhead, or would it be more acceptable to you if I said Dickhead I comment very rarely on this site, but you and your equals try to hog to whole thing, with your condescending hypocritical we are the west bullshit. you earn maybe 8,000 a month in your shitty little hole of a school in some 3rd or 4th tier city.good luck with that, you game changer

May 01, 2014 17:22 Report Abuse

coineineagh

What is it with you nutters, making assumptions and gloating over people's job and finances to win a discussion? It sounds like Chinese bullying hierarchy has gotten to you. Or did you come here to show the copycats how it's done? No self-respecting person would lash out at people in such a childish way (unless you're really a nice guy in person who's just afflicted with Online Disinhibition Effect).

May 01, 2014 18:31 Report Abuse

Robk

Haha, so it is unacceptable that I say that he used the native language of MY country of origin but it is fine and dandy for you to start spouting about comparing incomes in a condescending light and putting down ESL teachers in 3rd or 4th tier cities. And I am the hypocrite...? I think you should stick to commenting very rarely.

May 02, 2014 01:40 Report Abuse

Guest644110

I thought non native speakers aren't allowed to teach English in China.

May 01, 2014 10:31 Report Abuse

mike695ca

While i do try to keep positive and its a cool story one thought kept coming in my head when he said "training center". Finally a chinese person will truly understand how it feels to be hired to be a monkey and not for your teachings skills! He has a tonne of followers, this could be good!

May 01, 2014 09:31 Report Abuse

TonyH

I just can't agree with you more lol

May 01, 2014 15:17 Report Abuse

sharkies

It's nice to read a positive story for a change. Good luck to him.

May 01, 2014 08:53 Report Abuse

Robk

What an awesome guy! He deserves all the success in the world. I am glad my native language gave this guy the opportunity to fulfill his dreams and better his life.

May 01, 2014 01:09 Report Abuse

Guest644110

"I am glad my native language gave this guy the opportunity to fulfill his dreams and better his life" this sounds not right. it speaks about your real attitude man. don't own something that was shared to all.

May 01, 2014 10:29 Report Abuse

Robk

I mean, I am glad that learning "English" (my native-language, OBVIOUSLY I don't own it...), allowed this man to live out his dreams. What does it say about you guys that you focused more on the fact I lay claim to a language (which is ridiculous)than congratulating a man for his hard work?

May 01, 2014 12:45 Report Abuse

coineineagh

Are you guys getting wound up over the fact that Robk's congratulatory comment contained the word "my"? Lighten up. It doesn't lay claim to or detract from Li's achievement in any way, and only an angry nationalist would react so defensively.

May 01, 2014 18:20 Report Abuse

Guest644110

If I need to congratulate someone, I will do it sincerely without being egoistic. But if that is how native speakers should act and behave, I must take my comment back. I want to be near native English speaker so the hell I care of being insensitive.

May 01, 2014 19:54 Report Abuse

harryjohn

wrong guess mate, not only the nationalists will react on this even the non native English speakers just like me will definitely react. i feel that using "my" in his sentence was pompous.

May 01, 2014 20:02 Report Abuse