Wang recalled that when she was in school, essay prompts often revolved around helping Li Hua, who was about to visit a foreign country but couldn't write in English, and needed assistance drafting a letter to his foreign pen pal to ask about the local weather and customs. Nowadays, however, students are more likely to help Li Hua tell Chinese stories to his foreign friends visiting China.

Lei mentioned that his recent writing assignments included introducing the development of traditional Chinese music and China's cultural heritage.

Wang believes this shift in essay topics is closely tied to changes in society and the growing cultural confidence of the Chinese people. "China's rising international status, along with increasing interactions with other countries, are key factors," Wang said.

She hopes that, in the future, textbooks will include more practical and engaging content. "Sections that stimulate real-life practices could be added, along with those that integrate with other subjects," Wang said. "There could also be features that spark students' interest in learning English, such as acting out English play scripts."

Feng Yunqi, a 17-year-old high school student in Beijing, wishes that schools would be more open to students using technology in the classroom.

"It would be great if schools allowed more electronic devices, such as tablets or smartphones, in class because they can really help with our studies. For example, some of my classmates use scanning pens, which instantly display the meaning of a word when scanned," he said.

Zhang believes that since English is everywhere — from labels in supermarkets to subtitles in movies, and from toy instruction manuals to greetings from international friends — we should enhance our efforts in learning English more than ever. "English is not just a subject; it is a key to the world", he said.

"If we want to engage in global communication, there are two main approaches: stepping out and inviting others in," said Feng.

"Proficiency in English is vital when interacting with people abroad, as it indicates a certain level of education. On the other hand, when international friends visit us and find that we can all speak English, it creates a positive impression and elevates our country's image and status in the world."