A young boy from Hangzhou is making people smile. His name is Ning Yuhang. He is ten years old. He goes to the famous West Lake every weekend. He looks for foreign tourists. Then he speaks to them in English. He asks them questions. He listens to their answers. His father helps him find visitors. His mother records everything with a camera. This is not just a game for the boy. This is his way of practicing English. He started in October 2025. Since then, he has talked to tourists from nearly twenty countries. He even shares his videos online. Many people watch them. Parents feel proud. Other children feel amazed. This story shows that English is not only for classrooms. Kids can use English in real life. They can make friends. They can learn about the world. This article explains why this story matters. It also gives simple ways to help your child speak English with confidence.
What This 10-Year-Old Boy Does at West Lake Every weekend, this boy goes to the Broken Bridge. The Broken Bridge is a famous place at West Lake. Many tourists walk there. Some tourists come from other countries. The boy walks up to them. He says hello. Then he asks if they can talk. He uses polite English. For example, he says, “May I ask you some questions?” Most tourists say yes. They feel happy to meet a brave child. Then the boy asks his questions. He asks, “What is your favorite Chinese food?” He also asks, “What do you think about China?” The tourists give answers. The boy listens carefully. Sometimes he does not understand a word. He asks again. That is okay. The tourists do not mind. They like his effort. His parents stay nearby. They do not help with English. They only help find tourists and take videos. This boy teaches himself through practice. He makes mistakes. But he keeps going.
Why Children Feel Excited About This Real Story Children see this boy on video. He is their age. He is not a superhero. He is a normal kid. But he does something brave. He talks to strangers in another language. Many children feel shy about speaking English. They worry about mistakes. They fear that people will laugh. This story shows that mistakes do not matter. The tourists smile anyway. The boy learns new words every time. Children think, “If he can do it, maybe I can too.” This feeling is very powerful. It pushes kids to try. English becomes a tool for adventure. It is not a school subject anymore. It is a way to meet people. A way to ask questions. A way to share ideas. Parents can use this story to encourage their own children. They can say, “Look at this brave boy. You can be brave too.”
Simple English Questions Your Child Can Ask Tourists You do not need to travel to West Lake. You can practice anywhere. But the idea is the same. Your child can prepare simple questions. These questions are easy to remember. They are also polite.
What is your name? Where are you from? Do you like China? What food do you like? Do you like ice cream? What is your favorite animal? Do you have children? What do you do for fun?
These questions use basic words. Your child can learn them in one week. Practice at home first. You pretend to be a tourist. Your child asks the questions. Then switch roles. This makes the child feel ready. When a real tourist comes, your child will not freeze. The words will come out naturally.
From Shy to Confident: A Common Path for Young Speakers The ten-year-old boy was not always so confident. His parents said he felt nervous at the beginning. His voice was very small. He looked at the ground. He forgot his words. That is normal. Every child feels that way. Confidence grows slowly. The first time is the hardest. Then it gets easier. After five tourists, the child starts to relax. After ten tourists, speaking English feels fun. After twenty tourists, the child feels proud. Your child will follow the same path. Do not expect perfection on day one. Celebrate small wins. A smile from a tourist is a win. One correct answer is a win. Saying “thank you” at the end is a win. These small wins build big confidence over time.
How Parents Can Create Safe Speaking Opportunities You do not need a lake or tourists. You can create speaking opportunities at home or in your city. Look for English-speaking visitors in parks, museums, or airports. But always ask first. Teach your child to say, “Excuse me. Can I practice English with you for one minute?” Most people say yes. They remember being learners too.
You can also use video calls. Find a friend or relative who speaks English. Schedule a five-minute call. Your child asks three questions. That is enough. Short practices work better than long ones.
Another idea is to use stuffed animals. Pretend the stuffed animal is a tourist from England or America. Your child interviews the toy. This sounds silly. But it works. The child practices sentences without fear. After many toy interviews, real interviews feel less scary.
Learning Activities to Build Interview Skills at Home Activity one is the Question Jar. Write simple English questions on small pieces of paper. Put them in a jar. Every day, your child picks one question. They ask you that question in English. You answer. Then you pick a question and ask them. This game makes question practice part of daily life.
Activity two is the Role-Play Weekend. Once a week, pretend you are a tourist from a different country. Change your voice. Wear a silly hat. Your child interviews you. Next week, your child pretends to be the tourist. You ask the questions. This builds listening and speaking skills at the same time.
Activity three is the Thank You Note. After your child interviews someone (even a stuffed animal), have them write a simple thank you note. “Thank you for talking with me. I liked your answers.” This teaches politeness and writing skills.
Activity four is the Map of Friends. Get a world map. Every time your child interviews someone from a new country, put a sticker on that country. Try to fill the map. This turns English practice into a geography game.
What Your Child Learns Beyond English Words This boy at West Lake learns more than English. He learns courage. Walking up to a stranger takes guts. He learns respect. He listens to other people’s opinions. He learns curiosity. He wants to know what others think about his country. He learns patience. Not every tourist wants to talk. That is fine. He just finds another person. These skills will help him for life. They will help your child too. English is the key. But confidence, respect, curiosity, and patience are the real treasures.
So watch the videos of the ten-year-old boy with your child. Talk about his bravery. Practice one question tonight. Then another tomorrow. Soon your child will feel ready. And one day, they might be the brave kid that everyone talks about. All because they opened their mouth and said hello in English.