‘English’ take on China’s mahjong: headmaster gives educational spin to popular game

Seeing the Chinese pupils seated in groups of four and focused intently on the rows of blue and white tiles on their square tables, you wouldn’t be faulted for thinking they were playing mahjong in class.

But they’re really just learning English.

The headmaster of a secondary school in Chengdu, southwestern Sichuan province, has invented a novel way to help his pupils master the language, the West China Economy Daily reports.

Tian Jinggeng, headmaster of Jitou Middle School, has produced tiles with English letters instead of the traditional mahjong symbols printed on their surfaces.

He uses these tiles to play “English mahjong” with his pupils to help them remember English words and perfect their spelling.