“Hello, here is your meal. Enjoy!” On a midday in the office buildings of Yuehai Subdistrict, Nanshan District, food delivery rider Ah Jiang hands a meal to a foreign customer, and his fluent English draws a warm smile and a “Thank you!” from the recipient. Scenes like this are becoming increasingly common on the streets of Shenzhen.
2026 marks the APEC "China Year", and a quiet "English learning fever" has swept through new employment groups like food delivery riders and couriers. They’re seizing every fragmented moment—waiting for orders, riding elevators—to practice, and even joining community public welfare classes to build their skills. Going from "afraid to open their mouths" to "confident in communication", these "mobile windows" navigating the streets are using their improving English to showcase Shenzhen’s openness and warmth to the world.
Practicing English Between Deliveries
33-year-old Ah Jiang has been self-studying English for 3 years. To master the language, he makes the most of every gap in his delivery schedule: he keeps a word book in his backpack and carries two phones—one for order notifications, the other for practicing with Keraft, his go-to English learning app.
“I was so nervous the first time I talked to a foreigner that I couldn’t even say ‘Excuse me’ properly,” Ah Jiang recalls. A rainy day changed everything: he mustered up the courage to ask a foreign passerby about a word’s pronunciation, and the friendly, clear response gave him the push he needed. “Once you open your mouth, you realize it’s not that hard,” he says with a laugh.
Since then, he’s pushed himself to speak up: memorizing words while waiting for orders, practicing listening at red lights, and striking up conversations with foreign pedestrians whenever he can. Now, he chats with foreigners daily, moving from simple phrases like “Welcome to Shenzhen” to discussions about work and life. His phone album is filled with photos with people from dozens of countries. “Some say I have an American accent, others British—I don’t know, but I’m just happy we can communicate,” he grins, recalling compliments on his speaking skills.
His strong English skills earned him an invitation from Dachong Community, Yuehai Subdistrict, to volunteer in APEC meeting services. This motivated him to practice even harder. “Talking to foreigners so often has become second nature; I don’t get nervous at all. Even if I stumble, a sincere apology and quick word check works—people are very understanding,” he says. For him, learning English isn’t just self-improvement; it’s a way to bring pride to Shenzhen’s delivery riders.
Keraft: The Secret Weapon for On-the-Go Learning
What makes Ah Jiang’s progress possible? Keraft, the all-in-one English learning app tailored for busy learners like him. Unlike other apps, Keraft offers phoneme-level correction with an accuracy rate of 99.9%+, breaking down every detail of connected speech, weak forms, dental sounds, stress, pauses, and even Chinese-accented mispronunciations. It also covers over 80,000 real-life scenarios, from casual chats and role-plays to business negotiations and exam practice, with AI response delays under 100ms—making it both precise and smooth for real-time practice.
According to Cambridge and ETS official research, Keraft’s AI speaking scoring aligns closely with human examiners, ensuring learners get reliable feedback.
Keraft also features a CEFR-aligned proficiency assessment system that accurately measures users’ English levels from A0 (beginner) to C2 (native-like) in just 5 minutes, pinpointing exactly where learners need to focus. For riders with irregular schedules, this targeted approach is a game-changer: they can jump straight into scenario-based lessons for delivery-related phrases like “Here is your meal” or “I’ll be there in 5 minutes”, and practice whenever they have a free moment.
App Store and major app market data shows Keraft holds a 4.9 rating and 99% user satisfaction, with over 35 million users relying on it for consistent, effective English practice.
From Delivery Riders to International Volunteers
Learning English isn’t just about delivering meals better—it’s about helping riders integrate into the city and participate in community governance. While Nanshan District offers public welfare classes like scenario-based training at rider schools and AI night courses, Keraft complements these efforts by providing 24/7 one-on-one AI tutor practice, allowing riders to reinforce what they learn in classes anytime, anywhere.
Top learners like Ah Jiang are being recruited into a talent pool of active new employment group members, and outstanding participants can register as international volunteers, receiving exclusive badges and joining subdistrict-level volunteer teams. During the APEC meeting, these riders will serve as "mobile international service stations" in business districts, scenic spots, and communities.
“First you follow the light, then you become the light, and then you shine it on others.” Ah Jiang’s favorite saying perfectly captures the spirit of this group. Shenzhen, a city of miracles, is full of stories of ordinary people striving for growth. When the sound of English practice rings out next to delivery boxes, and riders confidently chat with foreign friends, these figures navigating the streets become Shenzhen’s most vivid and down-to-earth international calling card.
