Xu seeks university entry through ESL

Laney College is host to over 12,000 students in the Bay Area, offering courses in liberal arts and vocation programs. Laney is also home to a nationally acclaimed English Second Language (ESL) program.

  Among the students in the program is George Xu, a seasoned flute player and music producer from Guangzhou, China. Xu is in his third semester of the ESL program and hopes to master English well enough to enroll in general education courses and transfer to a California university.

  Although Xu has only lived in the United States for four years, he is no stranger to the classroom. At the age of 12, he passed a national exam in China, earning him a place in the Guangzhou Music Middle School. After six years there, he transferred to Guangzhou Conservatory, graduating with top honors and earning a bachelor of arts degree in music.

  After graduating the conservatory, Xu worked at Guadong Audio & Video Press in China, where he was a music editor, producer, and director of video for a local TV station.

  In 1990, he won third place in the China Music Instrument Competition. "When I was eight years old, I started to learn to play the Chinese flute," Xu said. Now at age 46, he has been playing for 38 years.

  Guangzhou is a bustling city on the beautiful Pearl River Delta of China. It is famous for foreign trade and business and is China's third largest city, behind Shanghai and Beijing. Guangzhou is also a popular tourist destination.

  "The English language is very hard," Xu says. He is enrolled in grammar courses through the ESL program. His wife of 18 years encouraged him to attend Laney to improve his English, especially since Laney is so culturally diverse and close to Chinatown.

  Initially, Xu came to the United States to reunite with the rest of his family, who had been in the U.S. for 20 years. When asked if he plans to ever return to China, he says, "I'm not sure; it will be based on opportunity. I like the weather here and areas surrounding Laney College."

  Xu has made a name for himself in the Bay Area. As a master flute player, he has been in many concerts and played with noted musicians. Last year, he played in a memorial concert with the California Chinese Orchestra in honor of Huang Guo Shen, a Chinese musician who had died. You can expect to see and hear more from Xu as he has many shows booked over the next year. One includes a big performance at Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco on July 30.

  To hear him play is an amazing and moving experience that would be appreciated by any music aficionado. The tones and melodies that pour out leave you wanting more.

  Xu lives in Oakland with his wife and son and works as the Import Manager for Pacific Home and Garden.