Keeping a straight face

There is some Chinese in this story. If you don't read Chinese, don't panic though, there isn't much. Just try and skip over it, what is being said should be clear enough. If you're not, click on the 'comments' button at the bottom of this post to get the translations.

I was walking out of Dong Chang rd station in Pudong when someone stopped me.

"你对英语有感兴趣吗？"

Inside World Plaza on Dong Chang rd, there are a number of English schools. They employ people to stand outside and try to sign up people on the street. No one had ever asked me before though.

I shook my head, but took his pamphlet anyway. I am interested in English; I'm just not interested in talking to strangers who stop me on the street about it. He kept following me.

"我们是。。。"

He was giving me his sales pitch. I wasn't really listening though.

"...免费..."

This got my attention. I was curious, and since it wasn't going to cost me anything, I realised I had nothing to lose.

"免费？" I asked.

He nodded. A mischevious thought came into my head.

"好的," I said.

He took me back into World Plaza and into one of the schools. I was greeted by a lady who asked me to fill in a form. I did the best I could filling in the Chinese (I couldn't read everything on the form) and spoke as little as I could (they might have picked up from my accent that I wasn't really Chinese).

I trying to write my address in Chinese characters, but gave up. I couldn't remember if I lived on '浙江' road or '折江' road. The characters look so similar... I decided to leave it blank.

Eventually I was led into a small room with three computers. It was explained to me that this would test my English level. If I was to sign up at this school, my result in this test would determine which class I would be put in. Level 1 was the lowest, and this school taught all the way up to level 20, a native level.

Keeping a straight face, I obediently sat through the test, clicking the answers I thought were correct. After about ten minutes of being left alone, I realised that this wasn't going to be as funny as I thought it was. I had pictured myself being put in a class of English learners, and suprising everyone with my command of English. I finished three of the five parts of the test, and left the room. I tried to creep out the door, but then I heard someone call out behind me.

"先生，您昨晚了吗？"

I just wanted to get out before I was found out! I mumbled,

"对... 我没时间作完..."

And with that I left. The last thing I heard from behind me was a surprised voice:

"哇，全对！考了20级！但他自己的地址也不会写！"