Job Discussion Forums

[Bill II]

I am new at this game...excuse the innocent question.

On some Contracts teachers are required to attend English Corner: What is English Corner? What exactly is expected of the participants?

[therock]

English corner is basically a time after classes that the students go and practice their Oral English.

In reality what happens is 20 students stand around the foreigner and ask them the same questions over and over and over again.

After about a couple of times you will wonder what is the point of going.

[kev7161]

Or, you can turn the game around:

S: What is your favorite Chinese food?
T: Roasted dog, what's yours?

S: Where do you come from?
T: The Yukon, where do YOU come from?

S: Can you use chopsticks?
T: Yes, can you use a knife and fork?

S: Do you have a wife/husband?
T: Yes/No, do you? (watch how many think you are serious!)

S: Do you know Da Shan?
T: Yes, he is my good friend/boyfriend, is he here by the way?

S: How old are you?
T: It's a secret, take a guess (and you will almost always be relieved when they guess 10 to 15 years younger than your actual age - if you are older, that is).

Basically, answer their questions, but always have a follow up. If they don't/can't answer, try to get them to practice and tell them you'll try next week.

PS: I don't like English corners.

[7969]

once you make the rules of english corner known to your students (no stupid questions), and you break them down into small groups for discussion, and pay attention to each group, i find english corner can be useful and entertaining.

7969

[Roger]

For me, English Corners have been a bane since day one in this country!

[Bill II]

�English Corner sound like a pub-night without the booze!
I thought it was more formal: teachers giving lectures on their city/country, on their life-style in the West, etc.

One other question: Does each teacher run their own Enlish Corner?

[vikdk]

no they just run away from then

[brsmith15]

Bill the Second,

Any of us who have been sentenced to conduct EC's all have one bit of advice for you:

RUN

[dialogger]

There seems to be two situations encountered.
1. Contract requirement to attend EC
2. Totally teacher's option whether to attend or not.
The questions don't change in either situation and are uniformly banal.
At my first school there was virtually a compulsory EC each day from 3 to 4.
The school was out of town and teachers had to wait an hour between 3 when classes ended and 4 when the bus went.
Students had unrestricted access to FT common room during that hour to ask those insightful questions already referred to.
I suggest that you go (to EC) with a game or activity arranged that forces students to speak.
'Perpetual Questions' is good.
PM me if you want to know how it goes.

[mondrian]

Well, I was called into the Dean�s Office this morning and told that part of my teaching schedule this semester was to organize and run the University English Corner.
Help!!
I have been to an English corner (very occasionally) before, but never been put in charge of one.
I have been told that the students who attend want to speak English and that last semester about 200 showed up every week.
Those of you who are experienced in this field of EFL please give me your wisdom, please.

[7969]

the verdicts in ....... english corner sucks.

[dialogger]

Ancient Polynesian saying:
'Own one dog and you must give it exercise.
Own two dogs and they exercise each other'.
Moral for English Corners is:
Make students talk to each other, not to you.

[Roger]

[vikdk]

anybody doing musical chairs with adults - tape it - I'll pay good money to see that!!!!

[mondrian]