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Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

Some posters seem to be talking about Public English Corners in a park somewhere (hence 'corner') and others about the ones at school - usually on the free afternoon.
There are others which I've encountered called English Club - more student run.
All are elective which makes planning around numbers difficult.
As for using Chinese, I would say our teaching is supposed to be student-centred and that by taking time to speak Chinese, you are not delivering on that idea.

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

Yeah, the infamous "English Club". This one gal came into one of my classes a few years ago in Zhengzhou and was trying to recruit students to start an English Club. She was speaking Chinese to the students and while she was talking one of the students told me that this woman was charging a fee for them to come to her gatherings. I booted her post-haste.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

roadwalker · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1750 Location: Ch

I guess I'm in the minority that doesn't mind (some) English corners. I don't like the way they've changed in my school the last year or two: they should call them "English Party!" since it is for a large part singing and dancing with some English quiz games often instructed in Chinese. And more recently, the 'Crazy English Club' has sponsored (?) these events, the responsibilities for which are rotated among first year classes of English majors. So now we get Chinese students shouting incomprehensible English 'slangs' or mis-transcribed slogans.

I don't mind the old way where it is simply a place and time to practice speaking English. The better speakers don't circle the foreigner and just talk (I've often told my students that English corners are better without foreigners), while the shy and the weak speakers circle the foreigner. I think there is even some value in that. It certainly is a momentous occasion for many of them to have spoken to an actual foreigner for the first time in their lives (Where are you come from?) For me, listening for the short time it usually takes them to formulate such questions is a small task. They get a confidence boost, and may, just may, for a very short time, perceive foreigners as people.

Fanyi · Joined: 01 Nov 2011 Posts: 47

I'm with roadwalker.

My Chinese profs in college had a Chinese table during lunch twice a week that I loved going to-if you like a language, then you want to speak it, and there just isn't enough time in class. So was inspired by this to start an English Corner 1 day a week during lunch at the public high school I work at this fall, and expanded to 3 days a week for an hour during lunch this spring. Have taught over 1000 students combined this year in regular classes, and told them all about English Corner, and attendance at English Corner has ranged from 1-30 (the 30 was only a one time thing, after that the next biggest English Corner was about 15).

Kind of dreaded the Engish Corners at first, but later started enjoying them. Really only the students who really like English show up, and we've had some good conversations. I'd bet that the real dealmaker/breaker with most English Corners are: 1. Why the students come-if its mandatory for students, its really no different than a class/ if it s a once a semester thing with a lot of curious students, than I can understand people getting upset about the monkey in a box scenario, though personally it doesn't really bother me. If on the other hand students are coming because of a love of the language, then there's really no reason for it to be a hard thing; 2. How many students come-I really struggle once it gets over 10, just hard to have everyone contribute.

So there's my two cents!

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

Silent Shadow · Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 11:39 am Post subject:

I think the less structured English corner is, the better. Surely that's the purpose. As Roadwalker touched on, it should be as relaxed as possible. On the rare occasions I attend a corner I don't prepare at all and allow the students to speak spontaneously as and when they want to and about whatever they wish (free talk). Of course you get the group around the foriegner syndrome and repeated questions but that can be worked around. Students have enough structure in their regular classes. I think they need a chance to speak totally freely in a low pressure environment and English corner serves that need.

If the students want to prepare something, fine. Some of them often prepare skits.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

GreatApe · Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 6:42 am Post subject:

4 points ... one for each English corner ... other than that, NO POINT except to "meet and greet", perform the occasional "Dancing Monkey" routine and "Practice your English!"

Why make more of it than it is?

In my experience, they're NOT a lot of work, they can be fun, and they provide some entertainment to Chinese students / people who may (or may not) be trying to improve their English! It also offers the foreign teacher a chance to meet people and possibly network. I can't tell you how many jobs I've been offered and tutoring sessions I've picked up because of E.Cs.

--GA

rogerwilco · Joined: 10 Jun 2010 Posts: 1549

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

As has been mentioned, it is important to differentiate between English Corners at school and public ones in various locations - generally parks - on weekends in summer.

BlueBlood · Joined: 31 Aug 2013 Posts: 261

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

The 'critical ethnography' I looked at seemed to be thinly veiled jealousy over personal escapades.
Kind of 'tut tut, I wish that was me'.

Bud Powell · Joined: 11 Jul 2013 Posts: 1736

In some universities, the English corners are run by a student organization, and if you're actually invited, you never know what you'll do.

In schools where I've taught where EC was mandatory, the FTs were given a wide range of things to do. I've held discussions about American folk superstitions and Chinese superstitions.

I've shown interesting and funny photos I've taken in China and had them talk about what they saw. This is always interesting. A lot of the students say that they've never seen a sanluanche [tuk-tuk] piled high with packages or or that they've never seen street beggars. The photo show has always been a hit because it gives the students an opportunity to talk about their own culture and to share anecdotes.

The whole idea is to get THE STUDENTS to talk about things that interest them.

Most students don't want to actually speak English and prefer to remain in the passive learning mode.

If this is your experience, then take the EC opportunity to turn the activity over to the students. I've never had a dull English Corner. I've witnessed some major disasters caused by inexperienced and/or self-centered teachers who had no presentation skills or no idea how to make things interesting.

BlueBlood · Joined: 31 Aug 2013 Posts: 261

Bud, please correct me if I'm wrong: EC's can be broken down into to distinct types. The first take place at colleges and/or universities. The second take place at coffee shops and/or parks and are open to everyone.

This thread only discusses EC's at schools, but I've read about EC's elsewhere though perhaps the source of my info was inaccurate.