Martin Li

    martin.mouse@163.com

    ENGLISH-LANGUAGE professionals will be soon sent to assist activities at 24 English corners across Shenzhen, according to the city’s foreign affairs office.

    The professionals are young employees either from the office or the service center affiliated with the office. They will support English corner participants by means of exchanging information and experience concerning ESL study, providing textbooks and logistics for activities.

    Each English corner will have one fixed professional guide.

    The foreign affairs office will select one person every half a year from the 24 English corners to train them to lead the government-sponsored activities aimed at making Shenzhen a more internationally friendly metropolis.

    The 24 English corners were established by foreign teachers, hiking enthusiasts and education professionals.

    “People need to learn to listen when others speak. When people speak incorrectly, we have to give loud applause anyway. This is the type of ambience an English corner should have,” said Gu Peihong, who founded the English corner IVY at Lichi Park in Futian District in 2005, at Saturday’s gathering of the 24 English corners at the park. 

    Gu has organized almost 500 activities for IVY, through which many people have made progress in their English studies.

    “Our English corner has drawn expats from different countries who have shared their cultures with us. It’s very helpful to English-language learners,” said Gu.

    Gu said her aim is to establish 100 English corners in Shenzhen, giving people free access to English education.

    Saturday’s gathering was attended by almost 200 people, including the English corner founders, foreign teachers, students and other English-language fans. They gave speeches, sang English songs, played games and exchanged experiences of learning English.

    “I learned several English songs and met many friends through English corners,” said a primary school student, Duan, at the gathering.

    “We are not alone and there are many people like us in every corner of the city,” said Duan, who visits English corners as often as she can.

    Paul Bridgman of England said at the gathering that English corners can help young people tap their potential to learn English.

    Bridgman added that he hopes to help people learn British culture and better understand Britain while also improving their English.

    Bridgman has been involved in English corner activities for two years and has made many friends through them.

    The gathering is the first one to be organized by Shenzhen’s English corner platform, which was launched in April and consists of the 24 English corners.

    Aside from their website (szfaosc.com/sdxhd.aspx), the platform is also composed of a QQ group (275326590) and a WeChat account called “深圳市民讲外语英语角平台.”

    About 60 percent of people who visit English corners are working professionals, while 18 percent are college students, based on a recent survey by the foreign affairs office and Shenzhen Special Zone Daily.

    In addition, over 80 percent of the survey respondents said what they need most is an online platform.