James Baquet

    Mark is chatting with his classmate Ming in the common room of their dorm.

    Mark: Hey, Ming. You look stressed! What’s up?

    Ming: Oh, I’m supposed to lead an English corner tonight, and I’m racking my brain for ideas.

    Mark: Why? What’s the problem?

    Ming: The topic is “talking about everyday things,” but all the ideas I come up with sound so boring.

    Mark: For example?

    Ming: Here’s one: “What’s your favorite thing? Why?”

    Mark: That’s not bad, but maybe you could spice it up a bit.

    Ming: How?

    Mark: Try this: “Your house is on fire, and you only have time to grab one thing to take with you. What would it be?”

    Ming: That is more interesting!

    Mark: Of course you’ll ask them to explain “why.” Then, you could do a follow-up.

    Ming: Like what?

    Mark: Maybe, “The firemen say you have time to grab one more thing. What will it be?”

    Ming: Any other ideas?

    Mark: Just variations. “Your house burned and you lost everything. You have one thousand dollars. What will you replace first? Why?”

    Ming: Then I could add more money to keep it going.

    Mark: That’s right!

    Ming: Okay, here’s another boring question: “What job do you want to have after college?”

    Mark: Again, not a bad idea. But dress it up: “A fairy godmother comes and says, ‘I will give you one wish to use about a job. What job do you want me to give you?’”

    Ming: That sounds like a lot more fun!

    Mark: Glad you like it. What else have you got?

    Ming: “What are you doing tomorrow?”

    Mark: Yeah, that is a little boring. But you could use the fairy godmother again, or a genie in a lamp, or whatever, and ask, “You can do anything you want tomorrow. What would it be?”

    Ming: Geez, Mark, maybe you should lead the English corner.

    Mark: I’m sure you’ll be great. Do you have any more questions?

    Ming: Sure. “What do you like to do when you’re alone?”

    Mark: Okay, let’s see... “You’re going to jail. You’ll be locked up by yourself for 10 years. What will you do for 10 years? What do you want to have in your cell with you? Why?”

    Ming: That could be a lot of fun! The discussion, I mean, not jail!

    Mark: I know what you mean. Anyway, another key to a successful English corner is to have some follow-up questions.

    Ming: Like the one with the firemen above?

    Mark: Yes, like that. Change the conditions of the original question, then ask if people changed their answers and why.

    Ming: Like, what would you want in your cell for 20 years, instead of 10?

    Mark: Ming, you’re a natural!