Cindy Zhang

    zhqcindy@163.com

    THE organizers of 10 English Corners from around the city were awarded for running daily English events for Shenzhen residents.

    In a bid to enhance residents’ interest in learning the English language and to practice face-to-face conversation, the Municipal Foreign Affairs Office set up a special English-promoting committee to organize English Corners in 2014. Over 1,800 events were held at more than 40 English Corners approved by the committee in 2015, drawing more than 20,000 to participate.

    The award ceremony was held by the office at the Yitian Community in Futian on March 18.

    Two expats, Derrick Patterson and Khashiar Shahbazi, both from the U.S., were on the list of distinguished contributors.

    Patterson has been helping out at an English Corner where most participants were primary school students. He taught the kids English from 5 to 6 p.m. every Wednesday evening. “It’s like an after-school learning group where kids speak English with me,” said Patterson.

    Shahbazi, currently a foreign teacher at an international school in Bao’an District, said he was a little surprised to get the award. Shahbazi also mainly worked with students, but with a wider age range.

    Both said they would continue to help out at the English Corners this year.

    The English Corners under the program increased from 26 in 2014 to more than 40 last year.