After reading the following, post your plan to create an ESE at SYSU.
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ENGLISH SPEAKING ENVIRONMENT
Martin Wolff
Sun Yat-sen University
The SYSU south campus does not lend itself to the creation of an English speaking environment. With 30,000 plus students[1] and a campus encompassing 1.17 square kilometers, with the English Department administrative offices and classrooms scattered across the expanse of the campus; of necessity, the students are provided English speaking opportunities such as a regularly scheduled English Corner and other similar activities.
Additionally, the English Department and Japanese Language Departments share an administrative office which complicates matters further since each should have their own 2nd language acquisition environment.
For the proper creation of a true English speaking environment,[2] all English Department facilities would need to be located exclusively in one building that is not shared with other departments.
This does not totally foreclose implementation of certain strategies to prompt the English mental lexicon. For instance, the Chinese calligraphy hanging over the entrance to the English Department could be replaced with an English sign. The administration was presented with an English sign in the colors of the Chinese National flag, (red background with yellow lettering) which reads: “WELCOME TO CHINGLAND.”
The Chinese staff was provided black baseball caps which read: ENGLISH POLICE. Six hundred students were provided red baseball caps that read: SPEAK ENGLISH. The English Department was encouraged to make English its official language of communication.
A further complication is the administrative desire that the students develop their second language capabilities and their Chinese language capabilities simultaneously. There is an unfounded fear that creating a 2nd language acquisition environment will somehow disadvantage the students in the further development of their mother tongue (Putonghua).
The students enter the 2nd language acquisition program with a tremendous Chinese language advantage through the ubiquitous and comprehensive mother tongue environment. The creation of a 2nd language acquisition environment would not even level the playing field, Putonghua would still provide the most prominent and overwhelming influence in the student’s daily life, unless there was not only a 2nd language speaking environment but also an intensive immersion program where the students were isolated in a 2nd language living environment. The reality is that this is just another excuse for not creating an English speaking environment; but unlike previous excuses, this one is cloaked in academic validity.
Under such circumstances the creation of an English speaking environment could be initiated with an outdoor video wall in the central part of the campus. In furtherance of this idea, 487 students were sent an email asking:
What do you think of erecting a double sided outdoor video wall on the north central lawn for the nightly playing of English movies?
Your opinion is important.
(Note: 92% of the students responded indicating a high degree of interest. The students’ responses are not edited.)
85% are solidly in favor with comments such as –
1. I think it’s wonderful idea to watch a movie outside on the lawn. Hoping for this kind of activity.
2. yes, i think its a good idea, and will attract more people, and a fun time, in addition to, we can communicate in English with each other as a little English Corner. Watching movies outside is a good enjoyment.
3. It’s really a good idea. By doing this, students can communicate with each other while seeing the film. It also can be another English corner for us.
4. This is a very creative idea. I totally support your suggestion.
5. I think that would be a terrific idea, for in fact, it has all the key elements to make you a fantastic night: 1. beautiful girls sitting next to you (come on boys, you don’t deny that’s an important driving force behind); 2, beers or cokes(cold and refreshing); 3. Early summer breeze; 4. Cool movie chosen just for you by ******, that’s you will sure regret if you miss it.
10% have reservations such as –
1, I love this new form ~~ but there is a serious problem that during the night, there are a lot of mosquitoes. Actually, the auditorium has a lot of mosquitoes too!
2. It is a very good idea! I like it very much, when I was a student in Northwest University in Xi’an, our university would give us a movie on the playground every Saturday night, it’s a beautiful memory to me.
3. I think it’s a good idea. It will be of great help to create an English-learning atmosphere everywhere on the campus. However, I think the place is not suitable coz the library and classrooms are near the north central lawn; maybe the sound would influence the normal operations. The central lawn near the auditorium may be suitable. I really appreciate your idea and your contribution to our English-learning. Thank you, dear *****
4. I believe it is a great idea that a double sided outdoor video wall is erected on the north central lawn for the nightly plaLYying of English movies. However, the tough environment outdoor, such as mosquitoes, should be considered.
5. But I am afraid the lawn will be destroyed by us. So I don’t agree.
6. I partly agree with your idea. I think erecting a double sided outdoor video wall on the north central lawn is a good idea, but I think it would be better if the movie is playing on every weekend, particular on Friday. Because I think if the movie is playing on every night, I’m worry that few students will go to see the movie, as we have so homework many to do.
5% are opposed with comments like –
1. In my opinion, it’s not a good idea. The north central lawn is already very bustling every night, and it’s very harmonious. It has already been one of the symbols of our school. I like it as it is now. On the other hand, movies are more appropriate to be played indoors.
2. I prefer watching movies indoor not outdoor, because indoor can provide us comfortable seats. What’s more, it won’t attract strangers nearby coming into the campus. Too many strangers will increase the insecurity of our campus.
3. Actually I don’t think it’s a good idea to erect a double sided outdoor video wall on the north central lawn for the nightly playing of English movies. Two reasons may account for it. First, it’s summer now. There are too many mosquitoes outside at night, especially on lawn; Second, stools will be necessary, but you know it’s hard to get so many stools.
4. I don’t think it is a good idea. Because I think it will damage the atmosphere of free relax. Besides, little people have enough time to watch the whole movie
5. It costs to much and doesn’t worth.
6. I would NOT support a proposal to erect a double sided outdoor video
wall on the north central lawn for the nightly playing of English movies. My reason:
a. Entertainment equipment would bring some disadvantages to the campus
such as increased traffic and noise.
b. Playing movies nightly would increase electricity costs.
c. The fixed architecture would break the environment.
d. Students and teachers could watch movies on their computers or in the
movie theater. Therefore, the outdoor video wall was not necessary.
The outdoor video wall (OVW) technology is utilized throughout China. In the north of China OVWs are found in most public parks. Chinese people gather in the parks just to watch the show. OVWs are also found on Shanghai’s Nanjing Rd, a major pedestrian street, and people gather to watch the show. OVWs are used on many buildings in southern China for advertising purposes. One block south of the SYSU south gate there is an OVW on a building.
And just outside the SYSU north gate there is a river cruise ship with an OVW on its port side and its stern side.
Sun Yat-sen University is surrounded by this OVW technology but the University itself does not make use of it. “The Ministry of Education launched a new campaign to reform EFL education at the turn of the 21st century. The reform aims to modernize EFL teaching on campuses, pushing it out of its traditional track and equipping it with better technology.”[3] Although the Ministry of Education mandated reform to include this type of modern OVW technology, the University is only interested in promoting Mute English.[4]
[1] At present, Sun Yat-sen University is a comprehensive university including the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, technical science, medical science, pharmacology and management science. There are 25 schools and colleges, including the School of Humanities, Lingnan College, School of Foreign Languages, School of Law, School Political Science and Public Administration, School of Business, School of Education, School of Communication and Design, School of mathematics and Computational Science, School of Physics and Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Geology and Planning, School of Environmental Science and Project, School of Life Science, School of Information Science and Technology, School of Engineering, School of Oversea Education Exchange, Sun Yat-sen Medical College, School of Fundamental Medicine, School of Public Health, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Nursing School, School of Pharmacology, as well as the Department of Earth Science, the Graduate School, School of Software, School of Network Education, College of Continuing Education, etc.
Sun Yat-sen University offers a wide variety of subject areas and complete disciplines. In the programs of graduate studies, there are 22 disciplines leading to Doctorate degrees and 32 to Master degrees, of which 171 specialties lead to Doctorate degree, 236 specialties lead to Master degree; in addition, there are 17 branches of studies leading to professional degrees, which are: Doctorate degree in clinical medicine, Master of business administration (MBA), Master of public administration (MPA), Master of judicial studies (JD), Master of computer technology, Master of environmental project, Master of software engineering, Master of electronic and communication engineering. and Master of biology engineering . The University has 12 post-doctorate research floating stations of Chinese language and literature, history, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, fundamental medical science, clinical medical science, management, public management, philosophy, environmental science and engineering; 20 key disciplines at the national level and 43 key disciplines at Guangdong provincial level. In undergraduate education, there are 89 specialties in undergraduate programs, with 6 national bases of fundamental sciences research and training, such as philosophy, Chinese language and literature, history, physics, chemistry and biology, 25 undergraduate specialties of name-brand specialties at the provincial-level. There are also the national bases of education in cultural qualities for college students and the first athletic training base for college student in China. In this year, the number of students of all types amounts to 70000,of which 3800 are doctorate candidates, 13000 are graduate students, 28000 are undergraduate students, and 1100 are international students. Sun Yat-sen University has abundant qualified faculty members. The university has the right to evaluate and confer the titles of full professor and associate professor. There are 12000 faculty and staff members, of which 805 are Ph D candidate supervisors, over 860 are full professors, 1500 are associate professors. Outstanding talented persons keep coming forth from the faculties, there are 13 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and 4 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, 15 young and middle-aged experts with outstanding contributions at the national level, 37 recipients of national fund for outstanding young scientists, 19 persons selected in the first and second rounds of the “project of talent selection” by the Ministry of Personnel, 19 candidates chosen for the “plan of training excellent scholars for the new century” by the Ministry of Education, 16 professors specially accredited with the “Yangtze Scholar Scheme” of the Ministry of Education, and 16 experts with outstanding contributions selected by the Department of Health. http://www.sysu.edu.cn (accessed March 1, 2009)
[2] Wolff (2009) “Why Chinese Universities Do Not Provide An English Speaking Environment”, , Chapter 6, TEACHING EFL IN CHINA: What every foreign teacher should know before they go! Nova Science Publications, New York
[3] A Recent History of Teaching EFL in China, http://www.tesol.org/s_tesol/sec_document.asp?CID=1901&DID=11103 (accessed July 16, 2009)
[4] Yiqing/Wolff (2009) Mute English – China’s New Latin, Nova Science Publishers
In my opinion The idea that erecting a double sided outdoor video wall on the north central lawn for the nightly playing of English movies is good one for creating an English speaking environment. Though the lawn has been full of people, it is a good place that let more people be aware of English. Secondly, all the signs in the Sun Yat-sen University could be wrote in two languages—English and Chinese, not just in Chinese. Thirdly, increasing the number of English Corner, this could increase the opportunities for speaking English.
In a word, to create an environment, let people to speak English subconsciously.
After reading the articles—“creating an ESE at SYSU”, “China EFL” and “English Corner” which are downloaded from the website. I quite agree the opinions about creating an ESE. My plan is as follows:
1. Change all the sign to bi-lingual. When I was walking in the campus, there were always some foreigners asked me where is the geosciences department or something. The bi-lingual signs are so necessary.
2. Establish English reading room in each dormitory building. In the room, some reading materials are available. Like Crazy English, Global Times, Entertainment Weekly etc.
3. In every festivals of western country, school can provide us western festival environment in order to enjoy ourselves and learn more about the western culture.
4. Keep English corner alive and more available. Making that at Anytime and anywhere when we want to join and play ABC we can found an organization.
5. Provide counting English education to all administrator and staffs.
Like martin said, making change to ESE just like to eat an elephant. It is a long-standing issue for all the universities. We students should take use of all the available resources to improve English.
In my opinion, creating an ESE in a Chinese school is very difficult, just like creating a CSE (Chinese speaking environment) in an English school. But I also talk about my ideas.
First, use English PPT in class, not only English class. Teachers speak English in class as much as possible. Also, canteens in campus can be decorated with English things. For example, guide mark, department-names, etc. What’s more, we can make some English coffee shops.
Why Chinese Universities Do Not Provide An English Speaking Environment？I think it is too difficult to let the students to accept too.The college students are always too busy with their major homework.So the English Speaking Environment should be provided in middle school even primary school.And watching the movies outside sounds good.This is a very creative idea. I support your suggestion.But it maybe a little cold in winter,and I think there would not be too much discussion.Because it is in China.We donot talk too much to avoid bad things.I advise we can watch the movies together in one classroom or sometimes OVW in summer.If we have the equipment.
First of all, I agree that it’s important to create a better English speaking environment at our school, because the influence of Chinese cultural circumstances on English learning is obvious. The oral English class creates an awful good ESE for us, but it’s very limited. I think to create more ESE is necessary.
To erect a double sided outdoor video wall on the north central lawn for the nightly playing of English movies is a good idea, most of us like watch movies. What’s more we can communicate with others, share ideas, I believe our English speaking abilities will be improved.
Also, I have some other propositions, such as pasting more English proverbs in classrooms, corridors and dormitories, making a special room in which there are English reading materials, VCDs and so on, holding English speech contests or English theatrical performances every month, playing English movies in lecture hall at regular intervals, installing a small LED sign in each dorm building’s entertainment room to show some English programs, as in the Zhuhai Campus in our university.
On the other hand, the support of numerous teachers and students is another very important essential factor. Anyway, I support to create a better English speaking environment at our school.
I totally think it is a great idea to watch a movie together outside on the lawn. I remember that Martin tells us to read, listen, write, and speak more English to make my English better. I believe that there are more opportunities to use English, if we can watch movies together, because we can discuss it together when and after watching movies. I appreciate these chances to be together with my classmates, and to improve our English together. And we can discus the places playing movies, if someone is not satisfied with the places.
Creating an ESE is very essential to our English studying, but it sounds a bad idea to erect an OVW for the nightly playing of English movies. Think about it, the mosquitoes, and the troublesome sound effect. The well maintained grass will be ruined. Plus, I doubt if the university would invest on such a leisure property. I called it leisure, not because the price, but the usage. What can we play for the rest of time? A SYSU introduction video or Ads?
For me, a bigger version of our class room with multi-media equipment, and an English forum or blog on the web sounds more practical.
In my opinion,it is not easy to create a ESE by erecting a double sided outdoor video wall on the north central lawn, although I very like this idea.Because there are so many citizens come to dance every night,and it is too noisy.Meanwhile it is far from enough to create a ESE , apart from changing signs to bi-lingual and establishing more English corner , we can organize some English -theme parties or debates or something like that. I think it is more important and useful to make ourselves feel like speaking English or have to speak English to express more clearly.
Yes,it’s a good idea.How to creat the English speaking environment in Sun Yat-sen university?In my opinion,it’s not practical to make the whole school be the ESE.After all,it’s a Chinese school ,we should speak our mother language.But I think maybe we can set some particular area for”special English area” where we can only speak English.In the place ,we can creat the English speaking environment like the “CHINGLAND”.As the “Chinatown” in America,this will be “Americatown”.In the place,every word is Enlish.We can attract some foreigners to go to the place,where they can have the speech publicly.We can make friends by the “communication board”.We can also motivate the people to do some creative things,sell commodities to be a foreign businessman or talk about our specialties.We can also set some sports areas where we can do the sports together ,as though we’re in America.I believe that it will be an interesting and popular “American town”.
ESE is necessary for learning English, especially in universities. In the normal situation, we will speak our native language naturally. So, we acquire ESE to forget Chinese in some way. I appreciate the idea of erecting a double sided outdoor video wall very much. First of all, it’s unique in Chinese universities as I known. Secondly, it’s romantic to watch movie with your girlfriend in north central lawn. Studying in life is the best way to learn a language.
I think create a well environment for English speaking is very important for us to learn English well. As all we know, the biggest problem of Chinese student learning English is speaking. So we must create a well speaking English environment. In my opinion, we can hold some interesting topic of English party. We can enjoy ourselves and speak English with others in our university. I also agree with the idea that we can watch a movie outside on the lawn. The cinema of our university could play some interesting foreign movie and then have a party for us to discussion it.
Sun Yat-sen University is only interested in promoting Mute English? I can’t agree with that.
It is true that our university is surrounded by the OVW technology but the University itself does not make use of it. But there are many reasons for that.
Firstly, the leaders of the university don’t have a clear idea about how to create an ESE effectively. But it doesn’t mean that the university doesn’t want to do that. Accordingly, we need to make more useful suggestions to the leaders of our university.
Secondly, the right location for the double sided outdoor video wall is also really important. The north central lawn is big enough and very attractive. But there are some shortcomings such as lots of mosquitoes and the lawn will be destroyed. Besides that, the irrigation system of the lawn will also affects the video wall.
Generally speaking, I think the idea of erecting the double sided outdoor video wall is great for creating an ESE at SYSU. But the implementation still needs more efforts!
In most chinese school, there have no real ESE, teachers just regard teaching English as a job, student just learn English as a task, so most Chinese students just learn English for passing exams. In order to change this situation, I think the schools could do like followed:
1, just ask teachers give English classes in English not in Chinese.
2, provide more opportunities for students to practice their English, such as encourage them answer questions in English, attending more English Contest and so on.
3, add oral English test as an outside force to encourage students speaking more English.
Erecting a double sided outdoor video wall on the north central lawn for the nightly playing of English movies, it is really a creative idea. But I think it might be a little difficult to achieve. On the one hand this may relate to the management of our campus, on the other hand there may be followed by various problems such as the safety problem, the select movies, the public opinions and so on.
So a creative idea must come across a suitable environment, then they will collide dazzling sparks.
Well, I think it is better if there are free English movies in the lecture hall evey weekend. Whatever results follow, we will try our best to creat an ESE in our campus.
Creating an English environment is the right thing to help us improve out real English level, not just can use it on a piece of paper. And it is also need to be promoted to a critical talking under this big condition that our Chinese need English more and have to learn more. Many other ones have tried to do many things on this, so what I thought just now is that which way is more effective than the formers. The idea to play a movie outside may be a creative thinking to learn English directly outside the door. However I don’ think it is good and feasible enough. Firstly, so many shows every night outside the north door, that may district our attention from the movie. Secondly , a group of students should prefer watching movies inside the room to standing or sitting outside. In spite of the weather, a wonderful movie may cost at least one and half an hour, and the typical ones even need 2 hours or more to finish. The time and place are going to be fixable, and there would be no free time to give students to fit their own time.
I think that is very important,but perhaps it will be a little difficult to put into practice.All the students have a lot of work to do,so they will not have enough time to go to the ESE to practise English.Most of the students have computers,if they really want to study English well,they will watch the movie.And aslo,all the people around us can speak English,so if we want to speak well,that is very easy for us to practise.If we do not have the awareness,to create an ESE at SYSU will be a waste.
However,if we make good use of the ESE at SYSU,that will be very good.We can communicate with each other,and improve us the listening and speaking ability.So we should consider very well before we it put into practice.
I think that is a wonderful idea. This video wall will create a new place for students come together to watch the English movie and speak English. That benefits our students a lot. However, we should also consider the outdoor environment, such as the weather and the mosquito. Some times, the temperature is very hot and sometimes is very cold, at that time many students would rather stay indoor rather than outdoor. Besides, the noise may bother the students and teachers who are in the nearby building.
I love watching movies especially American Television. If I can watch movies in the north central lawn will be great! But it is not practical. I think we can watch it at theater instead.
I consider the idea of erecting a double sided outdoor video wall on the north central lawn for the nightly playing of English movies is very wonderful. But it is very difficult to come ture the creative thought. In my graduated university, there is a open-air film. Many students go to see films. What’s more we can communicate with others, share ideas. I think our English lever will be improved. However, this will bring about many problems such as safety. So I suggest that our campus can provide a big classroom to play films on a schedule time every weekend.
ESE
ABOUT ERCTING OVW IN SYSU
I quite agree with the previous students’ opinion. The purpose of creating erecting an OVW for English movies is good, but it would cause some intractable problems. Such as follows:
a. A university should be a quiet and peace place for study and research, it may disturb others who are studying or working when the movie are on show with so many people gathering.
b. It will make it impossible to take a leisure time on the north central lawn at nightfall.
c. It may destroy the lawn. All of us don’t want to see that happens.
d. The movie may attract people from around the university, it just make it more crowded and noisy.
e. Watching movie outdoors is hot in summer and cold in winter. Also as other students mentioned, there are too many mosquitoes in summer.
f. For reason c and d, I think the plan is not easy to be passed by the administration department.
g. For reason d and f, I think some students will not choose to go to watch the OVW movies which usually lasts two hours or so.
Maybe we should change it to another place, or apply an indoor classroom for the English movies time. I think it is more manageable and comfortable.
MY OWN PLAN ON CREATING AN ESE
a. Bilingual signs on the campus. English modes in our cell phones.
b. Regular English movies time held indoors
c. Regular English corners held and attended by the students of the same class, other students interested are also welcomed. This can make sure all of us will attend. We can design some games to play and have fun.
d. Making friends with the same hobby during the movie time and English Corner, try to send English e-mails to each other for sharing information.
e. Establish an English Chatting QQ flock/group in two or three class. We can share beautiful English songs, good movies and books etc, also English learning experience via QQ.
f. Try to read English newspaper and watch English news and programs.
g. Create an ESE in our dormitory. Spare some time as English speaking time every day, try to make it longer and longer. Besides we can paste some English proverbs as in the Chingland. Everything can be marked with its English names.
etc.
Creating an ESE at SYSU is not a difficult thing but also it is not an easy thing. Erecting a double sided outdoor video needs money and there are more other necessary programs for the school to handle with first. We can not just say what we need so the school should manage our problem first. But I think the desire of students to speak English is the key problem of creating the ESE. If the desire is strong enough, the ESE will be created without striking a blowing and we will communicate with any possible speakers in English anywhere of our own free wills.
Um……..erecting a double sided outdoor video wall on the north central lawn for the nightly playing of English movies is kinda a,unh, impratical thing, isn’t it? I mean, that wouldn’t be any friendly environment for learning,leaving aside quality of sound and sight or anything like that,at least I would rather watch a movie on my tiny little laptop screen than bitten by mosquitoes. Having a friendly ESE doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ve gotta suffer from it.
I really agree that it’s time to create an English Speaking Environment at SYSU. Erecting a double sided outdoor video wall on the north central lawn for the nightly playing of English movies is such a good idea that we can promote ESE in the campus, though only the English Corner is not enough. As a graduate student in the school of Life Science, the chance we are in contact with English is almost the papers, without the English courses. But we also need to listen more, write more, and speak more, not only the reading. The teachers, whose courses have the English PPT, just speak Chinese during the class. So the school should provide us more opportunities to create an English Speaking Environment.
It is very difficult to create an ESE in a Chinese University. If ask me that there is any plan to change this in SYSU. I would like talk about this.
There are many foreign students in SYSU. As I know, the school arranges many of them to live together in the ZiJing Garden which far away from the dormitories that we Chinese students live in. The principle, which the school holds on, is the foreign students live with foreign students and the Chinese students live with Chinese students. That would absolutely isolate them from we Chinese students daily live. Can this principle be canceled? If there is a foreign student lives in next-door or even becomes a roommate, the chance of speaking English will be raised.
If this plan is hard to accept, I would like to say that maybe we can do something fundamentally. Just like change the signs in the campus into English-Chinese two language.
By the way, I love the double side outdoor video wall plan.
Obviously, watching movie outdoor is a romantic thing and I think it is also an inspiring sight when so much students stand in front of the outdoor video wall together to watch the english movie. But is it necessary and essential for us to perfect our english capacity?
Of course, making full use of our existing resource to create a speaking english environment is extremely important and necessay. But we should notice what I said is the existing resource. An outdoor video wall is money-consuming and is not very harmonious with our compus. However, we must admit it is a great idea to create a speaking english environment to improve the english. Maybe we can do something as follows:
1.Launching an english drama troupe and share their performance each month with all the students. Language is a kind of art. Before we try to acquire english, I think the more important point is that we should learn how to enjoy it.
2.Enrich the teaching method. Teaching us to sing a sweet english song or watching a comical movie or discussing some matters around our daily life and so on. As we know, interest is the best teacher. So I think the first step of reforming the english education is to create a comfortable environment for us to learn english and improve our interest in english.
3.Creating an extraordinary day each month. In that day, we are only allowed to speak english. Speaking english every day is not practical. But we can select one day in a month to formulate everyone just communicate in english unless he or she will be punished. I believe it will have many funny things to happen.
……
There are so many methods to perfect english. And we all know we should speak more and reading more and writing more and listening more. But the key problem is how to make us interest in english.
As a student in SYSU, we do need an environment for speaking English. I strongly suggest that every month, students in SYSU become an ABC for one day. This activity is not just for a few students or just for Martin’s students, but is for all the students and staffs in SYSU. In a word, we do it on the same day, for all of us, at every place. And we also need a large place, in restaurant or in one of classroom. All English speakers, not only for foreigners but also for Chinese students, are gathered together there, and talk freely. These place should be kept for all days not just for a certain day weekly or monthly.
Creating an ESE can improve our oral english sure-enough.But I am afraid it will be a little difficult. I would like to share my ideas. I think we can divide our class into small groups,then we can have a small party together,like eating dealicious food,seeing the film of speaking english,or sing english songs . Of course, we talk to each other in english. Also, if the school can play in the English-language broadcasts on campus, then we go out for a walk when it comes to listen enlish.
As far as I am concerned，it is difficult to creat an English speaking environment for us. However，we should have the realization and overcome the problems as far as we can. The suggestions is as the follow.
To the beginning，Once I seclude myself in the study to read English books (newspapers/magazines)for two or three hours a day, then I will find that I am in an immersion environment in that period. What is more，go and practise spoken English with friends when we meet on the compus in the daily life. Communicate with each other in English. Last but not the least，the symbols should be translated into English so that we can catch up with the pace of the world. And we are going to learn the new symbols and understand them sufficiently.
It is really important to create an English environment in campus not only at class but also after class. Watching movies in north lawn is sweetness but I am afraid it is hard to be in practice. The winter is coming and hence watching movie outside is no longer sweetness but spewin. I think we change the place to watch movie like “Liang qiu ju”. As I know, it just plays Chinese film no English film. In it, we all sit down and would not feel cold when winter comes. I hope we can enjoy English films at theatre in the future and speak more English while take an entertainment.
Creating English speaking environment is essential and important at our university and other schools, which can help us get rid of mute English and improve our oral English. Then, a question comes up, how to?
After consideration, my opinions are as follows:
1, Students are advocated to communicate with English, and we can set one day of the week as English Day.
2, Creating the number of English corner. as far as I know, there is only one English corner, “Xing” pavilion, at SYSU.
3, Establishing an oral English association by our students to attract more students. Holding some activities regularly.
4, Setting up an English radio, broacasting the SYSU news, songs or stories.
5, As Mr. Wolff’s creative idea, erecting a double sided outdoor video wall, playing English movies.
Erecting a double sided outdoor video wall on the north central lawn for the nightly playing of English movies is a good idea,I partly agree with your idea. I think erecting a double sided outdoor video wall on the north central lawn is a good idea, but I think it would be better if the movie is playing on every weekend, particular on Friday. Because I think if the movie is playing on every night, I’m worry that few students will go to see the movie, as we have so homework many to do.because we are graduate,so we have a lot of things to do,for instance, some department have many experiment to do,such as the college of life science,the college of chimestry, and so on.Afer all,doing research is also important. But at the same time, we should improve our English,so the weekend is the better time,I think.At the other hand, the environment outdoor is good,we can talk the film in English at the time of film being showed,so that we can speak more when we are watching.
It is a worthwhile option to create an ESE at SYSU. A double sided outdoor video wall on the north central lawn will be another landmark of the SYSU south campus. It will make our campus more modern and help students improving English.
How about applying to play the English movie in the Liangqiuju Hall which is located near the auditorium? I think it is really a good idea. Even one play every weekend will be good for the students’ English learning. However Implement is more important.
I’m pretty interested in the idea of watching movies outside on the lawn. And I remember exactly SYSU does have this activity in Zhuhai campus. It has a great attraction to students. And I like the atmosphere of sitting on the lawn, with a huge screen, and a swarm of friends. But one thing I want to mention is that it’s better to be a voluntary attendance than a duty to come. I guess it should be lots of fun to come, instead of being forced to come. Or the true effect of the campaign would vanish.
There are kinds of methods improving our English skills.However, one effective method is immersing ourselves in ESE ,which is short for English speaking environment.
Immersing in ESE,we’ll not only improve our English speaking skills by communication, but will have fun at the same time. ESE is so important for English learners, however, how can ESE be created,especially in a campus like SYSU.Maybe some measures can be taken.
1.As Pro. Martin said,” all English Department facilities would need to be located exclusively in one building”, campus had better to set up an exclusive place for English teaching, which we may call “microclimate”.
2.Much more activities may be held in the campus, take Halloween or Christmas for example. The Student Union can invite some foreign friends to give students an amusing party outdoor, which will creat an ESE. English corner is also a good choice, but do forget your mother tongue when you are there.
3.Maybe campus needn’t inhibit some groups held by foreign friends. Conversation Groups is an example,where English learners can interact with other English learners, and exchange idea or experiences.
ESE is very important for improving English, however, creating ESE positively by ourselvers is the head case.COME ON!
ESE is a crucial factor in English learning. As we can see from the movie “Terminal”, a person can master a strange language quickly when he/she is placed in an environment totally filled with that language.
When it comes to creating an ESE in our university, I think it really a good idea to improve the level of our English. There are several things we can actually do if we want to effectively create an ESE.
First of all, maybe the best means does not lie in courses. Instead, it lies in our daily life. It should be “filled” with English. English movies shown every day for free in the university’s auditorium. Canteens could provide dishes from all around the world with English descriptions beside them. All signs in the campus should be bilingual. Only in this way would we provide a more intense ESE.
Secondly, English speaking and writing contest can be held frequently. To promote students’ enthusiasm in learning English, such contests are indispensable. In those kinds of contests, they would be able to realize that English brings success, fame, and even money.
Last but not least, I think, we can organize an English drama troupe consisting of all the students who show interest in acting. This troupe performs regularly on campus. Through this interactions of people in English communication, we can foresee great progress in students’ English ability.
ESE is good for us to study English well. We could listen and speak English at any time, use the English in everyday life not just as a test. And nobody would think it is strange. Maybe it is not easy to carry out. But we can do something for it. In my opinion, first, we can post some of the daily English language and famous throughout the campus, such as the “Welcome” written on the school gates. Second, the English teachers should speak English with their students not only in the classroom, as well as outside. Third, we can run some English parties. Meanwhile, English corner can hold more times in a week. Fourth, the outdoor video wall in school is a good idea. We can communicate with each other in English while seeing the film. The ESE requires all of us together to create.
i think it is a good idea to set up a double sided outdoor video wall in the campus.it provide a good english speaking environment for the students. but i would like to see it set up in front of the students’ fifth mess hall rather than on the north central lawn.the reasons had been written in the article.
and my plan to create a english speaking environment is like this:
1.add some english road signs around the campus.
2.provide more interesting english books and magazines in different level.
3.have abc for a day each week.
4.when speaking in chinese to others , try to add some commer english words like in hongkong.
Indubitably, it will be such a big program in our school that every student may benefit by it. But the cost of this OVW will be the biggest stumbling block. As we all know that this kind of high-tech device is rare and if our school really want buy it, it will cost much time to let this program be examined and approved by the goverment. So I think it’s not real.
It is a good idea to watch the movie outdoor ,because we feel relaxed in the outdoor and then in such environment we can increase interest in learning English .
But how to provide an ESE in Sun Yat-sen University? In my opinion , I think it has a little difficult . Because here is China. It is our habit to speak in Chinese. But there are some solution:
Firstly, we can increase some interactive games in the English Corner so that can improve the participation rate of English Corner.
Secondly, We can speak English start from our own ,we can speak from some simple words.
A last, libraries should provide a diversified selection of English reading materials and English movies with English subtitles.
If we could do that ,I think the concept of creating an ESE is not just an impossible dream.
I am so lucky because I have got chance to read so many good articles in this web.For example,two articles on the download page “Why Chinese Universities Do Not Provide an English Speaking Environment” and “English Corner”,and now after reading “Creating an ESE at SYSU”,a lot of questions ring bell in my mind.It is time for us to think about English learning in today China seriously.At the age of information,everyone is trying his/her best to be good enough to be successful.As a graduate student,I am in the same situation with them.Mastering English and knowledge on urban planning has been put in the top of my list.In the terms of learning English,I think it is important and essential for us to creat an ESE for ourselves.My plan is to creat a small room for ESE,in the form of making my dormitory a ESE,if this works well,I will expand to my class.In a word,it will turn out to be a good way to improve English output by means of creating English speaking environment.
It is difficulty to creat a ESE in a place where people always speak Chinese, while difficulty doesn’ t mean impossible. People in our country always say, nothing is impossible. Especially creating a English environment in our school is relatively more easier than in other place. The students can choose a special place as the English corner and take part in their spare time. we can see more English movies and talk about them, The student union can design some activities such an English speech , English song compete, to attack people’ attention. I do belive,English speaking environment can be established with the efforts of all the people in our school!
It is a great idea to erect a double sided outdoor video wall. It can be used for playing English movies, sports and news. Meanwhile people will communication with each other in English about these. Thus a English speaking environment is created. Students and teachers also entertain themselves. In addition, I think that classmates in a dormitory should speak more English with each other. It is good choice to make more Chinese students and foreign students become friends. It is greatly helpful for Chinese students learning English.
An ESE at sysu, even in China? That reminds me of popularizing Mandarin all over the country. Take Guangdong Province for example. Maybe people are encouraged (sometimes we have to admit “forced”) to speak mandarin at schools, at working places and so on. But we won’t prefer to speak mandarin once we capture the opportunity to speak Cantonese without being catched, even just a little while. And that’s the point, we have made our every effort to put up an evironment for mandarin but we just feel so much stress and discomfort that we want to escape. Maybe so too to the ESE, a relaxing and funny way would make it.
1. It’s prominent to locate all English Department facilities exclusively in one building that makes it the substantive core of ESE. Here is just for things relevant with english, and they will radiate to all over the campus from here.
2. It can be used for reference that provide a platform for messages like “English or Chinese private tutors wanted”. The model of one-tutor-to-one-student or several-students might be an acceptable way to acquire language and culture and something else interesting, outside the classroom and without many limitations to topics.
3. It is also funny and new to hold an english evening party merging with western elements, like Christmas Day, Holloween Day and something else. It is weird that we hold a Christmas party in Chinese way, with a series of shows and fixed seats.
Yes, it’s a good idea.I hope it becomes true. If all of us try our best to creat an English speaking environment as Martin,I beleive we can improve our oral English soon. In fact,now I find it is a good way to study Englishit through watching English movies. Last week, after I completed the homework about two movies, I had an impulsion to speak English. Then, in the next day, I had a ABC day.It was an important experience to me.
I think it is a good idea to watch movies together outside.We could watch movies in the computers indoor,but I don’t feel it as good as being together with the whole class,and if I can’t understand the plot,I easily give up it.Furthermore,we could discuss the plot when we watch the movie,it would not diturb others because we are outside not in the theatre.
First I have to say it is not so easy to create an English speaking environment in our campus, which needs everyone’s participation. I think it is important for us to let the administrators realize the meaning of that, without their assistance, it will be a formidable task for us.
I like the idea of watching English movie together, for watching a film with many people will be a totally different experience when compared with watching it alone, it is apparent that we can derive more pleasure from the former style. Under that environment, we can share our feelings and ideas with each other at times; besides that, if we don’t know the meaning of the film, we can ask others timely. In most important sense, it provides us a relaxed atmosphere, where you needn’t afraid that your English is poor.
Holding some English lectures is also very helpful to enhance our English , which shouldn’t be only refined to our specialized field, it is a pity that such lectures are too rare.
In my opinion,it is really not a good idea.Firstly ,most students prefer to spend their night in dormitory.They like sitting before computer and watching movies,and nowadays,we can download almost any kind of movies.None will go out just for a movie.And secondly ,most people spend their night there are grandma and grandpa,some of them even don’t know what “hello” means.So I think it is just an idea that wasted money.
We have spent really too much (not only time, but much more) on English learning. Is what we get just worthy what we spent? I think it’s high time for us to consider it seriously. Obviously, the answer should be NO. So we should do something to change the current situation, to find out a more efficient way for English learning or English acquisition. The idea of “erecting a double sided outdoor video wall on the north central lawn” sounds very great. I really look forward to see this idea coming true. Maybe it’s not on the north lawn, I think wherever outdoor is OK.
Moreover, we can do more things to create an ESE, such as:
An English radio program is created. Every day morning, English news is broadcast in the campus. English songs are broadcast in some periods of the day.
English corner should be expended, and be more available for us. Furthermore, its form can be various, not only chatting with each other but something else, like singing English songs, puzzles, playing games and so on.
Time and tide wait for no man. We should try to change in time.
In my opinion,some departments in our university can jion together to play indoor movies in a large classroom,where is convenient for us to comunicate in English.Also it is more comfortable than the whole school together. On the other hand,it can enrich our Sparetime Life.