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
I think we students will benefit a lot from ESE because we will have lots of chance to practice our English. However, it isn’t easy at all to achieve this goal. Only with great effort of people, will the ESE come into being. And I really appreciate the idea of OVW. Just imagine that when we pass the lawn we can watch the news in English, and at night we surround the OVW to enjoy an American movie. This is an interesting part of ESE, isn’t it? And an OVW is more than a screen. It will change people’s attitude. It brings the concept that ESE is combine langue acquisition with entertainment.
Most of us have learned English for a long time, but we still can not speak English freely. The main reason is that there is not a good English speaking environment for us. We don’t think in English way in our daily life. So, 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. How to create? My suggestion is:
Firstly, English corner is a must.
Secondly, ABC is also a good idea.
Thirdly, make a foreign friend who speak English well.
And the most important thing is making students be interested in oral English, by the role play of some wonderful movies.
There is noubut that creating ESE is useful for us.If we have an English Speaking Environment,we are able to improve our oral English.In turn,we will be helpful for writing,be good at listening and proficient in English.Indeed,most of us want our English to be better than before.
But the most important reason is that all of us speak Chinese in our daily lives.In china there are so many dialects.If we do not speak Putonghua,we communicate with each other by dialect.Not everyone is intirested in English,because some of us think it will be unuseful in their future.
So I think the ESE is important for us.
It is really necessary to creat an ESE at SYSU. We need an environment to enjoy classic films with our classmates. I think OVW should be built at the back of chapel. Because it is the centre of SYSU. There are a large number of people passing there everyday. So it will be a wide and open space attracting all people’s attention, not a samll part of students. OVW will help us learn more about American culture, history, national conditions and so on.
I was impressed by the English corner the other day. Many people walking past stopped to join into when they hadn’t intended to participate the English corner. So I think in fact many people want to communicate with others in English, to improve their oral English, to share their past experiences or even just for fan. It seems that it is important to create an English environment so that more people can join easily! More straggles should be considerate for the better environment!
Some of us are too shy to open our mouth including me.And it is no doubt that the OVWs is a good way to overcome our difficulties.I think it is worthy for the school to creat such a wonderful oppotinity for us though there are a lot of problems to solve.Anyway,I strongly agree with the idea and appeal our school to put it into practice.
I can’t agree more with this article. It tell the true that I thought in my heart these years. It is very important to make a ENGLISH SPEAKING ENVIRONMENT at Sysu. Prof.Martin tell us, if we want to learn English well, we should read more English, write more English, speak more English and so on. If there is a good English speaking environment in our university, it is really good for us to learn English well.
Our school creating such English speaking environment could certainly benefit us. But, more importantly, it is us, the students, to take advantage of it. So it also comes to our willingness to devote ourselves into English learning. Anyway, SYSU is making great efforts to provide such fancy environment for English speaking.
There is no doubt that creating ESE is benefit for us. In my opinion, outdoor video wall is a good idea, but not suit for now, it is too cold. In summer its absolutely great. Creat an English speaking environment is necessary, the importance is not to mention. The key point is how to creat. I think watch movies which are not difficult for us are useful for our English, such as “Friends”. We can learn some daily communication words and know American culture.
The English corner on Wednesday night impressed me so much that I think most of us are eager to create an ESE in our campus. It is necessary to build the OVW, maybe settled in the south lawn near the school hall, where we sometimes hold some outdoor activities. It can help us to improve our oral English and get rid of ME, which is useful for our future, especially for graduating students.
English today is a useful tool for education, employment, business opportunities and lots of other fields in our life. ESE is important for English learning, however, in SYSU, I don’t think we have a good ESE. What I hear and see are mostly Chinese, it is Chinese rather than English that occupies the dominant position. Although Martin provides us some useful ways to create a proper ESE on Chinese university campuses, I don’t think we can change the situation at one blow. We have to do it step by step, eat the elephant by one bite at a time.
The easy way to create an ESE in Sun Yat-San is to write down the English on all guideposts. It’s supposed to be the cheapest method. I don’t think the OVW idea will be passed because it costs quite much money. But we can do a similar way that all the English movies should be in English captions. Read the English captions is good, to some extend, for improving listening. Maybe English corner can be held twice a week. There’re so many ways to create an ESE, but the most important is to make students speak more English, listen more English, read more English and write more English.
It is very important to creat an ESE at SYSU. We have learned English for a long time, but we can not communicate with others in English. We could not find a comfort word or sentence to express what we want to say. What is the reason? In my opinion, we have learned grammar and word for a long time, but we have not spoken very much. No practice, no success. So we could not have a talk with others in English.
I think it is very necessary to creat an ESE at SYSU. English corner is a good choice. We can communicate with others in English, and maybe speak with a foreigner, because we are shy to speak English in daily life. The school also could play English movie which is fine. So we could watch movie and communicate with others at the same time. So we could watch a film, and speak English. It is a good way to improve our spoken English. But it is the most important to creat ECE on ourselves. Only in this way, we could improve our spoken English quickly.
I cannot agree more with your suggestion that to create an English speaking environment on our campus. And there is no doubt that this environment will be beneficial for our English improving. Everybody knows that there is no shortcut to learn English and the only way is to practice more. Many Chinese students complain that there is hardly any English speaking environment in China. Why not to create one by ourselves? English corner and English salon will be widely accepted and advocated. And using OVWs is also a good idea to help to build the environment. The ESE is an effective solution to help us get rid of mute English and it also can provide more “comprehensible input”, according to Krashen’s theory of second language acquisition, in our daily lives. I’m looking forward that the ESE will become a reality someday in future.
In my view，it is necessary to build an English speaking environment in SYSU. Just like the movie , because of the English speaking environment, he had a rapid increase in English. If we have a better environment in SYSU, We will no longer need to spend several hours a day on the painful words. English film, free and open for all the students and teachers is a very good suggestion, However, the feasibility of the central lawn is not high, Because it would undermine the important lawn. I suggest that the movie could be played before the YONGFANGTANG will be better. Look forward to such an English speaking environment.
The huge screen movies or news idea is good, but the place to place this screen should be discussed further, cuz we don’t go passing by the north central lawn every day. Plus the huge screen may cost too much, esp when repairing it, and it does sound weird that in the centre of a Chinese university there’s a loud English voice or perhaps the dirty making-love scenes.
I suggest we can install some much smaller screens beside the road or even paths and the TVs and be tuned to different channels of English like ABC news and BBC news and classical movies. Then everyone in the campus has opportunity, when they are jogging, taking a walk, or just passing by, to watch the English content.
But the next big question is, how can we persuade the administration of the school to do this?
I like watching movies, so I will be very glad if a double-sided outdoor video wall is erected on the north central lawn. However it is not easy to fulfill this dream. Money is the biggest problem. Who will donate the cost of the wall? For the time being, I don’t think it is practical. But the advice that English Department makes English its official language of communication is good. We are living in an environment that full of Putonghua and Cantonese. To create an ESE we must give full play to our subjective initiative. We are part of the ESE. Let’s speak English from ourselves.
ESE is a dream not far away with us. Why is it a dream? For it’s not come true yet.
How could you manage a language? Take mandarin for instance, I started to learn it since primary school, but still being recognized to be southern people in college because of my pronunciations. But now, it becomes better, someone even thinks I come from north of China. Why? For I had many classmates even roommate speak mandarins in college, and I had to communicate with them frequently.
In the same way, we have many foreign students, but we seldom meet them, for all of them study and live in the different place, we seldom meet. And when we are graduates, we don’t have any exchange student at all. Now we finally have three from German, and we do know each other, and had real progress in communication, but the chance of it is still little, for we just have one English-speaking lesson in a week.
So why not have a mix building for students in and abroad? Why not have more English-speaking lessons? And they’re signs that sysu is not international yet. I believe it would be better in the future, and then ESE in sysu would be better, too.
English is an important tool. We have learned it all the time, however, still can’t we manage it. Maybe we are able to read some simple articles or some easy novels, the problem is that most of us cannot communicate in it, neither listening or speaking. That’s why we should create an ESE. To attend the English Corner is one effective way, the people who want to practice their oral English and to improve their English using ability are gathered there to teach each other by themselves. The second way is to speak English, send message in English and communicate in English when we are on QQ with our good friends. All the skills or techniques is gained from hardworking and ever-lasting practice. To create an ESE help us to practice it more.
First of all, erecting a double sided outdoor video wall is quiet an exciting idea. There is no doubt that this is a good opportunity to create an ESE. I am personally very interested in it. If there is a outdoor video wall in the campus, I will certainly to go there to watch movies. Secondly, establish English reading room in each dormitory building is quite good too. In the room, some reading materials are available. Like Crazy English, Global Times etc. Thirdly , what we need is cooperation from the school authorities. Some simple ESE, such as a place to watch English movies , bilingual maps or introduction of species of trees, should of course be provided by the school. Last but not the least, 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. We will create an ESE step by step.
All of us know only an English corner is not enough to create an ESE in Sun Yat-sen University. However, we can create English speaking environment by other ways. Firstly, we can learn from universities in Hong Kong, of which the classes are all taught in English. It will be very helpful for our English study. However, it puts forward higher requirements for teachers. Secondly, we can watch movie outside on the lawn. I think it’s an good idea, then we have more opportunities to learn English and communicate with others.
I believe that our English level will improve a lot if we have such an ESE.
I can’t agree with the important of the English speaking environment for people who want to speak English like an American. I believe that it is the thing making the environment not only the English teachers but also the school managers. The school managers should erect a set of video in every teaching building, we can listen the English news, or some famous foreign channels. I hope the school manager could focus on it.
I posted my comment about two weeks ago maybe but it was banned for some reasons, in that comment I suggested to set bi-linguistic signals in our school but not OVW and Mr.Wolff just want me to explain for it. When we talk about this comment in e-mails and agree on that bi-linguistic signals and OVW are not mutual exclusive I think it is appropriate for me to post this comment now. but this time I won’t negate OVW for that I think both methods are good for the furtherance of an ESE.
I think it is a great idea to create a double sided outdoor video wall on the north central lawn for the nightly playing of English movies. However, our oral English can not be really improved only by watching English movie, since we just learn how to get what the movies expressing instead of learn how to express ourselves. As far as I concerned communication is more important, if there is an environment for us to discuss these movies and our opinions, our skills of speaking English will be greatly improved.
All of us have learned English for more than 16 years, but we still can’t speak English fluently. It is really depressed.
I agree with the importance of English speaking environment, it forces us to hear English and speak English, just as a sentence that ‘Practice makes perfect’. Additionally, it can help us to form English thinking style which is very important in communicating with foreigners.
But I think ESE is not the only thing in learning we have to change. For instance, I chatted with an ABC who now works in China, he said he can’t speak Chinese, because he didn’t think Chinese is necessary for him. Though he is a Chinese and now in China, he still can’t speak Chinese.
So I think the most important thing is we learn English voluntarily rather than just for our examinations.
Before I write my own opinions about your suggestion, I want to tell my fellow friend a story which my tutor told me. My tutor and his campus roommate in SYSU now all got good jobs and was well-known now. And one similar advantage of them is that their English are very good. So in the years they studied in the university they got the chances to go abroad to pursue their future study for their excellent English skills and finally be successful. How their English could be so pretty? That’s because they created a English environment in their dormitory ,he said to me that all though his two years in the post graduate study , they rarely spoke Chinese in their dormitory .
So after reading this article I really have to say that I can’t agree more with what it indicates to us. A holistic English study environment is so important. We have to be familiar with English reading 、English talking and especially English thinking. We have to always try to use English as a easy language tool to communicate with others. We also have to encourage the friends around us to practice more and more , only in this way can we really and finally improve our English skills.
I must say “thank you” to Mr Martin for his contribute to our students’s English studying, I also admit that the English speaking environment is very important. However, I don’t agree to build a outdoor video player in the center of the SYSU. As we all know , our University is a beautiful and peaceful place for all the students and teachers , and even for the people live around the University. People like the silent and calm of the center of the SYSU, we don’t want to be disturbed by any other voice, and people obviously have the right to choose their own life style and we should pay our respect to them.
On the other hand , even though I admit the importance of the ESE, but I want to ask whether it is necessary to all the people or can it do any help to improve our English skill. For example, Mr Martin who had been in china for seven years , has the chance to talk with Chinese people everyday , and can listen to Chinese everywhere, according to his theory, the Chiese speaking environment is excellent ,then he should master Chinese very well. However , in my memory, Mr Martin are still can not say fluent chinese. Can we get a conclusion that the ESE or CSE has no use at all? It is my question, Can you give me the exact answer ?
Thanks for professor Martin’s hard work for Chinese English learner again, perhaps , everyone should have a dream expect to achieve, I have moved by your determination. You had set a good example to me, thank you!
It would be a good idea but, indeed, I don’t think it work here.
First it destroys the scene of our whole landscape.
Second, I doubt that not so many students would like to be an auditor in the open air.
Third, we do have many big rooms with unquiet equipments, we can enjoy movies there if is necessary.
Most of us have learned at least more than 10 years English. But we could only in exam, not in life. So I think to create the ESE is important in university study. However, I do not think your suggestion is the best and only method to improve the spoken English. The double sided outdoor video wall is ideal and hard to be approved by the university. In fact, our university website– BOJI has many resources of updated English movies. We actually watched and listened a lot of English, but learned few and improved a little from those. I think that is the way that matters not the resource lack of. Therefore, the wall is not going to do great effect upon us. Maybe English corner is more useful. And improve the interest of us to learn English. Not just feel hard to do the English homework.
In my opinion,to creat an ESE at SYSU the most important thing to do is not to put all English Department facilites together in one building,but to make all the students like and want to learn English.Somehow,that is to say creat an environment that we can learn and speak English once we have time and chances.
First, English corner is very important, we can go to English corner to practice our English, and make friends with those who want to improve their English.
Second, more activities must be hold with the foreign students such as a week ago there was a party in the Xiongdenglong activity center. And we Chinese students could know more about other countries’ culture and make more foreigner friends.
Third, we can play English movies in somewhere , I think there must be a movie room especially for students to enjoy a movie ,study and exchange ideas in English.
I think maybe I am the last student to comment on this article. It is not because I am to lazy or something, it is because I don’t know how to comment it~~I think its too complicated for me to do this. So, I just wait and want to read more comments from other sutdents’ so that I can get a gerneal idea.
I think an English speaking enviroment is very important to the English learners~~it provides a practice place and situation to us to use our oral English.But the most important thing I think to implement it is change the students’ idea. Many of us are changing thier ideas–under your teaching. So, the next step should do is leave to the university–propagandize this idea more and make it come ture.
In China, many people have been studying English for more than a decade, however, seldom of them can speak fluent English for the English environment has not been created, mostly be ignored by both the university and government, which are responsible for this problem. In my opinion, students in China are too shy to speak English, the education system told us to stay quiet and listen to teachers. So we remain silent in class, atmosphere in the class is usually boring. Most of our time is consist of the exam, which is most important to all students. The teachers, who teach English , have no choices but to teach grammar and reading , as well as listening. The exam, mostly decides the process of a class can just be made up by doing exercises. What’s more, the competition in China, to some degree, will be the most violent in the world. Those who focuse on speaking English get no bonus, that is the main reason for the English speaking environment’s absence.
I think the OVW should be built in time. Surely, this action is benefit for not only our students but also teachers and inhabitants. We can use it for movies whatever it is in English or Chinese. We can use it for learning English, having good time and spreading messages. If there is some holiday day, we can dance and sing under the wall with the music from it.
There is no doubt that creating an ESE is a very fine dream. But how to realize this dream requires us to think a lot of it. In my first post, I suspected the effect of erecting a double sided outdoor video wall on the north central lawn. Now I agree with the view that an OVW does take some effect and an OVW on the central lawn can really attract more people than other location. But how many could it attract? If there are English corners every night, can they have a deep effect on the whole campus? In my opinion, the ESE is important, but the go-aheadism of people is also important. Creating an ESE may be a long way to go. We can create it step by step. And we should arouse the initiative of speaking English. Only when the people participate in the environment, an ESE can make sense.
I think we need to create an English speaking enviornment at Sun Yat-Sun University.In fact I think that all of the colleges and universities in China should improve their English speaking environment.In my pinion,We can design a better English language courses to achieve it.For example,we can teach student to perform English drama or English movie in English course.In the preparation of students performing the process,they unknowingly entered a good English speaking enviornment.
It is said that China is developing in an incredible speed. We have received too much flattery from people who know little about China. However, we are clear that things are not that simple or perfect. Now the reform on EFL did not turn out to work, so are we disappointed? Maybe or maybe not that disappointed. Actually I have never expected that everything went on exactly as we had planned. The god created the world in seven days, an imperfect world. We just have a long way to go, and there are many lessons we can draw from the past ten-year reform, which we have to do now.
obviously, we need a English speaking environment in our campus.
to some extent, building a ovw in the campus can let more and more person contact with English and discuss the questions by using English. And at that time ,English is truly becoming a tool for communication but not only a course . that we learn it is in order to pass the English exam and get the certification about it.however maybe it is impossible to create a OVW in the campus. After all , English is not everything. we should not be facilitate ourselves but interfere other. for my part , the decisive factor on the way of learning English is not the external environment but the endeavor of us . in the countryside , there is not right environment for communicate with other in English. but there are some student speaking English fluently. in our city, many university and parents provide environment for there students or children , but they still stay the same.
if you truly want to learn English better, no matter what difficulties can hamper you progress.
To some extent, make an ESE is very important. There are more and more Foreigners came to China after China was opened to the West. There are a lot of foreigners around us. As English is an internet language, speaking English well is a very important skill in our life time. We are post-graduates, English is not only a course which we must learn it to pass the examination, but also a skill for life. Although we have studied English for ten years, our oral English is very poor. We can not use English fluently when we speak with a foreigner. It is urgent to make an English environment in our campus to improve our oral English. It is true for me to study English well, we all want to establish an ESE in campus.
I think we can just create an ESE at school campus for our own.There are so many way to be in touch with English everyday if we always keep eyes on our daily life.For example,we students from Life Science school usually encounter many imported chemical reagents,of which packages and introduction leaflets are printed in English.And they can be regarded as materials for English study.Besides,we can find many foreigners in our campus.Accordingly,we have so many opportunities to talk to a English native speaker.Acctually,we should create an ESE with man of the same line.
Creating an ESE in the Sun-Yat university is a good idea for oral English and acquisition of English. It can not only help those who want to improve their English but also test a new way to acquire English . But it is hard to do it. The influence of the Putonghua environment is too strong and wide. Another complication is that mass people who want to improve their English must have enough time and energy to create the environment. Although the university have a lot of students, it is hard to do it without a detailed plan and strong organizing. I think , erecting a double sided outdoor video wall on the north central lawn is not as good as watching film at cinema. If people have time to see a film outside, it is more comfortable to do the same in the room. And the video wall can’t have good effect on the creating of the ESE. To create the ESE, I think , changing the environment of people’s daily life in English. First , all names of the building，rooms ，all notice and so on in school should be bilingual. Secondly, the restaurants and broadcast in school play the good, proper English music at proper time such as dinner time. Thirdly, students can watch late, great English films for free at the cinema of the school. Fourthly, using the internet is necessary. If the website is good enough to absorb people, they will acquire English freely and happily.
ESE is always considered as an important factor to improve oral English. From my point of view, I am dying to have such kind of environment. As it is put forward, people watching a movie outside and discuss after it together is a novel idea. We needn’t worry about what kind of topic is going to be raised during the talk. We can easily make a conversation by discussing the plot or characters of the movie. However, before putting it into practice, there are a lot of considerations. Firstly, we may not make sure that all people will attend or insist on joining. Some people don’t like staying outside and attracting others’ attention. Secondly, the equipments need maintenance, the cost will be very high. So it’s difficult to do it. But if someone volunteers to do this job, and is responsible for it, we together apply for that, I think we will make it. It’s just a time problem. Only one can’t create ESE, but uniting all people, that will be an easy job.
ESE is very important for English learning especially in sysu. If we are surrounded by English speaking Environment, we can communicate with others in English, to improve their oral English, to share their past experiences or even just for fan. I think English corner is very useful to improve the interest of us to learn English. we don’t just feel hard to do the English homework. We use English as a tool and our English maybe improved greatly. However, I do not think your suggestion is the best and only method to improve the spoken English. I want to say whether it is necessary to all the people or can it do any help to improve our English skill. In my opinion, students in China are too shy to speak English. Even though sysu create ESE for student , we student don’t make use of it, it still useless!! The best way to improve our English is to overcome shyness. There are a lot of foreigner in Sun Yat-sen University. We can communicate and make friends with them if we are brave enough. In this way ,I think , our English also can improve greatly.
In my opinion, English is very important and we should take any favorable equipment to improve it. I can’t understand why SYSU removed the bi-lingual street signs by Chinese only signs. If we live in an environment where is full of English, I think our English will get improvement easily. So it is necessary to watch movies together and have a timely communication on movies. Fortunately we have English corner on every Wednesday, so we can go there to make new friends and communicate about our interests. It is helpful to create ESE in SYSU for us to improve our English. But it is not enough, because environment is only external conditions. How good our English is ultimately depends on our personal efforts.
Well, I think the idea of modernizing the EFL in China, especially in our campus is fantastic. This kind of movement means a lot and will indeed benefits us a lot. As for SYSU, some people suggest erect a double sided outdoor video wall on the north central lawn for the nightly playing English movies, I am afraid I don’t support it. I think the idea is great, just the location, maybe not so appropriate. First, the north central lawn is a public place and it is better not to build this unharmonious equipment. Besides, there are a lot of mosquitoes! And what if it rains? I think maybe we should find some other place. In my opinion, there’s another way to better our EFL environment. What about broadcasting some English programs and some beautiful English songs or poems? We can choose the time when we are going to have lunch or dinner, it’s the most suitable time, I guess. I often miss the days when I was in my high school, during the break, I mean the class intervals, lunch time or dinner time, there would be broadcast. We could choose to turn it on if we were in the classroom or we could turn it off. Totally depend on us. So, I think it will be great that if our campus can have this kind of program.
ESE is very important for us. We will benefit a lot from it. But it is very hard to change the CSE into ESE. We born in China. Everyday we are surrounded by Chinese. We feel very convenient to communicate in Chinese. Even though we know the more we practise ,the better our English will be,we still can not make ourselves speak English all the time. What we can do is to choose a proper time and ask someone to do “ABC a day”. We can’t dream in English. It is decided by the situation we have been in. ESE can’t be created by simply erecting a double sided outdoor video wall on the north central lawn for the nightly playing of English movies. I think in China,the most possible way to creat a ESE is to hold more Matin type’s English Corner and do more ABC a day. And the people who wants to improve English should realize that practice makes perfect.
Most Chinese students don’t speak English willingly .Some say their English are so poor that when speaking it will make them embarrassed,some say they are too shy to speak English when others around are speaking Chinese. Thanks to Professor Martin,the situation changed.You provide us an ESE,foring us to speak English anytime,anywhere,making us to do something that a Chinese teacher would never request. All these make us be brave and open our mouth to speak. After those homework assighment,I’ve changed,not only my English improved,but the way I learn English.Now, I am able to speak to anyone in English which I didn’t have enough courage to do so before. I think here in SYSU,the ESE need to continue,making students leave their faces in dormitory and be brave to speak English!
I think, English corner is a kind of ESE. There is an English Corner on Wednesday evening each week. However, how many of us benefits from it. Actually, I had been there several times and now I don’t go any more. We just ask questions and answer them there. We hardly talked about one topic in depth because someone may join at any moment and the topic breaked easily. Maybe OVW could be a choice to create ESE at SYSU. In my view, when you live in an English environment, you are forced to speak English and think in English. So, my plan is to creat some short-term mixed dormitories. Students from countries in the world get together. English, as a current language, will be used when communicate with each other.
It is sound a good idea to creat a an English environment,and it may helpful for every english learner.And it is necessary for the SYSY this first-class universities in China . However, the idea is good, the actual operation is indeed very difficult. This is related to the environment in China, coupled with the school is open,making it very difficult. I feel that the only role of the students themselves to seize the opportunity to create the conditions for themselves, such as English Corner,communicated with multi-and foreign exchange students, etc.And this may be more practical.
I do hold such ideas that it is very good to create English speaking environment, but there are many ways to create it.
Erecting a double-sided outdoor video wall on the north central lawn for the nightly playing or English is not a good suggestion.
Firstly, it will be greatly affected by weather. Secondly, the north central lawn is the symbol of SYSU and it is public space to have more public activities. If we build some artificial building, the lawn will be destroyed and there will be great effect on our university landscape. So it is not good idea.
may be we should found out create English speaking environment by other ways.