WHAT IS AN 'ENGLISH CORNER'?

Thirteen years ago today, the weather in Changchun, PRC, had already turned cold! It was 29 degrees, felt like 22 degrees with 6 inches of snow on the ground!  Brrrrr...  This would be the norm - only significantly colder - until April!

One of the things we enjoyed about living on a large university campus was the weekly opportunities to be involved in 'English Corners'. 

An 'English Corner' was a voluntary meeting of students and others who were interested in refining their use of the English language. It was led by students who usually provided some structure for the evening. The typical format allowed for the forming of small groups that would allow more engagement by more people. Involvement was encouraged, but not required.

The following is a description from my journal of a particularly interesting evening when Debbie accompanied me.  [FYI - our students adopted English names.]

In the evening, Deb and I attended the West Campus English Corner.  Alexander and Viola - students from my classes - led the evening with great finesse and clarity.  After a very cute video clip and a presentation of imitating, we were turned loose to have a discussion around the following questions:

·         What is the greatest gift that you have received?

·         How do you pursue your true love?

·         What can you not afford to do without?

·         What do you think is more important:  power or freedom?

When Deb, Rie, Peter, or I are in a group, it often goes in other directions following the interests of the students.  This is obviously fine;  the purpose of the evening is to give the students an opportunity to speak English.  We alternated groups after about half of the time was gone, so each of us worked in two different groups of students.

Each time, Debbie ended up with groups of girls from my classes crowded around her.  They grilled her on questions about how to develop a great relationship and how to make a great marriage.  My groups also wanted to talk a lot about marriage.  The girls in my group were fascinated when I explained that I was a one-woman man!  Once again, our marriage has become a focal point here on campus! 

You can imagine how I responded to questions like:

1.      What is the one thing you cannot do without?

2.      What is the best gift you ever received?

3.      How do you celebrate Christmas?

I was asked these question over and over at this event!  The harvest is white!  I felt like a farmer sowing seed;  digging deep into the bag and throwing seed far and wide!  I felt deeply privileged!  I felt like I was working in direct partnership with God!  I experienced a joy unlike any I have known before!  I felt a greater satisfaction from this one evening than I did from years in ministry in America! 

At the end of the evening we walked home with Jason and Jack and Bob who are post-graduate students who live on South Campus (where we also live).  We are feeling drawn to build bridges to these students.  We keep meeting them at various places and at English Corners;  they often find it difficult to find people to speak English with!  

I wish I had a picture of one moment from this evening.  As we left building one on West Campus, we went down many stairs.  I was walking and talking with one of my students.  These three guys (just mentioned) all took great care to help Debbie down those slippery stairs.  They cared for her like she was their own grandmother.   There was no way she was going to fall while going down those stairs!  Hahaha...  She was deeply respected by all the students and so many others as well!