English Corner Yet Again (Spring Semester 2026)

This semester, my teaching load is lighter than usual. Since my class assignments didn’t fully cover the hours I was hired for, the university asked me to help run the English Corner activities alongside other foreign teachers. Honestly, that was unexpected—but I couldn’t be happier with the assignment.

For the past four years, ever since I arrived in Zhengzhou, I’ve been a regular at the English Corner organized by the English Association. I wasn’t in charge of it back then, but I almost never missed a session. I joined simply out of compassion, wanting to help students practice their English. Over time, it became much more than that—it’s where I met some of my most cherished friends. Many of the students who attend speak English better than the average student, which is especially important for me since I don’t speak Chinese. That language barrier can make it harder to connect with most students, but at English Corner, communication flows naturally.

Inside the university, I rarely face communication problems. Outside campus, however, it’s a different story—most people don’t speak English at all. That’s why I’m genuinely excited to now be officially in charge of this activity, working together with other foreign teachers to keep it running strong.

📅 Schedule & Venue

Monday: 14:00 – 15:35 (95 min)

Wednesday: 16:00 – 18:00 (120 min)

Thursday: 10:30 – 12:00 (90 min)

Location: (updated 2026-03-18) Building 8 - Room 8306

The English Corner runs from Week 2 through Week 17 this semester.

Making friends everywhere, not only in English Corner.

One of my students testimony about English Corner:

# E04 Huang luyu 4112#

I did write a review of this post from my teacher.

https://mgameirollc.uteach.io/blog/english-corner and

https://mgameirollc.uteach.io/blog/english-corner-to-improve-your-english

Here is my review:

More Than Just English: My English Corner Journey ✨

Every Wednesday evening for the past half semester, I have done something a little different. Instead of staying in my dormitory or studying in the library, I have attended my university's English Corner. Looking back, those two hours every week have become one of the most valuable parts of my student life.

When I first heard about English Corner, I imagined a formal classroom setting with a teacher lecturing at the front. I was pleasantly surprised to find the opposite! It is an informal gathering where students meet to practice speaking English in a relaxed environment. We have。face-to-face conversations with our teacher, watch English movies together, and participate in various games and discussions. The atmosphere is always warm and welcoming, never intimidating.

What impressed me most was how quickly my fear of speaking disappeared. In a regular English class, I often hesitate, afraid of making grammatical mistakes. But at English Corner, the focus is different. The teacher and fellow students focus on communication, not correction. They listen patiently and encourage you to express your ideas, even if your sentences are not perfect. This supportive environment has slowly built my confidence. I find myself speaking more, not less.

Another unexpected benefit has been the friendships I have made. English Corner is a gathering place for students from different majors. I have met people who share my passion for movies and music, and we now chat in English both at the corner and online. Because we share a common goal: to improve our English. It is truly wonderful that this can bring together such a diverse group of people.

The activities themselves are genuinely enjoyable. Watching a film together and then discussing it afterwards makes learning feel effortless. You forget you are "studying" because you are simply having fun. This playful approach keeps motivation high. It proves that learning a language does not have to be a boring duty; it can be a delightful hobby.

In conclusion, my half-semester at English Corner has taught me that language is ultimately about connection. It is about sharing ideas, telling stories, and building relationships. My pronunciation is improving, my vocabulary is growing, but most importantly, I am learning to express who I am in a new language.

If you are a student hoping to improve your English, I cannot recommend English Corner enough. Step out of your comfort zone and give it a try. You might just find, as I did, that you gain not only language skills but also friends and confidence along the way.

https://mgameirollc.uteach.io/blog/learn-english-and-improve-your-accent-through-music

# Update 2026-03-18 #

Today we also start another English Corner at 19:00 pm (from English Association - the one I was talking above was from a different organization),we always have our meetings on Wednesday 19:00 usually at 3 Trees, but the weather still cold so we start today at classroom 7B301. Classroom in my opinion is better because we can use the computer to do some interesting activities, like playing music, showing some slides etc.  So as you can see on the picture below, I had a lot of fun AGAIN, doing some activities with students on the second round of English corner, I notice some students did went on both of English corner activities,….