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For better English and mutual understanding
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Liu Fuzhong
OVER 500 English learners took time during their Spring Festival holiday to stop by Shenzhen Daily's English Salon. And many foreign friends also chose to give up their vacation to pitch in.
Amidst the laugher and warm discussion one hears not only good English but also insightful ideas. Increasingly English learners regard the salon more as a way to learn about foreign culture than purely a place to practise spoken English.
Many native English speakers from around the world volunteered to join the salon during the holiday, talking to participants about their own countries while at the same time learning Chinese culture.
Why has coming to the salon become such a popular pastime? And why do so many foreign friends volunteer to help? With these questions in mind, Shenzhen Daily interviewed several guest speakers and participants.
Perry Yu,
Engineer
I am an engineer specializing in developing new materials. I read professional literature every day, but I rarely have the opportunity to use the language in an interactive situation. I was afraid that my English may have withered away because I was always at the receiving end.
I was very happy to know that the English Salon was open throughout the Spring Festival holiday. I was happy to take advantage of it to use my English.
The interesting lectures and vivid narration by native-speaking teachers suddenly brought my English to life. My English seems to be flowing more fluently here at the salon than at other times.
At my age, I have a lot of responsibilities both at work and home. The Spring Festival is the only time I have the leisure to practise my English. I am happy to join the English Salon.
Henry Wang
Company clerk
Holidays can be boring. As a new migrant, I do not have relatives or many friends here in town. The English Salon gives me an opportunity to practise my English and meet interesting people at the same time.
As a young man, I need to improve myself to be competitive. English has increasingly become a prerequisite for people hoping to work for big international companies. That is why I chose to spend my Spring Festival here at the salon.
English can also bring people with similar interests together. In a busy city, it is difficult to people to share ideas. The salon provides a venue for English learners to exchange ideas and make friends.
Troi McBride
Guest speaker from the USA
Speaking to a group of English learners during the Spring Festival is indeed very unusual. I appreciate their effort to learn English.
As an American businessman working in Shenzhen for the past 10 years, I have noticed quite a few cultural differences, so I was very happy to share my observations with my Chinese friends at the English Salon.
As some of the differences are rarely discussed in books or newspapers, I was very happy to present what I have found to a group of interested people.
This is indeed what an English salon is for. It offers a forum for foreigners like me to share their finds, observations and feelings. That's what I call an international exchange!
Gordon Kerr
Guest speaker from UK
As a language teacher and programme director, I am certainly very happy to see so many determined learners of English at the salon. I believe it is high time that I convey the message that Chinese people should learn to use correct English.
At the salon I was able to tell my audience how I experience poor use of English in road signs, bus stop directions and other public places in China. This is the message I have long been hoping to put across. And I know such a public English salon will help promote appropriate use of English.
I believe that it is meaningful for me to speak at the Salon on the Chinese New Year's Day.
Terry Wing
Guest speaker from New Zealand
I talked about growing up in New Zealand. I was happy to share my experience, and that of my children, of growing up in New Zealand with everyone at the English salon.
It is important for people from different countries to understand each other. I received many questions about my country. That means people are interested in learning about life in other lands. I hope to bring good information as well as good English to my audience at the salon.
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