At 7 PM on March 6th, the warm and bright lights of Room 616 in the library pierced through the quiet spring night, accompanied by laughter and chatter. The International College’s first “English Corner” event of the new semester kicked off in high spirits. Students gathered with the stellar team of foreign teachers—Mr. Nicky, Mrs. Edgar, Mr. Kowo—along with Chinese teachers Ms Zhou Jing and Shi Ying. The theme was “Getting to Know You,” and it set the stage for a magical journey aimed at seeking meaningful connections with interesting souls.

1.0 Icebreaker Game  

Change Chair If… Chair Swap!  

“Change chair if you are wearing white shoes!” With Mr. Nicky’s command, the once-quiet activity room erupted into chaos. Students reacted swiftly to the chair-swapping instructions, the sound of chairs scraping against the floor mingling with laughter and exclamations. Unexpected categories quickly bridged the gap between strangers. Some strategized to snag chairs, while others high-fived over shared experiences. Within 10 minutes, the initial awkwardness had completely vanished.

2.0 Soulful Q&A  

Spinning Bottles, Sharing Truths  

The highlight after the icebreaker was a deep conversation centered around three heartfelt questions. An empty water bottle became the “wheel of fate,” spun by Mrs. Edgar to randomly select lucky participants to share their experiences.

2.1 Personality Trifecta  

What are three interesting facts about yourself?  

“I’m a member of the basketball and soccer teams!” “I’m the king of games!” “My life goal is to visit all seven continents!” “I want to buy a Mercedes-Benz…” Students reinvented themselves with creative labels, sharing aspects of their identities.

2.2 Time-Travel Dinner  

If you could have dinner with any person…  

Some wished to dine with Emperor Qin Shi Huang to ask about his thoughts on unifying the six states. Others wanted to chat with Gregor Mendel, the father of genetics, about his experiments with pea plants, hoping to gain a deeper understanding from his unique perspective. Some chose to “reunite” with departed loved ones, expressing unspoken love in English. Behind these answers lay emotional resonance across time and space.

2.3 Growth Flags  

What do you want to improve in English?  

From speaking and reading to academic writing, students set their goals. Faced with their bold declarations, Teacher Shi Ying jokingly raised her phone, saying, “I’m live-streaming this for accountability.” The foreign teachers became “mentors in action,” with Mr. Kowo advising, “Watch English movies, listen to English songs, and practice with classmates—you’ll definitely improve!”

3.0 End  

Laughter and Starlight, Echoes of Resonance  

The one-hour English Corner concluded with applause, though many students were reluctant to leave. Teacher Zhou Jing summarized, “Language is not just a tool but a key to unlocking hearts. Tonight, we not only practiced speaking but also made deep connections with interesting souls.”  

The next episode of English Corner is already on the horizon. Are you ready to join?