Step into my office: the English room

As a NET, one of my responsibilities is to raise the level of interest in the study of English by providing an 'authentic English environment.'

At my 'normal' school, the principal converted a classroom for me to set up an "English Room". This is a room where kids can go during recesses, before/after school and during lunch hour to play English games, read/borrow English books and to interact with me. As you can see, there is a small carpeted area, cushions to sit on, board games, card games, big books and little story books, a white board and a blackboard at the front of the room.
The room is fully digitised: there is a projector, internet accessible computer with DVD player and speakers. Needless to say, I hang out in this room whenever I don't have classes to teach.

It's one of the few 'good' decisions the principal has made, although he, by no means, came up with the idea of the English room. Nevertheless, it's one of the few bright spots of my day at the 'normal' school - that is interacting with the students who visit the room voluntarily and ask me to play games with them.

Since I'm the not the one responsible for giving them tests, dictation and homework, it is easier for them to view me less as an antagonistic figure and more of a friend. Especially the grade 3 and 4 students (7-10 years old) who are the ones that seem to visit the room most often and are the most eager to learn English. There is still a glimmer of hope for the English speaking future of HK!