In response to a pressing demand, English Corner, a room designed for practicing or learning English (FL122), will lengthen its opening hours to 90 minutes longer than scheduled, and in addition to that, the organizer, the English Department, will also open in the evenings, starting next week (March 26), to anyone who wishes to use the resources available in the room.

English Corner was open to the public in September two years ago and has been well received ever since. In recent months, for instance, between October and December which was the end of last semester, a record number of more than 200 visitors dropped by and took advantage of the recourses available there. Students can watch videos, read journals and receive free consultation in English from grad students. However, many students expressed the concern that since they were mostly preoccupied with classes during the day, wouldn’t it make more sense to them when the Corner is open in the evening as well. In response to that, Dr. Huang Yueh-kuehy, the Chair of the department decided to add evening hours and lengthen its opening hours during the day. She is pleased with the number of people using the Corner and is considering expanding the room in order to accommodate more students. She also hopes with the extension of time students who take Freshman English can use the resources at the Corner in their free time to compensate their overcrowded classes that at time diminish learning effectiveness in listening and reading. English Corner, she added, can amend that.

The new opening hours of the Corner are 9:00-11:30 am, 1:30-5:00 pm from Mondays to Fridays, supervised by grad students. Evening hours are from 6:00 to 8:00 every weekday, supervised by seniors who are currently taking TESOL course. For any question, just drop by at these hours; however, those that have specific questions regarding Freshman English or English Listening and wish to have individual instructions, can go to the department (FL 207) in person or call Ms. Lin Hsin Yu (02-26215656 #2329) for an appointment. ( ~Ying-hsueh Hu )