English Corner: China’s Free Speech Zone
Hundreds of English Corners can be found across China, and the Renmin University gathering is by far the largest and most influential. The event draws a diverse crowd, with attendees ranging in age from five to over seventy, the majority appearing to be college students or in their twenties. The event is host to patriots, dissidents, scholars, students, and casual observers. In their own words, they have come to practice their “oral English.” The social energy is palpable.
English Corner may be the most liberated institution in Mainland China. Rules are few and there are no leaders, no organizational structure, no agenda, and no charge for entry. It is everything that a traditional Chinese classroom is not. Signposts erected by the university display the following messages in Chinese and English:
Please keep your voice levels down.
Please maintain a clean environment.
No religious activities allowed.