November 3rd, 2013: playing Mahjong in English near the Mirror Lake (Jinghu in Chinese) in Sichuan International Studies University (SISU).

CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- “Three, I want it, Hule!” In the pavilion of SISU’s Mirror Lake, 3 foreigners from the UK, the USA and Canada set Mahjong on the stone table and invited students coming and going to play with them. Whatever you want to say, you must speak English. The Mirror Lake has turned into a lively “global English corner”.

They are not making a movie, or playing games. It is one of the IELTS series activities themed with “Dare to Speak” sponsored by the British Council.

“Students joining us today speak English very well and the overall English standard of Chongqing University’s students is pretty good,” according to Li Yongming, the Southwest China Director of Examination Business of the British Council. (Translated by Chen Siyan, Fathom Language Limited)