Student-led community outreach and engagement in a fishing town

 

In May, the coastal town of Hele in Hainan, China, came alive with English melodies. "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands" echoed in the local elementary school as part of the "English Open Day", an initiative organized by students and faculty at Arizona State University’s campus in China (Hainan University-Arizona State University International College). Composed of five junior students from the Public Service and Public Policy (PSPP) program and four faculty members, the team aroused the interest of many rural students in the English language and foreign cultures.

From passive listening to role-playing: because learning can be fun

At 9 a.m., 21 pairs of eyes in Class 2, Grade 4, fixated on the projection screen as a clip from Frozen showed Elsa building her ice castle. The students eagerly raised letter cards to answer questions, shouting "On the mountain!" and laughing. This icebreaker with animated shorts marked many students' first encounter with the English language. 

"I worried they might be shy, but the kids chased after our ASU professors to practice greetings. The curiosity in their eyes was incredible!" student volunteer Lydia Li shared. The best came during the role-play session: divided into four groups, students used color paper to craft "houses" and "fruits", drew their family trees and practiced ordering at a restaurant. Their enthusiastic performances earned cheers from the audience, showcasing newfound confidence.

In the cross-cultural workshop, ASU professor Dr. Bruno Ferreira shared Portugal's "Five Things of Pride," igniting students' fascination with soccer icons, scenic landscapes and the country’s cuisine ("I'm hungry!" they exclaimed). Hainan University’s Dr. Yaerin Park introduced South Korea's "Heung" culture, encouraging a “high spirits” mindset. The day concluded with a heartwarming chorus of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," accompanied by Dr. Park on the piano.

In the afternoon, at the local middle school, the team distributed 60 books donated by Hainan University students to a crowd of eighth-grade students. Korean-American entrepreneur and instructor Mr. David Chon shared study tips, urging students to stay open to learning like "a cup tilted upward." 

The most anticipated activity was the pen pal program. As student volunteer Iris Zha distributed postcards featuring Hainan University's palm-lined campus, middle-schoolers gasped with excitement. On the back, they wrote: "I love playing soccer", "I want to share my thoughts on 'The Little Prince' with you," and "Hope you will teach me English songs", among other hopeful messages. “We’ll take these postcards with us back to campus, and all of them will get a reply from a student at Hainan University," said student volunteer Beatrice Pan, moved by the students' enthusiasm. "We're not just donating books—we're showing them there’s a vast world beyond their village, and their voice matters."

Hands-on learning at HAIC:  Students' educational initiative

"Our major focuses more on macro-level public services and policy design. However, when it comes to practice, whether our plans can truly help children depends on paying attention to the specific needs of each rural child," said team leader Isabella Tan. The team she leads is among the first accepted into the college's brand-new Student Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center (SEIC). The team aims to build a sustainable "college volunteers + HAIC professors + rural schools" tripartite platform. Beyond designing immersive English curricula, they plan to document student growth through case studies and progress reports, and expand the postcard exchange into a year-long pen pal program.

"You all did amazing today!" said a faculty member at the closing ceremony. Student volunteer Candice Wang recalled a quiet student who, during role-play, proudly held up a collage and said, "This is a tomato"—a moment of confidence sparked by being seen and encouraged. For the student team, this embodies their mission: education is not one-way "giving", but a window for rural students to envision their potential. It's proven that HAIC students can shine as agents of rural revitalization. 

"One day, they will be able to tell Hainan's stories in English," the volunteers discussed while packing up. Perhaps today's "English Open Day" is just the beginning...

 

Written by Lydia Li, Iris Zha, Beatrice Pan, Candice Wang, and Isabella Tan

Edited by Dr. Bruno Ferreira, Assistant Professor, Hainan University - Arizona State University International College (HAIC)