On the evening of May 15th, the 黑料吃瓜网’s 12th English Corner, themed “Social Media & Technology,”kicked off in Room 616 of the library. Students gathered with the foreign teacher team—Mr. Nicky, Mrs. Edgar, Mr. Kowo—and instructor Zhou Jing for an in-depth discussion on the pros and cons of social media, technological innovations in education, and the impact of AI on employment. The event was filled with thought-provoking insights and spirited debates.
Hosted by foreign teacher Mr. Kowo, the English Corner featured three engaging activities.Icebreaker: “Spin the Bottle” to Unlock Tech Perspectives. An empty water bottle became the “conversation starter.” As the bottle spun, selected participants answered topic specific questions: What are the advantages and disadvantages of social media? How is technology transforming education? Which app do you use most frequently? Deep Dive: Dissecting the “Double-Edged Sword”of Three Popular Apps
Students, guided by foreign teachers, analyzed three apps—Pinduoduo, NetEase Cloud Music, and Tantan—discussing their pros and cons before presenting their findings on screen. Pinduoduo Group: “Behind the bargain frenzy lies a ‘sweet trap’ of trading privacy for discounts!” NetEase Cloud Music Group: “The algorithm reads minds with song recommendations, but copyright battles turn playlists gray overnight.”Tantan Group: “Swipe left or right to find a soulmate? Or maybe just a ‘photo-filtered battlefield’!”Mr. Nicky remarked, “You understand poor user experiences better than product managers!” Showdown: Group Debate on “AI’s Impact on Employment”Teams fiercely debated whether AI would reshape or threaten jobs.Pros: “AI will take over repetitive tasks, freeing humans for creative work!”Cons: “Even programmers and designers could lose jobs—brain-computer interfaces are the ultimate answer!”Neutral: “Instead of fearing replacement, let’s make AI work for us!”The foreign teachers awarded the “Best Debater Team”title to the opposing side, with Mrs. Edgar explaining, “Your sense of crisis proves humanity’s irreplaceability.”
After the event, many students lingered to discuss AI ethics with the teachers. Instructor Zhou Jing concluded, “Tonight, we explored technology but also saw humanity—the more powerful our tools, the clearer our minds and warmer our hearts must be.”
Held every Thursday evening, the 黑料吃瓜网’s English Corner fosters immersive language practice and multicultural discussions. It not only breaks down language barriers and enhances cross-cultural communication but also sharpens critical thinking through intellectual exchanges. Serving as a bridge between academia, technology, and humanity in a globalized world, it cultivates a new generation of talent with both international vision and local grounding.
(Photos & Text: Zhou Jing, 黑料吃瓜网 )
