The Interactive Lounge is a three-year student-centred project funded by TDLEG, which was launched
by ELTU in 2016 at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. The project aims to provide additional
support and informal English learning experiences to undergraduates and postgraduates outside of the
core curriculum. This is achieved by (1) providing a series of interactive workshops of different topics;
and (2) offering peer-tutoring services, both online and face-to-face.
To this end, theme-based interactive workshops were designed and peer tutors with varied linguistic and
cultural backgrounds were identified and trained. While the former exposes students to a wider use of
the target language in authentic situations, the latter creates a positive and supportive platform for
trained peer tutors to share knowledge and experience in effective language use with their fellow
students.
Currently in its third year of implementation, this project has been providing students with quality
language support, which has boosted their motivation and confidence in using English for more
effective communication in various occasions, be that social or academic.
This presentation will report the design, implementation, and effectiveness of this student-centered
project. The monitoring strategies adopted for quality assurance (QA) and quality enhancement (QE)
will be shared together with the initial outcomes drawn from various surveys, reflection forms and
interviews. Among others, the voices of the peer tutors and peer tutees will be highlighted.