The English Corner as a Catalyst for Learning Languages in Plurilingual Contexts

Abstract

This chapter explores the use of the English Corner as a valuable catalyst to promote oral skills and language learning in plurilingual contexts at primary school level. The sample took place in two state-funded schools located in A Coruña (North-Western Spain) with 288 students aged from 8 to 12 years. This study aims at answering the following research questions: 1) How do primary school participants in this research consider the potential of EC to develop their oral comprehension and production English skills? 2) Does the English Corner environment foster more confidence to speak than the ordinary English classroom? An original questionnaire with a total of seven questions was designed by the authors to analyse data and give answer to the RQs. Results show that the English Corner seems to be the ideal place to develop their oral skills and it also fosters more confidence to speak foreign languages among participants.