The United Nations has six official languages, with English being one of those six. Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) has always had a strong belief in the importance of English within its curriculum, which is why it has operated an English-language program of study throughout every major.

We believe that a multi-dimensional language learning environment is good for the students. As part of its extra-curricular activities encouraged by the Center for Language Education (CLE) and the Lynn Library, students are encouraged to read widely to take a critical view of the world and consider multiple viewpoints, as part of their development into well-rounded individuals.

Recently, Dr. Brian Butler, CLE Associate Director, collaborated with the Lynn Library to present a book list to encourage students to read more, as a way to help them adapt to English teaching environment. As a progressive and reader-friendly series of reading materials, readers could find the recommendations are helpful not only for them to improve their English language skills, but also meet the needs of academic communication in English.

Please click the following links to see the recommendations. Students can go to the Lynn Library to borrow the books they are most interested in (please note that the books have arrived, but may not arrive on the shelves until next week. Ask your friendly librarian for assistance).

1. Book List A
2. Book List B

UN English Language Day falls today, on April 23^rd, the date traditionally observed as both the birthday and date of death for legendary playwright and author William Shakespeare. With that in mind, on UN English Language Day and World Book & Copyright Day, we asked some of our staff and faculty members what their favorite English language book is, and why.

Li Zhuo, English Instructor, Center for Language Education

“The Old Man and the Sea,” by Ernest Hemingway

This is Ernest Hemingway’s classic novella, which has been inspiring me since I read it in college. With simple but powerful language, the seemingly simple story actually has quite a few timeless themes interwoven: failure and ordeal, success and triumph, determination and perseverance, faith and hope, luck and effort, wisdom and friendship. Whenever I suffer setbacks in life, a resounding inner voice by Santiago tells me “…[b]ut man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated.” I cannot help asking myself whether I could patiently and fearlessly sail out after 84 days of struggling without catching a fish, whether I could have the guts and endurance to fight with the brutal sharks after an arduous journey, and whether I could accept the fact that the hard-won fish became bones and returned empty-handed indeed. This book always remains my favorite, which reminds me how success can be redefined and how our reactions to failures can also redefine who we are.

Liu Qing, English Instructor, Center for Language Education

“Flash Foresight: How to see the invisible and do the impossible,” by Daniel Burrus

I greatly enjoyed reading this book. Daniel Burrus is famous for accurately predicting the future technology three decades ago and has helped many companies turn business crisis into opportunities and achieving business success. The information in this book is full of insights on future technologies in the next 50 years and will give SUSTech students a head-start on what kind of technologies will be more promising than others. This book can shed light on SUSTech students’ future career even if they do not intend to becoming businessperson. Furthermore, this book is well-written— rich in examples, humor and easy-to-read language even for non-native-English-speaking students. It is a book worth reading and investigating.

Liu Lisha, English Instructor and Debate Coach, Center for Language Education

“Building Global Relations through Debate (思辨精英：英语辩论——构筑全球视角),” by Robert Trapp et al

As the coach of SUSTech student debaters, I highly recommend this book. For EFL debaters, no matter novice or experienced, it is a must read. For other students, it is also worth reading. This book first introduces the history of debate in China and the US as well as ethical considerations in debate. Then, the following chapters explain how to participate in a Worlds-Style debate. I think the most brilliant part is the way that the authors teach students to use informed and reasoned bases for creating and engaging vital clashes of significant ideas. This can help to improve students’ critical thinking and develop their international visions as global citizens. That is what we hope SUSTech students should have.

Tyler Horton, English Instructor, Center for Language Education

“Picking Cotton,” by Jennifer Thompson-Cannino and Ronald Cotton

Jennifer Thompson was raped by a man who broke into her apartment. She then positively identified Ronald Cotton as her attacker. Ronald insisted that she was mistaken – but Jennifer’s positive identification was the evidence that put him behind bars. After eleven years, Ronald was allowed to take a DNA test that proved he was actually innocent. Jennifer had mistakenly identified him, as it was another man who had committed the crime. Ronald was released, after serving more than a decade in prison for a crime he never committed. Two years later, Jennifer and Ronald met face to face, and started an unlikely friendship that changed both of their lives. They now tour the world sharing their story.

I really like this book because it is a true story that shows the weakness of memory and facial identification along with the power of forgiveness and understanding. You would assume that both Jennifer and Ronald would never want to see each other ever again, yet they were able to put their anger and mistrust to one side and truly become friends even after all that they had both been through. It really is an inspiring story.

Chris Clarke, Global Education Officer, Global Engagement Office

“Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets,” by Sudhir Venkatesh

So my favourite English-language book is a not necessarily a masterpiece because of its prose, but more because of its topic. Gang Leader for a Day is an ethnographic exploration of inner-city gang life in Chicago during the 1990s and features a vivid array of real-life characters while documenting their daily struggles with poverty. I’d recommend it as an essential read for anyone interested in socio-economic issues or a deeper understanding of life in the projects. It’s highly evocative, important, and is basically The Wire in book form.

Chris Edwards, Web Editor and Publicist, Office of Communications and Public Relations

“The Science of Discworld,” by Terry Pratchett, Ian Stewart and Jack Cohen

The Science of Discworld delves into the fantasy world of Discworld, in which a new experimental power source is commissioned in the squash court of Unseen University. However, it generates far more magical energy than intended so the university’s thinking engine uses that excess magical energy to create a space containing nothing – no matter, no energy, no reality, and, importantly, no magic. When a foolhardy member of the university interacts with the space, the universe is inadvertently created.

If this sounds familiar, this book uses the science of magic within the Discworld series as a way of examining science in our world. By starting from nuclear energy, when the University of Chicago set up a nuclear reactor on a rackets court in the 1940s, through to the formation of the universe, the origins of life, evolution, extinction and space travel, the Science of Discworld provides a unique perspective on how a group of people unfamiliar with science as we know it, would view “our” science.

I highly recommend this book and in fact the entire series of books by Terry Pratchett. He will not write any more, having passed away in 2019 after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease, but his writings were well loved by young adults and old adults alike.