well not really English Totour..my idea is that they DON'T want to use critical thinking in teaching, because that would open people's eyes.
And please let's not talk more about it in the forum, i guess you know why :)

There is the inbuilt assumption that all foreigners speak good English. It's a form of prejudice. The kids are just as likely to learn bad English by talking to random foreigners - in fact they're MORE likely to learn bad English in this way. The exercise has no benefits whatsoever as far as learning a language is concerned, and the points raised by english_tutour did not convince me.
Regarding general confidence-building and personal development, I don't think its an appropriate method at all, and if this is the goal it should at least be coordinated with parents and staff, and be a documented part of the school curriculum.

I repeat my earlier conclusion that speaking a language with new people IS educational, IF and only if it is supervised.

I really don't mind this sort of thing unless it becomes one-after-another, but I think a simple polite refusal or acceptance is the proper form. As for the appropriateness of the exercise, I think the form ("Hello my name is Joey I'm 7 I live in..." etc.) is a bit primitive, but the fact that real kids get to talk to real English speakers is good - all too many people in China have a nervous kind of feeling about 'foreigners' that is a result of bits of xenophobia in Han culture that stresses a 'They are REALLY DIFFERENT who knows what they'll do or say?' attitude, which often demonstrates or results in inappropriate this that or the other ('Welcome to China!' 'But I speak Chinese and have been here for 15 years.' Never mind, welcome to China!' etc. - after which it begins to be about face rather than real communication). Young kids, especially, can be talked to simply like real kids from anywhere, will respond to kindness even though it comes from a funny-looking guy whom they otherwise might be taught to fear as an ogre, and will be delighted. I really don't have much of a problem with this, unless, obviously, some parent simply uses you inconsiderately for a long period of time. The value of the exercise is not really in teaching method/learning more language, but in learning that people who look different and speak different languages are people too - as good a lesson as I know for people of any age, and a good one to acquire while young.

Allen, I couldn't agree more with all your points! Yes, my blood is the same colour as your blood and my feelings are the same as yours too. So don't hate me or distrust me because of my place of birth. Try to accept everyone who is kind to you!

To be honest this kind of casual meeting are not the best way to create a real multicultural society in China, it actually creates more stereotypes like "every foreigner is nice, every foreigner is funny etc" and we know it's not true. Also as an english language experiment I already said it is pretty a failure.
I think China needs more real communication, basically more locals who can speak english and more laowai who can speak chinese.

I believe that our task here is to entertain the locals. With that principle one gets less irritated to be bothered by others.
The trick I use in situations like this is to speaking in any other language then English. See how long it takes them to figure out that you don't speak English.
If they are really bothering you just start discussing the fee they will have to pay to you if they want a conversation.