6:06 AM
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"ENGLISH CLUB"
AN English Club is a place for language learners to use English in a casual setting. Practising your skills in the classroom is important, but it is not like real life. In the classroom, you often focus on one skill and one item (for example: grammar - future tense). After learning the rules your teacher gives you time to practise using the item. You have your papers in front of you and the rules are fresh in your mind. Will you remember how to use your skills next week, or next year? In an English Club, you get a chance to practise many different skills in a setting that is more like real life. Though your English teacher understands your English, your English Club friends will require you to speak more clearly and listen more carefully.
Make English-speaking friends
Starting an English Club is a great way to make new lasting friendships. It is important to have good ESL friends because your confidence will increase if you do. You will feel more comfortable using English around people you trust and have fun with. Don't limit your friends to the people in your class.
How can I start an English Club?
Post a sign-up sheet
You can start by putting up a sign-up sheet in your school lobby or on a local library bulletin board. Write your email address.at the top so that people can email you with any ideas they might have^-Make sure they write down their phone numbers or email addresses so rfet you can contact them about the time and place of the'club meetings.
Seek Help
Don't try to do everything yourself. Each member should contribute the club. You may even want to find a fluent English speaker who volunteer to come to your meetings. New teachers or a high school may be willing to help you for free because the experience will help them find a job. You can put an ad in a local paper or at the library or supermarket. (WANTED: Volunteer to help with English Club. Must be fluent in English. No teaching experience or preparation necessary. Call Eva at 333-3333 more information.)
Hold an introductory meeting
After you have enough people sign up (6-10 people is a go( you will need to hold an introductory meeting. At the first mee bers can learn each other's names and you can talk about what people are interested in. One way to organize the club is by member in charge of being the leader each week. You can organize the weeks in terms of themes (music/food/travel...), or skills (reading/writing/ listening...).
Create rules and routines
At your meeting you can discuss what types of rules and routines the club should have. For example. English Clubs usually have an "English only" rule. Will people be allowed to drink and eat during the meeting? What about bringing a friend? It is a good idea to conduct each club meeting in a similar way. When people know what to expect, they are more likely to attend.
Who will join my English Club?
You can invite anyone to join your English Club, including friends, family members, fellow students, co-workers, and people from other schools. English Clubs tend to be more fun when they are multigenera-lional and multicultural. If your best friend is joining, why not ask her grandmother to join too? English Club members also work well when members have varying English language abilities. One member may be able to teach you something new, and another may benefit from a skill that you can share. Teaching someone else a grammar point or explaining how to use a new word is one of the best ways to review your skills.
Where should we hold our English Club?
At an English School
The easiest place to hold an English Club is in a spare classroom at an English school. After classroom hours, most schools remain open for an hour or two so that teachers can prepare for their classes. This is also a ^ convenient location because some or all of the members will already be in the '%• school and will have no excuses for missing a club meeting. You will also have access to materials and television equipment.
In members' homes
You may want to take your club out of the classroom in order to make it feel less academic and more social. If you decide to operate your club from a personal home, try to find more than one person who is willing to host the meetings. You will need to choose homes that are in a central location. Within the home, choose a room with a lot of space and few distractions. Don't forget to turn off the telephone. You may want to serve coffee or tea.
At a cafe or restaurant
This type of setting will likely involve a fee. The manager may allow you to reserve a small room in the back if you choose a time of day when there are few customers. You will likely be expected to purchase beverages and tip a server (depending on what country you are in). Operating your club out of a cafe may make it difficult to incorporate movies, music, and other listening practice. A cafe is a good option for
a small conversation club (less than six people).
Outdors
One of the best places to hold an English Club is ouside. This may only the possible during certain warm months depending on what country you are in. Choose a location where shelter can be found in case of rain. Though the beach might sound like a great place to practise your English, remember that yuou will probably be using papers and book which will be difficult in the breeze. A park with picnic tables and shady trees might be better.
Wherever you hold your club, remember that it is a club, not a class.To change the atmosphere i a classroom you might want to open windows or have background music or candles( if the school permits ). A pot of coffee or a bowl of popcorn can also make the meeting feel more like a club than a class. Why not encourage members to take off their shoes when they walk in the door, or sit on the floor instead of chairs. Remember, the purpose of the club is to use English in a life-like situation. Do what feels natural and comfortable.
When and how often should we meet for our English Club?
About once a week
Some clubs fail because they expect too much of the members. It is hard to find time to commit to something outside of school, work, and family. Meeting once a week for about two hours is a good start. Some English Clubs also meet for an additional excursion once a month. ( Chondro adapted from English club Learning)
Make English-speaking friends
Starting an English Club is a great way to make new lasting friendships. It is important to have good ESL friends because your confidence will increase if you do. You will feel more comfortable using English around people you trust and have fun with. Don't limit your friends to the people in your class.
How can I start an English Club?
Post a sign-up sheet
You can start by putting up a sign-up sheet in your school lobby or on a local library bulletin board. Write your email address.at the top so that people can email you with any ideas they might have^-Make sure they write down their phone numbers or email addresses so rfet you can contact them about the time and place of the'club meetings.
Seek Help
Don't try to do everything yourself. Each member should contribute the club. You may even want to find a fluent English speaker who volunteer to come to your meetings. New teachers or a high school may be willing to help you for free because the experience will help them find a job. You can put an ad in a local paper or at the library or supermarket. (WANTED: Volunteer to help with English Club. Must be fluent in English. No teaching experience or preparation necessary. Call Eva at 333-3333 more information.)
Hold an introductory meeting
After you have enough people sign up (6-10 people is a go( you will need to hold an introductory meeting. At the first mee bers can learn each other's names and you can talk about what people are interested in. One way to organize the club is by member in charge of being the leader each week. You can organize the weeks in terms of themes (music/food/travel...), or skills (reading/writing/ listening...).
Create rules and routines
At your meeting you can discuss what types of rules and routines the club should have. For example. English Clubs usually have an "English only" rule. Will people be allowed to drink and eat during the meeting? What about bringing a friend? It is a good idea to conduct each club meeting in a similar way. When people know what to expect, they are more likely to attend.
Who will join my English Club?
You can invite anyone to join your English Club, including friends, family members, fellow students, co-workers, and people from other schools. English Clubs tend to be more fun when they are multigenera-lional and multicultural. If your best friend is joining, why not ask her grandmother to join too? English Club members also work well when members have varying English language abilities. One member may be able to teach you something new, and another may benefit from a skill that you can share. Teaching someone else a grammar point or explaining how to use a new word is one of the best ways to review your skills.
Where should we hold our English Club?
At an English School
The easiest place to hold an English Club is in a spare classroom at an English school. After classroom hours, most schools remain open for an hour or two so that teachers can prepare for their classes. This is also a ^ convenient location because some or all of the members will already be in the '%• school and will have no excuses for missing a club meeting. You will also have access to materials and television equipment.
In members' homes
You may want to take your club out of the classroom in order to make it feel less academic and more social. If you decide to operate your club from a personal home, try to find more than one person who is willing to host the meetings. You will need to choose homes that are in a central location. Within the home, choose a room with a lot of space and few distractions. Don't forget to turn off the telephone. You may want to serve coffee or tea.
At a cafe or restaurant
This type of setting will likely involve a fee. The manager may allow you to reserve a small room in the back if you choose a time of day when there are few customers. You will likely be expected to purchase beverages and tip a server (depending on what country you are in). Operating your club out of a cafe may make it difficult to incorporate movies, music, and other listening practice. A cafe is a good option for
a small conversation club (less than six people).
Outdors
One of the best places to hold an English Club is ouside. This may only the possible during certain warm months depending on what country you are in. Choose a location where shelter can be found in case of rain. Though the beach might sound like a great place to practise your English, remember that yuou will probably be using papers and book which will be difficult in the breeze. A park with picnic tables and shady trees might be better.
Wherever you hold your club, remember that it is a club, not a class.To change the atmosphere i a classroom you might want to open windows or have background music or candles( if the school permits ). A pot of coffee or a bowl of popcorn can also make the meeting feel more like a club than a class. Why not encourage members to take off their shoes when they walk in the door, or sit on the floor instead of chairs. Remember, the purpose of the club is to use English in a life-like situation. Do what feels natural and comfortable.
When and how often should we meet for our English Club?
About once a week
Some clubs fail because they expect too much of the members. It is hard to find time to commit to something outside of school, work, and family. Meeting once a week for about two hours is a good start. Some English Clubs also meet for an additional excursion once a month. ( Chondro adapted from English club Learning)
