I/ REASONS FOR CHOOSING TOPICS:
THE IMPORTANCE OF ORGANIZING AND MAINTAINING THE ACTIVITIES OF ENGLISH CLUB IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
As we know, in order to promote listening and speaking skills and stimulate the learning spirit of foreign language learners, besides studying and practicing in class with the teachers and friends, to create a practicing environment such as English clubs for students is necessary and will bring practical results.
It is very clear that languages learners can only be more confident while demonstrating language that they are learning with their friends at their own clubs. Here they will have more opportunities to learn, to share experiences, to communicate, and to take part in joyful and useful activities together.
Basing on the practical activities of the English club at my school for many years, I myself have got some experiences, and also thought of trying to find more practical and effective solutions in order to maintain and promote the efficiency of the English club, to improve listening and speaking skills for students, to create good conditions for teaching and learning English in my school.
Since it is a topic, I am pleased to share some the experiences and ideas about how to organize and maintain the club’s activities to my colleagues. Thus I am expectedly looking forward to hearing and recieving good comments and ideas from the leaders as well as the colleagues.
II. THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL BASES:
THEORETICAL BASES:
The history gave us evidences that mankind has known how to organize community activities in groups or clans for ages. That has brought efficiency up to now. On the mass media or through the local reality, there are many types of club everywhere such as farmer club, gardeners’ club, the youth club, women club,... etc. It means that the club activities have existed for a very long time and affected possitively to the lives and development of human beings.
There have been clubs in some schools such as math lovers club, literature club, English club, chess club ... .These clubs have encouraged students’ studying movements.
When attending in music and art classea, it is very easy for me to see that students are passionate, excited. Looking at the children practice singing or drawing passionately, I ask myself "Why are the students passionate like thaóa? Why are students fed up with English? Why do we not encourage students’ passion and refresh them in their learning?”
And the idea of playing to learn, learn in play at the club was formed.
SUBJECTS AND LEVELS:
Students from grade 6 to grade 9
English, Music, Art and Physical Education teachers
Attend in the school club.
THE FACT OF THE SCHOOL:
In the school year of 2013-2014, the School Leaders allowed us to hold the first English club. First we divided the school into four teams each team had from five to six representatives. Then each English teacher would have to train them to practice listening, speaking about the predetermined theme, singing some songs in English so as to perform in the first night of the club.
With the enthusiastic help of the school leaders, the ceremony was occured and the first activities were very succesful. Since then, we have maintained it more actively and effectively. (However, we only achieved small activities known as the nature movement due to the emulations of the school.)
III. LESSONS LEARNED.
THE ORGANIZATIONAL WORK:
- In order to form an English club in the school, it is necessary to have the direction and the support of the leaders of the school together with the determination of all English teachers.
- The head of the team has to develop programs, then the school leader has to check, give some additional things and sign.
- In English teachers group, we have to agree on the assignments and the programs.
a) The organizational structure includes:
+. Chairman of the club: the English group leaders.
+. Vice manager in charge of expertise.
+. Vice manager in charge of the entertainment.
+. 4 student team leaders.
b) Duties:
+. Chairman of the club together with two vice managers: directs and manages generally, and builds the programs, suggests ideas, and asks for the leader’s guidance.
+. Vice manager in charge of expertise: monitor the situation or the actual needs of students of English regularly, in order to build specific program, with close topics to study effectively, to encourage students to study harder and harder. Work with the other members to build the programs for the club, devolve and help the team leaders.
+. Vice manager in charge of the entertainment: A teacher of Art or Music can be assigned to take responsibility.
+. The leaders of the student teams: Manage, track, assign, and help the team members when they are working. The leaders of the student teams represent the members proposing, reflecting the needs ... .. to the teachers who have responsibility for the club.
+. Members: Members of the club have to execute the assignment and direction of the group leaders and teachers. Ensure the schedule of club activities and work effectively.
OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS:
• The Operational Programs