How to Start an English Speaking Club with Friends
An English club is a great place to start to learn to speak English. Learning to talk in a casual setting with friends is like learning English in real life without the worry of making mistakes in front of strangers. It is also a great environment to meet new people (who are friends of friends) who also want to learn English so you will be learning together and helping each other. Here are some suggestions on how to form an English speaking club with friends:
Advertise an English speaking club
Put up an advertisement in the gym, at work or at school to see whether there are others who want to learn English. By doing this you will have something in common with the other members of the group. Try and ensure that it is a small group in the beginning which enables every member to have time to speak. Aim for 2 or 3 members as a minimum to 5 to 6 as a maximum.
Decide where to hold an English speaking club
The club can meet either in one of the club member’s houses or in a café or restaurant. Choosing a variety of different of different places to meet will encourage real life situations whether drinking tea or coffee at home or meeting for lunch or dinner at a pre-arranged location.
Decide how many times you want to meet
Try meeting once a week as a minimum at a time to suit everyone in the club. Choose a day and time that suits every person.
Starting the sessions
Start by discussing how everyone is, what they have been doing, how their families are and then move on to a topic which has been arranged in advance so that everyone has a chance to think, decide and prepare what they would like to say. Everyone could take notes on the new vocabulary used during these sessions so that they can look up the meanings and learn after the sessions have finished. Finish the sessions by discussing what has been discussed and what everyone has learnt from the session.
Practice real life situations
Divide into groups and practice ordering food in a restaurant or asking for directions (for example how to walk or drive to the shops or train station) or planning a holiday.
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Using a dictionary
Use a good dictionary which also shows how the words are pronounced together with the meanings of each word. Try and learn at least 10 to 15 new words per session.
Decide on outings
Decide where you would like to go to visit. For example, perhaps a visit to the cinema to see a film in English, or to a museum, visit something new where no one has visited before or do a brand-new activity. Play a game like Scrabble in English to practice the words you have been learning.
It is important to make these sessions fun and enjoyable. Ensure that everyone includes their ideas of how to make the club work. There can be English speaking clubs for adults, students and for children. With plenty of encouragement and practice, every member of the club will learn very quickly without the fear of either being embarrassed or making mistakes. Practice makes perfect and all members will improve their fluency in speaking English by meeting on such a regular basis with friends in this way. Enjoy and have plenty of laughs.
