Gridabara English Club

The class is full of laughter as students are actively conversing in English. Everyone is using English as if English is their own mother tongue. In every session, not only the teachers use English as the medium of instructions but also students are eager to engage in discussion using English. Those are my dreams as an English teacher at a formal secondary school. Yet, most students and even some teachers still think English as a scary subject. It is an alien language that is unlikely to be mastered. It is futile to learn the language as they do not use English in their daily lives. These mindsets really affect the way students perceive English though learning an international language is significant at this time and era. Thus, Gridabara English Club is held offering interactive yet engaging activities fostering students’ English skills.

Since 2023, Gridabara English Club has been regularly held on Mondays focusing on speaking skills and boosting students’ confidence in using English. These two become the main focuses in the after-class activities since second language learners have shown to be passive in using English both in written or oral activities that affect their self-confidence in using English. Various activities to promote the objectives are offered focusing on the interactive and collaborative activities such as group discussions and group quiz. Back in 2024, a native speaker was also invited to give English Club participants a chance to practice their English skills.

Out of more than 700 students in SMP 2 Ambarawa, only around 30 students join English Club with 3 English teachers as the coordinators, Ms. Dyah Yustama, Ms. Fara Syafira, and Ms. Diah Ayu. Although this after-school club is not that popular, but most of the participants are fully committed. Most of them also eagerly practice English during the sessions and through the activities we can see some English-talented students. Through the offered activities, English Club participants can actively practice their vocabulary and speaking skills which will surely boost their confidence in using English. Furthermore, by joining the program these students can build their skills in terms of team-working, net-working and socialization. Thus, not only English Club fosters students’ English skills but also their soft skills.

Joining an after-school program will certainly bring positive effects on students. However, yet there are two main issues shadowing the implementation of the program. First is students’ reluctance. Many students still think that English is insignificant for their lives as for now they just need to use their mother tongue daily. In addition, there is not any role model for them to show how important it is to master a foreign language. As a result, learning English is not one of their main targets. Second is time management. All teachers are busy with various tasks, teaching, administration and professional development. Since all the English Club sessions still depend on the teachers to set the activities and hold the sessions, when all the English Club coordinators are busy, the English Club sessions are usually halted. The sessions cannot regularly be held. However, since the last English Club session, we have tried to activate grade 8 to manage the English Club sessions. Although the 8^th graders still felt less confident with their English abilities, the future sessions can be regularly managed by the students with the English-teacher-EC coordinators’ guidance. All of those issues certainly put some hindrance to the running of Gridabara English Club, but with good management and support from school communities, the after-school club will surely flourish.

In short, English is still considered as one of the international languages that one should master as it is the primary language used in international communication, business and diplomacy; and that is the reason why it is crucial for students to learn the language. To cater these needs, Gridabara English Club is offered providing a place for Gridabarians, SMP 2 Ambarawa students, to develop their English skills after school. Nevertheless, not only English skills that can be learnt but also cultures, communication and team-working. In addition, with the support from all the school communities, SMP 2 students will be able to develop their English skills and boost their confidence in the language.

Penulis :

(Dyah Yustama, S.Pd – Guru Bhs. Inggris SMP N 2 Ambarawa)