English Study Group

Estudy English Group: A Fun and Engaging Learning Adventure

This vacation, I wanted to do something different and truly enjoyable, so I decided to volunteer as a tutor for an English study group. My goal was to create a fun and engaging environment for students eager to improve their English skills.

 

Why I'm Doing This

 

A Desire to Give Back: This experience was all about finding ways to serve others. Even though it started during my vacation (talk about dedication!),I was excited to volunteer my time to help students improve their English — for free! There were no grades.

The Initial Challenge: When I first pitched the idea, I teamed up with Alex from the School of Language Education. We reached out to students, but I think many were too shy to say "no," so they said they would come to class but on the next when I was about to start the class they didn't show up. It was a bit disappointing, and I did cancel that first group. But as you may have guessed I wasn't ready to give up just yet!

A New Approach: I regrouped and tried a different strategy. I told students, "You don't have to join this project, but if you do, all I ask is your commitment to show up and participate. It's free, no grades, just a fun and serious learning experience." This time, I got around five students — a small group, but a very dedicated one!

The Dedicated Few: The university was almost deserted, with most students on vacation. However, those who stayed were preparing for their post-graduation entrance exams. Despite having no classes, many claimed they didn't have time. I could have argued that they had plenty of time, but I didn't. I wanted only those genuinely interested in being part of the project.

The Power of Volunteering: The group you will see in the video from the online course I made from this experience was small but mighty. These students were incredibly dedicated, showing up consistently and engaging with all the class assignments. It reminded me of the spirit of volunteering—being there because you want to, not because you have to. It's like going to church: you attend not out of obligation, but out of a genuine desire to be there.

In the end, this experience has been incredibly rewarding, and as of today the classes are still going on. Volunteering has a unique power—it brings together people who genuinely want to be there, creating a positive and productive environment. And also I am under the impression those students will accomplish great things in the future. They are the kind of students I love, they want to learn.

And who knew? Teaching English could be so much fun!

YouTube / YouKu

This is how we ended our English study group today (picture above) - eating this delicious barbecue together. My last assignment to students were to write something about this experience, here are their posts:

https://weibo.com/6576602091/5063033040146707 

https://www.bilibili.com/opus/961088027347648531

Wechat does not provide a link, so I am sharing a picture above

https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1p8igeSEM9

 

 

 

 

Article by Marcelo Gameiro

Published 25 Jul 2024

 

Importance of Paying Attention in English Language Class

Today, I had a surprise class I had promise to the students do to their bad behavior last class, but many students were absent (I don’t know, maybe they were afraid of what I was going to do). Instead of conducting a regular class, I wrote the answers on the blackboard and provided sound clips so they could study independently since they weren't paying attention during the previous class. Next, I called one student from each group and interviewed them individually about the homework. If students were proficient in English, I wouldn't mind them not paying attention, but since many were struggling, it was apparent that their lack of attention was a problem. They couldn't hold a good conversation with me about their homework, which reflected in their low grades. I admit that I was tough on them.

At the end of the class, I asked them if they preferred continuing with today's approach or going back to the old method. Previously, I would give them maximum points for attempting the homework, but today they received poor grades because of their performance. While it isn't their fault if they don't speak English well, it is their responsibility to pay attention in class. They promised to behave better during the next class, so I agreed to return to the old method.

YouTube

During the second half of the class, we used music to practice pronunciation and had fun singing together. I hoped that they understood that I wasn't their enemy and that I only wanted what was best for them, which in this case meant learning English well.

Article by Marcelo Gameiro

Published 06 Apr 2023