Improving English at speakers club<\/p>\n
By Lenah Susianty<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): \"This is a less expensive and effective way to
\nlearn or enrich your English vocabulary. You do not have to go to
\na private English course which will charge you between Rp 40,000
\n(US$18.34) and Rp 80,000 ($36.69) per hour. Just buy (the name of
\na local English daily)... for only Rp 700 (32 U.S. cents) you can
\nlearn English,\" states Kumiko Ota.<\/p>\n
She spreads out a copy of the paper in front of her and shows
\nit to the people crowding the room.<\/p>\n
\"This is how to learn: you do not have to read the whole
\nnewspaper, but only articles that interest you, and memorize five
\nwords a day,\" Mrs. Ota continues while displaying a piece of
\nwhite paper with the figure five written on it.<\/p>\n
\"That becomes 30 words a week, 1,560 a year!\" she continues,
\nat the same time displaying two other pieces of white paper
\nmarked with 30 and 1,560.<\/p>\n
\"One more thing, with the publication of its Sunday edition,
\nI now have interesting things to read on Sundays,\" adds the
\nsmiling woman dressed simply in a white T-shirt and yellow
\nblazer.<\/p>\n
If you are thinking that this is an advertisement for the
\nnewspaper you are reading right now, you will be disappointed to
\nlearn that it is actually about the Jakarta Speakers Club.<\/p>\n
Mrs. Ota, from Japan, was presenting her graduation speech at
\nthe Jakarta Speaker Club last Wednesday. Her speech, along with
\nfour other women who graduated on the same day, was her baptism
\nas a full member of the Club.<\/p>\n
Founded in February last year, the women-only speakers club
\nhas several objectives including the promotion and improvement of
\nthe use of English as a second language, the development of self
\nconfidence by guided conversation and oral presentation, and to
\npromote friendship and foster mutual understanding between women
\nof different nationalities. In a larger sphere it could help
\nbring peace on earth and to give women opportunity to extend
\ntheir skills in oral presentation while socializing and doing
\ngood deeds in the community.<\/p>\n
\"Based on our experience in Malaysia, we saw that such a group
\nis very useful and women can develop themselves in their spare
\ntime,\" said Insiyah Effendy, one of the four founders. She and
\ntwo other founders, Umi R. Lengkong and Moelyani Syahriar, once
\nresided in Malaysia.<\/p>\n
Self-confidence<\/p>\n
However, Mrs. Effendy, who is also vice president of the club,
\nsaid that English is the second language of Malaysian women so
\nthere is no big problem in using it. For Indonesians it is more
\ndifficult.<\/p>\n
\"You need to have self-confidence first. Therefore, our club
\nhelps and encourages everyone to develop that attitude,\" Mrs.
\nEffendy told the Post.<\/p>\n
The club, which is open to all women who are interested in
\nmaking friends, socializing and speaking in English, provides a
\nthree-month course where participants are trained with basic
\ntechniques of expressing themselves publicly.<\/p>\n
\"However, we require an adequate command of English. At least
\nan intermediate or upper intermediate level. If they are only at
\nan elementary level, it may be too difficult for them to
\nformulate sentences,\" said the club's instructor Latifa Sudiro.<\/p>\n
\"But, if someone really wants to join us, we suggest that they
\nfirst take an English course at our affiliated school,\" Mrs.
\nEffendy added.<\/p>\n
After taking a preliminary three month speech course a
\nparticipant is required to present a speech on graduation day.
\nFrom that day on, she becomes a full fledged member with access
\nto bimonthly meetings. During the meetings she can continue to
\npractice her English through games, discussions and also field
\ntrips.<\/p>\n
The year old club has 30 full members from various countries,
\nincluding Japan and Korea.<\/p>\n
\"I do not want to mingle only with Japanese women, I want to
\nmake friends with local people and other expatriates residing in
\nthis country. Therefore I need to speak English well,\" Mrs. Ota
\nsaid, \"My English was poor, but now I am confident I can speak
\nEnglish.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/improving-english-at-speakers-club-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}