Hyun Mok
Jung
In the Global English
Outreach Program (GEO Program), there are so many activities that we can enjoy
and participate in. I would like to introduce one of its programs which is the
English Clinic at the Global Lounge. With this program, we can meet and talk to
Foreign Teaching Assistants (FTAs) who came from a variety of countries.
Students can discuss many topics in English with foreigners. Also, we can play
board games with them. If you want to know about their countries’ cultures,
FTAs can tell you about them and you can share Korean culture with them too.
All these activities
can improve one’s English ability. While playing games and conversing with the
FTAs, students can be more confident and be more familiar with English.
However, there are some
weak points to this program. When we heard the word “clinic”, we expected that
the FTAs could correct our errors in English grammar or conversation. However,
it didn't seem any different from our O.B.F. Visits (abbreviation for 'Of the
student, By the student, and For the student'). In addition, the topics from
our task sheets were just the simple and normal ones. Of course, playing board
games with the FTAs was so fun and exciting. However, it is not related to the
“clinic” that we expected it to be. We can play board games with anyone even if
they are not foreigners.
I think the program can
be improved by carrying out a survey that can help identify students who have
problems in their conversational skills. Then, the FTAs can know what their
problems are and have the opportunity to correct them. With this, it may be
more helpful to students.
Moreover, the number of
FTAs is very small. Surely, it is good that the FTAs came from different
countries but there were just seven of them during the camp. And all students
must participate in the English Clinic twice, so some students meet the same
FTA twice too.
In the above-mentioned
points, we know what are GEO's strengths and weaknesses in terms of its English
Clinic Program. The GEO Program should reinforce its strengths and make up for
its weaknesses. Then the English Clinic Program will be more practical and
effective for the students.
