WHAT IS e++?
It is a known fact that most Korean students spend about ten years studying the English language and its rules during their high school, middle school and college. Unless they pursue more intensive training, most of them fail to confidently and effectively converse in English. One of the reasons students offer as an explanation is the lack of practice. They feel they needed more conversation time which, to their dismay, is hard to find in Korea. Some, who can afford it, take up advance lessons in English academies and personal tutorials. Others decide to go overseas to enroll in language schools and, at the same time, be immersed in English-speaking environments.
The name e++ stands for ¡°English with a difference.¡± It is a volunteer-based service of Every Nation Ministries to Korean students who want to further hone and practice their English skills. It is an English club that provides ample conversation time for students through its various lessons and activities. The sessions are not, in any way, substitutes to those provided by English academies or one-on-one tutorials. They are meant to reinforce professional courses with dynamic and interactive discussions.
Studies on workers¡¯ performance, whether they are superiors or subordinates, have pointed out that people get their job, get promoted in their jobs and remain in their jobs because of various factors. When these factors are categorized, it is surprising to note that only 15% of them account for their technical skills or professional knowledge. These include among other things their IQ. However, 85% of the success factors are people skills or abilities that allow them to handle difficult situations, assume leadership, express feelings and convey ideas effectively. Several books have been written about emotional quotient (EQ) and studies were done on executives¡¯ adversity quotient (AQ). All agree that people need more than just their IQ and technical skills in order to succeed in life.
The e++ English Club aims to provide students with practical people skills and essential life principles using English as a mode of teaching. Utilizing dynamic discussions with lessons on various relational skills enriches their perspective of life, personal attitudes and cultural sensitivities, thus, providing them with powerful and effective tools to achieve their life goals.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ENGLISH CLUB SESSIONS
The sessions are done on a round-table discussion format with a leader serving as a facilitator and some of the more advanced students helping in the small-group (two to four students) exercises. Lessons during the English club meetings include grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension, listening and conversation practice. In some lessons, cultural awareness is also studied. Students are expected to participate at all times while balancing it with a ¡°no pressure¡± atmosphere. This approach has produced encouraging results with observable improvement on the students¡¯ level of confidence and competence.
The last part of the session is poetry reading and interpretation. This gives the students a powerful learning tool by appreciating simple poems and exploring other facets of the English language. Through the poems, they get exposed to various ways of using words, particularly the different figures of speech. In some instances, a photograph is brought to the class for discussion.
BIBLE STUDY: A SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICE
A thirty-minute Bible study is offered as a supplemental service to students who want to learn life skills and principles based on the teachings of Jesus Christ in the Bible. The Bible study aims to provide students with life-tested and up-to-date applications of biblical principles that contribute to success, not only in the workplace but in other levels of relationships such as the family, community and society.
Attendance in the Bible study is non-compulsory and students are informed at the onset of joining that there is a Bible study after the club meetings. It is open for all, whether they are Christians or from other beliefs and philosophical adherence. | 
