English Club

First City Gymnasia’s English Club is off to a strong start this year, with a dozen enthusiastic members participating in weekly sessions that emphasize conversation and culture. Facilitated by Sonia Scherr, a Peace Corps Response Volunteer at FCG, this student-centered club caters to the needs and interests of its participants, who are in the sixth, seventh and eighth forms. The group — officially named Interesting English Club by its members — gives students opportunities to express themselves in English through interactive games, informal presentations and lively discussions. 

Each of the four sessions so far has been organized around a theme aimed at encouraging communication. During the first session, A Club of our Own, students selected a name for the group and suggested activities for us to do. During the second session, Welcome to Cherkasy, students assumed the role of tour guide for Sonia, recommending places in their city for her to visit and providing helpful information about them. The third session, Trivia Time, featured a game in which students worked in teams to answer questions about the arts, sports and America. During the fourth session, Monsters & More, students researched Halloween traditions, learned idioms from a popular Halloween song, and took part in a version of “trick or treating” that had them collecting candy and talking about themselves in English. Lots more fun (and learning!) is on the agenda for future sessions, so please encourage interested middle schoolers to attend.