Share English FAQs
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What qualifications do I need to become a Share English club leader?
As this is not a teaching program, you do not need to be a qualified teacher of English as a foreign language. However, you do need to be a follower of Jesus and speak English fluently. You will need a reliable internet connection particularly if you intend to offer an online club. You need to be able to use a computer not only if you are an online club leader, but also if you are a local club leader as all our resources are made available to you online.
Who are Share English Clubs designed for?
Our English conversation clubs are for English learners who have some basic understanding of English, and perhaps have studied English grammar, but who still need to practice speaking. Learning to communicate well in another language requires hours of time practicing conversation with speakers of the other language. Share English is not suitable for people who have no English skills. We advise that clubs are only open to people who are 18 or older.
Clubs provide a place for English learners to gather in groups to practice English conversation skills and build relationships. Many new immigrants want to practice English in a way that connects them to people who care. People in other countries also want to improve their English. Share English would be a good option particularly in settings that may be ‘creative access’.
What happens at a Club?
In local clubs, members receive a written script that they follow as they listen to a special audio program together as a group. They then enjoy a time of conversation and discussion using the program conversation starters provided to the leader. The club ends with a time of socializing. It all lasts about 1.5 – 2 hours.
An online club is very similar, but members listen to the program by themselves before their club meeting that is usually held on Skype or Zoom. Then at the online club meeting conversation and discussion take place with the club leader using the provided conversation starters. This type of club lasts about 1 – 1.5 hours.
How are Clubs formed?
Local Clubs are formed by the club leader in the location in which they live. For example, a club leader may live in an area where groups of people for whom English is a foreign language also live. These groups could be long-term residents or newly-arrived refugees. Maybe the church already has connections with that group and this ministry is another way to support them, or it can be a way to reach out to that community advertising the club through local channels and connections.
Online clubs can be formed in two ways.
A club leader / church may have a connection with a group of people in another country and form the club from those connections. For example, if a church has been on a mission trip to a country and formed relationships with a group of people, they can continue and build on those relationships via an online club.
Alternatively, a club leader can ask us to find members for their club. Users of our learners’ website subscribe to receive a weekly email from us. We recruit online club members from these subscribers.
Of course, during the pandemic many local clubs became online clubs for periods when it was not possible to meet in person.
What sort of topics are discussed in clubs?
Discussions in clubs are based around an audio program written from a Christian perspective. It uses specialized English (fewer words, slower speed, shorter sentences) which helps learners have greater understanding of topics whilst being able to form opinions and share their thoughts. The programs consist of a wide range of topics that are interesting and informative - art and leisure, science and environment, geography, people and health, culture and society, work and commerce. One week a club may have a discussion based around shoes of the world and another week they might discuss five love languages or surviving extreme situations.
How do programs introduce learners to Jesus?
Club leaders use prepared conversation starters related to the material shared to develop discussion. Cues within the conversation questions provide leaders with natural opportunities for faith discussion and sharing the message of Jesus, even where a program has no apparent Christian content.
For example, in discussing shoes around the world the one of the conversation starters given to the club leader is as follows:
What types of special events, ceremonies, or customs in your community use or require a special type of footwear?
- Is it customary to wear shoes inside a home? Why or why not?
- In what other places would it be inappropriate to wear shoes? Explain why.
- Would anyone wash someone else’s feet in your culture? Why would that washing be done? (Club Leader: if appropriate, share about Jesus washing the feet of his followers as their servant-leader.)
And again, for example, in the program about surviving extreme situations, when a young man believed that he was going to die, he wrote to his family. This is one of the conversation starters given to club leaders:
Together, read lines 16-19. (Club Leader: if you have an Internet Club, for this reading and all following readings choose just one person to read.)
- What do you think [he] wrote to his family? What would you write to your family or friends?
- When he closed his eyes, he didn’t think he would wake up. He thought he was going to die. What do you think happens when you die? (Club Leader: this is a great chance to share how you are not afraid to die. Because as followers of Jesus, we know that after we die, we will be with Jesus forever).
But remember these conversation starters are just part of what introduces club members to Jesus. You are Jesus’ voice and hands and the light and love of Jesus shines through you. You are doing the work of tilling the soil. You are a servant leader. You share God’s love through serving English learners. And your club is a place for building relationships and sharing God’s love through those relationships. Share English is an opportunity to share English, friendship and faith. As one club leader wisely said, ‘Trust all relationships to the Father, be yourself, and let Him do the opening of hearts and opportunities.’
Will I get training before I start my club?
Yes. An online training program is provided.
What can I do to support this ministry?
You can become a club leader. But if that is not for you, you can still support the Share English ministry through prayer or by making a financial donation.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What qualifications do I need to become a Share English club leader?
As this is not a teaching program, you do not need to be a qualified teacher of English as a foreign language. However, you do need to be a follower of Jesus and speak English fluently. You will need a reliable internet connection particularly if you intend to offer an online club. You need to be able to use a computer not only if you are an online club leader, but also if you are a local club leader as all our resources are made available to you online.
Who are Share English Clubs designed for?
Our English conversation clubs are for English learners who have some basic understanding of English, and perhaps have studied English grammar, but who still need to practice speaking. Learning to communicate well in another language requires hours of time practicing conversation with speakers of the other language. Share English is not suitable for people who have no English skills. We advise that clubs are only open to people who are 18 or older.
Clubs provide a place for English learners to gather in groups to practice English conversation skills and build relationships. Many new immigrants want to practice English in a way that connects them to people who care. People in other countries also want to improve their English. Share English would be a good option particularly in settings that may be ‘creative access’.
What happens at a Club?
In local clubs, members receive a written script that they follow as they listen to a special audio program together as a group. They then enjoy a time of conversation and discussion using the program conversation starters provided to the leader. The club ends with a time of socializing. It all lasts about 1.5 – 2 hours.
An online club is very similar, but members listen to the program by themselves before their club meeting that is usually held on Skype or Zoom. Then at the online club meeting conversation and discussion take place with the club leader using the provided conversation starters. This type of club lasts about 1 – 1.5 hours.
How are Clubs formed?
Local Clubs are formed by the club leader in the location in which they live. For example, a club leader may live in an area where groups of people for whom English is a foreign language also live. These groups could be long-term residents or newly-arrived refugees. Maybe the church already has connections with that group and this ministry is another way to support them, or it can be a way to reach out to that community advertising the club through local channels and connections.
Online clubs can be formed in two ways.
A club leader / church may have a connection with a group of people in another country and form the club from those connections. For example, if a church has been on a mission trip to a country and formed relationships with a group of people, they can continue and build on those relationships via an online club.
Alternatively, a club leader can ask us to find members for their club. Users of our learners’ website subscribe to receive a weekly email from us. We recruit online club members from these subscribers.
Of course, during the pandemic many local clubs became online clubs for periods when it was not possible to meet in person.
What sort of topics are discussed in clubs?
Discussions in clubs are based around an audio program written from a Christian perspective. It uses specialized English (fewer words, slower speed, shorter sentences) which helps learners have greater understanding of topics whilst being able to form opinions and share their thoughts. The programs consist of a wide range of topics that are interesting and informative - art and leisure, science and environment, geography, people and health, culture and society, work and commerce. One week a club may have a discussion based around shoes of the world and another week they might discuss five love languages or surviving extreme situations.
How do programs introduce learners to Jesus?
Club leaders use prepared conversation starters related to the material shared to develop discussion. Cues within the conversation questions provide leaders with natural opportunities for faith discussion and sharing the message of Jesus, even where a program has no apparent Christian content.
For example, in discussing shoes around the world the one of the conversation starters given to the club leader is as follows:
What types of special events, ceremonies, or customs in your community use or require a special type of footwear?
- Is it customary to wear shoes inside a home? Why or why not?
- In what other places would it be inappropriate to wear shoes? Explain why.
- Would anyone wash someone else’s feet in your culture? Why would that washing be done? (Club Leader: if appropriate, share about Jesus washing the feet of his followers as their servant-leader.)
And again, for example, in the program about surviving extreme situations, when a young man believed that he was going to die, he wrote to his family. This is one of the conversation starters given to club leaders:
Together, read lines 16-19. (Club Leader: if you have an Internet Club, for this reading and all following readings choose just one person to read.)
- What do you think [he] wrote to his family? What would you write to your family or friends?
- When he closed his eyes, he didn’t think he would wake up. He thought he was going to die. What do you think happens when you die? (Club Leader: this is a great chance to share how you are not afraid to die. Because as followers of Jesus, we know that after we die, we will be with Jesus forever).
But remember these conversation starters are just part of what introduces club members to Jesus. You are Jesus’ voice and hands and the light and love of Jesus shines through you. You are doing the work of tilling the soil. You are a servant leader. You share God’s love through serving English learners. And your club is a place for building relationships and sharing God’s love through those relationships. Share English is an opportunity to share English, friendship and faith. As one club leader wisely said, ‘Trust all relationships to the Father, be yourself, and let Him do the opening of hearts and opportunities.’
Will I get training before I start my club?
Yes. An online training program is provided.
What can I do to support this ministry?
You can become a club leader. But if that is not for you, you can still support the Share English ministry through prayer or by making a financial donation.