English Fun Class to Increase English Learning Interest among Children in Taba Sating Village

Abstrak

Limited opportunities for enjoyable non-formal English learning may affect children's interest and confidence in engaging with English, particularly in rural communities. This community service program aimed to increase children's interest in learning English through the English Fun Class in Taba Sating Village, Kepahiang Regency, Bengkulu Province. The program involved 20 elementary-school-aged children and adopted a learning-by-playing approach implemented through six face-to-face meetings of approximately 60–90 minutes each. Learning activities included ice-breaking, educational games, songs, flashcards, interactive quizzes, pair and group practice, and simple English conversations covering self-introduction and greetings, numbers, colors and things around us, and family members. Program outcomes were evaluated descriptively through direct observation of children's participation, enthusiasm, willingness to respond, and confidence in using basic English. Descriptive comparison of observations across the six meetings indicated positive changes in children's behavioral engagement with English learning. Children who initially tended to be hesitant gradually demonstrated more active participation, greater enthusiasm in interactive activities, increased willingness to respond, and greater courage to pronounce basic English words and simple expressions. These findings suggest that playful and interactive community-based English activities can provide positive learning experiences and foster children's engagement with English. However, the outcomes represent observable behavioral changes rather than statistically measured gains. Sustained implementation and simple age-appropriate pre- and post-program evaluation are recommended for future programs.