Existence of English Meeting Clubs in Supporting the English-Speaking Skill of University Students: Their Constructive Voices

Abstract: This study aimed to find out the students’ perception on English meeting club to support their
English-speaking skill. The subjects of this study were students at Institut Agama Islam Negeri (IAIN) Parepare
who are the members of English meeting club in LIBAM (Lintas Imajinasi Bahasa Mahasiswa). This study
was case study of descriptive qualitative. There are seven students participated as research respondents. This
study used interview as a research instrument. From the result of the interview, majority of students perceived
that the English club was able to improve their speaking skill. They experienced development when speaking
English in the English meeting club such as no longer filler words anymore, pronouncing words properly,
speaking correctly and knowing more about grammar. In addition, after joining an English meeting club,
they become more confident to speak in front of people. They were also taught and trained to teach English
at the junior and senior high school which is called TOT (Training of Trainer) in preparation for becoming
tutor in the school-built program and English camp provided by LIBAM in several schools. The researchers
concluded that the students perceived the English club was able to improve and support the development of
English-speaking skill. They are also more interested in being taught by cheerful tutors at informal situations
preferred in regular class, so the English meeting club provides students with a place to practice speaking
English well without fear of making mistakes and it is appropriate media to improve students’ speaking skill