Student Organizations

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Student organizations have been established to support and enhance learning in many careertechnical fields: Future Farmers of America (FFA), agriculture; Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), business; Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), marketing; Technology Student Association (TSA), technology; and Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), allied health. These organizations provide opportunities for leadership development, service learning, and career exploration. Students, teachers, and parents expect that membership in these organizations will result in learning and enhanced skills as well as the development of positive values, social skills, and an ability to work independently and collaboratively (Vaughn, Kieth, and Lockaby 1999; Williams 2001). It is the anticipation of these academic, professional, and career-related benefits, as well as opportunities for friendship and belonging, that lead many young people to become members of career and technical education (CTE) student organizations. Intended for CTE educators, this Digest reviews research on outcomes students have realized from membership in these organizations and describes how the organizations are changing as CTE evolves. Outcomes of Participation in CTE Student Organizations A major research study was conducted by Purdue University comparing agricultural education students to the "typical high school student" identified by the Horatio Alger Association ("Communicating the Good News!" 2000). The Purdue study showed outcomes for students who participated in FFA, a CTE student organization with about 450,000 members (Stagg and Stuller 1999). Because all career-technical student organizations share similar goals for membership and participation, the outcomes of the Purdue study serve as the basis for this discussion, focusing on four major outcome areas: scholarship, motivation, professional development, and citizenship. Scholarship Key findings of the Purdue study showed that students involved in FFA are more enthusiastic about and attach greater value to their school studies than do average students. The FFA students also are

more actively engaged in school activities, more likely than the average student to relate personal effort to success, and more likely to prepare for postsecondary studies and attend two-year and fouryear colleges (Reese 2001). One reason CTE student organizations inspire scholarship is that the school-business partnerships that characterize these organizations connect school learning to its application in the workplace. Minorities in Agriculture, National Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS) is one such national student organization that is committed to fostering partnerships between minority students in agriculture and national resources and professionals from academia, government, and business. Through MANRRS membership, students are able to network with more than 50 governmental, private industry, and educational entities. Studies showed that college freshmen and upperclass students who participated in MANRRS in 1993-94 (mostly African Americans and Hispanics), "had a 70% graduation rate within 6 years compared to a 56% average projected graduation rate for these groups for the entire university. Fifty-three percent graduated in 4 years or less; 3% graduated in 5 years of less; and 87% had received degrees by August 1998" (Talbert, Larke, and Jones 1999, p. 5). Motivation Students who become members of CTE student organizations are inspired to join because their peers or family members have recommended membership, they desire to participate in career-related activities and competitions, and they want to connect with other students who share common career interests. This motivation for membership appears to nurture a motivation for learning. According to the Purdue study, "83 percent of FFA students consider their agriculture courses to be exciting, interesting, and challenging as compared to only 32% of typical students. These students are also more likely to believe the amount of work they do in school is important to their success later in life and more likely to believe it is important to do their best in all of their classes" (Reese 2001, p. S17). A positive attitude about the benefits of CTE student organizations often occurs as a result of the testimonials of other members of the organization. For example, Katrina Miller's decision to join the Technology Student Association was influenced by a former TSA president who spoke at a TSA Fall Leadership Conference. "She told us about the TSA offices she had won and her achievements in TSA competitions. She was so poised and passionate, and I knew right then that if she could do these things, I could too" (Miller and Meuleners 2000, p. 24.). Professionalism Many students join CTE student organizations because they believe membership experiences and competitions will prepare them for employment in their chosen careers. Membership appears to enhance students' self-confidence in this regard. Eighty-nine percent of FFA students believe they can realize success in their chosen career area (Reese 2001). These students also have more specific career goals and are more likely to work while in high school, which serves to enhance their professional development.

Through participation in CTE student organizations' national conferences and competitions, students gain valuable professional experience. "In 2000, over 125 students traveled to national conferences to compete in contests, network with business people and peers, and learn information that is vital to their futures" (Wills 2000, p. 44). These activities give students opportunities to apply their evolving communication, leadership, and networking skills. Businesses that support CTE student organizations become involved as a way to ensure that their employment needs will be met by the future generation of workers. The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration industry, for example, supports the Skills USA-Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA) by enlisting companies to donate equipment for national competitions and provide employees to serve as judges. In this way, the industry has a vehicle for introducing students to its equipment and ensuring that schools connect academic learning with the skill demands of the workplace. This gives businesses an opportunity to have a hand in shaping potential employees; at the same time, the competitions afford professional benefits to the students. The gold medalist of the 1997 Skills USA-VICA competition, for example, was able to train at the Carrier company's Bynum Education Center in Syracuse, New York. He trained one on one with a Carrier worker and "Carrier picked up the cost of his airfare and accommodations" (Siegel 2001, p. 42).

Citizenship Research shows that students who are members of youth organizations are more actively engaged in community as well as school activities. The Purdue study found that 90 percent of FFA members participate in school and community activities (Reese 2001). Another study revealed that students involved with student organizations were more likely to be involved in community affairs and organizations, school organizations, and church (Leventhal 1999). Activities for linking CTE student organizations with the community include job shadowing, service projects, student-organized field trips, employer-employee banquets, and alumni-student gatherings (Miller 1997). How Organizations Are Changing as CTE Evolves Student organizations will not be successful in the future unless they can motivate new students to join and participate in the activities. Two primary ways that CTE student organizations can achieve this goal are to (1) make their focus more relevant to today's workplace and (2) strive to recruit a diverse student population. Workplace Relevance Society has undergone many changes since the inception of most CTE student organizations and these changes influence how and where people work. When the FFA was started in 1928, for example, people were leaving farming communities and migrating to the cities. The organization was initiated as a way to keep vocational agriculture in the public school system and offer the typically white, rural youth a means of improving their farming production skills and developing a sense of selfworth and recognition for their accomplishments so they would remain in agriculture (Vaughn et al.

1999). Today, there are fewer and fewer family farms and a decreasing number of youth have family ties to production agriculture (Igo and White 1999). To be viable today, CTE student organizations must be designed to satisfy the primary need of today's studentsimproving their employment potential in a technologically oriented workplace. They must draw their members' interests toward areas that offer job potential, e.g., in agriculture, it is important to provide opportunities that extend beyond agriculture production to business, communication, agriscience, and technology as applied in the agriculture industry (Gliem and Gliem 2000). Diverse Membership Other changes in society relate to work force composition. Today the workplace is composed of people with varied ethnic and economic backgrounds. Igo and White (1999) note that future generations of students involved in agriculture will not be from the typical rural areas, but from urban communities. To thrive, CTE student organizations must recruit students from these areas and from the various cultures they represent. In a study conducted to learn the characteristics of students enrolled in agricultural education who elected not to join FFA (Stagg and Stuller 1999), it was found that non-FFA members included significantly more Asians, African Americans, and Hispanics. This reflection of selective membership may be one reason that, of the over 800,000 students involved in agricultural education, only 450,000 are FFA members. CTE student organizations need to find ways to attract all students by providing and emphasizing benefits that membership will afford them, both personally and professionally. The recruitment of diverse members should also include students with disabilities. Ploss, Field, and Frick (1996) describe youth with disabilities who have participated in CTE student organizations. One female student who was blind participated fully in FFA. The authors describe her enthusiasm for belonging to FFA and participating in its national competitions. They note that she was so professional and well spoken that the audience and often the judges were not aware that she was visually impaired. Students can also promote membership in CTE student organizations by sharing with a diverse array of their peers the personal benefits they have realized through membership: For example, Rich Klein reports that "because of VICA, I did a lot of advanced study in my field" (Siegel 2001, p. 5). Katrina Miller notes that "through my TSA experiences I have learned to be confident in my abilities and move forward in my career goals" (Miller and Meuleners 2000, p. 24). Testimonials like these can be strong motivators for students who have little or no background in student organizations. Young people have a variety of needs that must be met if they are to become mature, responsible, caring, and informed individuals. CTE student organizations provide a variety of opportunities that will help students in these areas. However, to be effective in the future, these organizations must recruit and embrace a more diverse membership and introduce members to occupations as they exist today.

The importance of joining student clubs in high school

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by Marijane Suttor

Created on: September 14, 2010 Last Updated: October 11, 2010

Student clubs and organizations often form the backbone of high schools. Although these activities may not receive as much recognition as other activities, they provide opportunities and experiences that are beneficial to students, the school district, and often the community. While in high school, it is important for students to join school clubs. Benefits the school The students who join clubs often participate in volunteer experiences that benefit the school. Whether it is building a float for the homecoming parade or organizing the school prom, it takes students who are willing to work in clubs to make these special events work for the student body. It is part of giving back to the school in order to have a better school. Benefits the community School clubs often have activities that provide important community interaction. By joining a club, students will often have volunteer experiences which can range from playing bingo at a nursing home to donating money for a community fundraiser. Students who join clubs can see the benefit of their talents in the community in which they live. It helps students to feel the gratification of helping others. Role models Involvement in clubs sets a good example for younger students. If high school students are seen volunteering as part of a club, it makes younger students want to contribute to the school and society in a positive way also. It encourages students to be part of a positive outlet instead of one of the many negative influences that can be part of society. Learning opportunities Clubs provide students with opportunities to learn in ways that may not be an option by simply concentrating on academics. These students often have guest speakers at meetings and even go into the business community as part of the club activities. Often these students see whether careers interest them or if they would like to do something else. Clubs provide learning opportunities that can influence what teenager want to do after high school. Meet friends

Clubs often provide students with the chance to spend time and make friends with those who have the same interests. Once students have something in common, school becomes a more positive place to be. Clubs serve as a positive outlet for students to socialize. Leadership A benefit to participation in school clubs is that it is a chance to hold an elective office such as president or secretary. These provide students with opportunities to lead students and gain experience in organizational activities. Having these kinds of leadership positions can often open doors for future opportunities. Positive outlet Involvement in school clubs also provide students with a positive outlet for their energy. Students who are involved in clubs are participating in a positive activity during that time. They arent out engaging in behavior that is not the best for teenagers such as drinking or smoking. Students who are active in clubs are less like to indulge in drug use and are more likely to be successful in school. Enjoyment Dont underestimate the importance of having fun in high school. Some of the best times and memories students have are the experiences of belonging to a club. Whether it is the club bowling party or the highs and lows of club responsibilities, clubs are important to join just for the enjoyment that they will bring to most students. Clubs and organizations provide students with many positive experiences that help them to become wellrounded individuals who are ready for college or the workplace. Joining a club can be one of the best decisions that a student ever made.
After School Clubs: Positive or Negative Impact on Children For hundreds of years it has been recognized that not all learning takes place in the classroom. Students mental and social development also occurs outside the classroom in athletics, music, and clubs. No matter what club the student is involved in, he/she fosters organizational, interpersonal, communication, planning, critical thinking, financing, and evaluation skills. A club gives students the opportunity to combine components of their mental and social development into personal action. These students have opportunities to test their skills and talents in different situations. Students will always work together to set goals, develop action plans for achieving those goals and implement those plans. Doing so, students could develop and maintain working relationships and friendships. The soul of a club is the students, but it also consists of many things that happen behind the scenes. There are many benefits of student clubs directed towards students, instructors, etc. The benefits for students include developing leadership and self-esteem skills. Students also become acquainted with the community members, instructors, and students. The students also apply the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom in their club. Some other advantages are learning to work as a team and with people from different ethnicities. The instructors benefit from clubs by observing their students applying the skills learned in the club in the classroom and then challenge the students new skills. The advantages of clubs for the school include opportunities for students to be recognized for achievement, involvement of community members in programs, and positive public relations with the community (Brountas). Parents could also benefit by observing their children excelling more in school and coming home with excitement about the club. After school clubs also have different categories. Typically there are four basic types of student clubs: academic, special interest, special project or issue,

sports(North). Students who participate in academic clubs gain knowledge outside of the classr oom that applies later on in the class. Students become involved based upon a common interest and hope to be with other students who share the same interests are in the special interest focus club. A third type of a student club is very similar to the special interest focus. These clubs (special project or issue focus) provide students with expanded leadership experiences and involvement in the community. The final type of club is a sports club(North). These students have a specific interest in an athletic sport and want to compete against other students in the community. Most clubs are not one specific focus above; many students combine a few to become more appealing and pleasing. There are numerous amounts of academic clubs. A few examples are German, future teachers, and welding. Book clubs are also an academic club and have many benefits. Students involved in a book club can create a home library by purchasing from an excellent selection of books. Some special interest clubs could be snowboarder, boating, martial arts, etc. A special project club could include the gay/straight alliance, democratic club, etc. Finally, some clubs that are included in the sports category are rowing, cross-country, field-hockey, etc. Once the student decides what club category to be in, he/she needs to meet with his/her advisor. Research suggests that the success or failure of most student clubs is directly related to the involvement of a professional staff member acting as an advisor (Manners, 1995). Those clubs with an active and committed advisor consistently are more effective in recruiting and retaining students, implementing and completing projects, and receiving positive recognition from the college and the community. Advisors are usually there from year to year and can provide a sense of continuity. Brountas argues that the advisor is the repository of the clubs physical records, understands the clubs finances, and keeps track of the clubs history and traditions. The advisor is also a leader in providing direction in following the rules of the school and community. A well trained advisor teaches students leadership skills and helps the new members develop the skills necessary to move into the clubs leadership positions. The advisor walks a balanced path between providing direction and stepping back and observing (North). How does a club form and what are the criteria? The first step students should do in starting their club is to hold an informal meeting. When they meet for the first time, they should discuss some ideas for guidelines and requirements to be included into the club. For example, maintaining a 3.0 GPA could be a requirement. The members of the club need to make sure to invite potential advisors to this meeting. The advisors could be very interested in what the club has to say and will want to participate. The advisor chosen is making a commitment to assist and guide the organization through the politics of running a club. The next step is identifying and recruiting an advisor. This is an important part of starting a club and a generous amount of effort. First you will need to find individuals who are interested in you club and second, someone who can commit to the club with a lot of time and energy in helping the club develop. The key to finding a good advisor is to find that someone with a sincere interest and passion for what your club is about. The third step that needs to be taken is developing a club constitution. A constitution is a way to establish procedures in order to conduct business effectively (North). This constitution sets forth the principles that an organization is built upon. This also presents the guidelines for of membership requirements and the officers responsibilities. Finally, it establishes basic principles for the future years of the club that are not likely to change. The constitution should always be typed with no grammatical errors. There are many different ways to recruit new members. The advisor and/or current members could have a personal interaction with the perspective members; have flyers, posters, handouts, table tents, and/or even announcements in the student newspaper. Some members could also hold brief presentations in classes during school and in public areas during lunch time. Students will experience many different benefits from joining a club. The most important reason is to have fun and meet other students. Students will also become well acquainted with the teachers and citizens around the schools community. They can also apply knowledge and skills learned in the club in the classroom. The final benefits are developing leadership skills involving communication and decision making, learning to work as a team, and working with students with diverse backgrounds(North). The organizational structure of a club may vary depending on what area the club is focusing on. Most clubs have a structure with the person with the most authority to the least. Possible club officers may include president, vicepresident, secretary, treasurer, publicity officer, activities coordinator, membership coordinator, etc. Most of these

nominations are due to an election. The elective officers then could form an executive committee. It is important to hold a meeting with all of the officers and members to set guidelines of what each officer will be doing. The president prepares agendas and designates committees and the vice president will serve as the president if the president can not attend the meeting/activity. The vice-president is also the committee coordinator and helps the president in the agenda making process. The secretary records the minutes of all meetings, places items in the agenda, and helps the president in decisions of activities. The treasure accounts for funds for activities, pays bills, records all financial information, and makes financial reports at meetings. The publicity officer prepares articles to be printed in the school newspaper or broadcast in the morning announcements, and gathers and classifies the clubs news (North). The historian builds a scrapbook of the events/activities that have been taken place and how the club grows. The activities/events coordinator gets together activities that the club members would enjoy (such as a school dance or field trip), (North). The membership coordinator ne eds to recruit and maintain club membership. There are also committees within a club. They are small groups assigned to carry out one or more tasks (North). Some of their areas of concern are special projects, public relations, community service, elections, social and recreational events. The committee should provide an opportunity for each member to speak, outline the responsibilities of each individual member, work as a team, meet regularly, and discuss the overall goals and objectives. There are two kinds of committees: standing and special. Standing committees are appointed for the year and are usually concerned with organization of the club (such as the financial committee). Special committees are only appointed to address a short-term problem or current issue. After this committee has solved the issue, it is no longer a committee. (North) The purpose of a meeting is to coordinate and sustain activity within the club. Some basic things to let the members of the club know is to be on time, define objectives of the meeting, be prepared to assign and accept tasks, and encourage discussion. When it comes to scheduling a meeting, the officers need to make sure that the club decides as a whole when to have them. The president should make sure that the meetings are enough, but not too much, to get what needs to be done. There is also etiquette to be followed during meetings. A few examples are that only one person speaks at a time, do not repeat discussion, and be courteous and respectful (North). Humans are not born into this world as a leader. It takes time to develop skills to become one. A leader has skills in communication, listening, organization, problem solving, planning and goal setting, and conflict resolution. Aside from the many skills a leader needs to have, he/she needs to have several traits as well; such as persistence, imagination, poise, integrity, and common sense. One way to make sure that the activity that the club is sponsoring will be a success is to follow the Seven Steps to Success outline. 1. Idea 2. Planning 3. Approval 4. Promotion 5. Implementation 6. Follow-up 7. Evaluation (North). First the students should brainstorm the idea with other members of the club and recognize the purpose of the activity. When they begin to plan answer the five ws: who, what, when, where, and why. Then make sure that the

activity is approved by the school. When the activity is promoted, make sure that the club advertises the activity with posters, signs, and even brochures. Implementation is just having a plan and following through with it. Make sure that the secretary and treasurer follow-up after the event: including cleaning and picking up trash around the facility, paying bills, sending thank-you cards, etc. The final step is evaluation and can be done by asking participators in the activity to fill out a quick survey (North). Fund raising is something that needs to be done in order to have the activity planned. There are two categories of fund raising: event and sale (North). Fund raising events include concerts, plays, dinners, socials, performances, etc. (or anything that has a cost to enter the event). If there is any money left over after paying the facility for the rent for the activity, the money might go towards food stands, or even back into the clubs account. Fund raising sales may include a bake sale, crafts sale, hotdog feed, etc. Another type of sale is a raffle drawing. Raffles involve a lot of preparation in collecting donations from different organizations around the community. An after school club is very complex and needs a lot of planning to create one. It also has a tremendous impact on the children involved with one. Parents should make the decision in enrolling their children into an after school club because of the countless benefits.

What can we do in our English Club?

Establish a warm-up routine You will notice that teachers often start class with a game or conversation exercise. They do this to wake you up! They also want to help you focus on a classroom activity that will follow. In a club that tends to have more of an academic focus the warm up could be three new vocabulary words. The leader could teach a noun, a verb, and an adjective each session. The group practises making sentences with the new words. In a club that is more social in nature, find an activity that makes people laugh. This will bring positive energy into the room. Here are ten fun warm-up activities that are guaranteed to turn your brains to English quickly! Themes or Skills You can organize your club in many ways. Some clubs will be full of members that only want to practise one skill, such as conversation. Conversation club meetings are often very casual and require little planning. Everyone can write down a topic that they want to debate, or you can talk about popular culture and current events. Someone can bring in a newspaper article and everyone can read it together and discuss it. Reading clubs are another type of English Club. Each person reads the same book (outside of group time) and the club discusses aspects such as what they liked about it, who their favourite characters were, etc. The majority of English Clubs, however, are designed for people who want to improve their English in all skill areas. If this is the type of club you want to create it is useful to divide the meetings in terms of themes or skills. Each member of the club can choose from a list of dates. You can suggest topic ideas, or ask members to come up with their own. Always give members the option of bringing in their own idea (leave a blank space for OTHER on the theme/skill schedule). See sample meeting schedule for ideas for your own club. The leader for each meeting is in charge of everything including the warm-up, the focus, and the dividing of members into groups or pairs. This gives everyone in the group an opportunity to show their leadership and creative skills. If someone is extremely shy and unwilling to be a leader, you can still allow them to join the club. Perhaps they will agree to be a leader a few months later in the next session when they have more confidence in English. Have backup ideas on hand What if your leader for the day doesn't show up? In a classroom, you usually get a substitute teacher when your instructor is sick or unavailable. This should be the same in a club. If members know they are going to miss a meeting that they are supposed to

lead, they should call another member and give them instructions about what was planned. However, it is likely that a day will come when no leader shows up at all. It is a good idea to have a back up plan in case of this problem. The easiest thing to do is keep a list of discussion questions in the location of the meetings. Put them in an envelope or in the classroom, or give one to each member to keep in their notebook. You can cut them up and put them in a hat and take turns picking questions. Another idea is to get out a dictionary and learn ten new words. The group can practise using them and then write a group play that involves all ten words. A deck of playing cards is also a good thing to keep in case of extra time. You can play a game of cards in English. Teaching each other rules in English is a great way to practise speaking and listening. You will also have to ask lots of questions when you learn a new game. Use a suggestion box If it's possible, keep a suggestion box in the room where you hold your club meetings. At the end of each meeting the leader should encourage members to write a comment or suggestion for the group.Examples: I want to practice pronunciation more. Let's keep track of our new vocabulary. Does anyone want to practice idioms with me? It's too cold in this room! Why don't we all bring a snack to share next week? Go on excursions as a group Outside of your weekly meetings, it is a good idea to have one excursion a month. This helps create stronger bonds within the group. It is always fun to have something to look forward to as well. Go out to a movie. Play a sport. Do community service together. Give blood. Go sightseeing. Have a picnic. Go dancing. Have a potluck dinner. Whatever you decide to do, everyone should speak English at all times.

Why start an English Club?

Use what you learn An English Club is a place for language learners to use English in a casual setting. Practising your skills in the classroom is important, but it is not like real life. In the classroom, you often focus on one skill and one item (for example: grammar - future tense). After learning the rules your teacher gives you time to practise using the item. You have your papers in front of you and the rules are fresh in your mind. Will you remember how to use your skills next week, or next year? In an English Club, you get a chance to practise many different skills in a setting that is more like real life. Though your English teacher understands your English, your English Club friends will require you to speak more clearly and listen more carefully. Make English-speaking friends Starting an English Club is a great way to make new lasting friendships. It is important to have good ESL friends because your confidence will increase if you do. You will feel more comfortable using English around people you trust and have fun with. Don't limit your friends to the people in your class.
One of the primary benefits of learning English is that it is often considered the language of global business. The international business community often uses it for communication, even among people who do not speak the same native language. Speaking and understanding English can let a person more easily communicate with others and find more job opportunities not only in his or her home country, but around the world as well. There are also many professional informative publications printed in English, which means it is often an essential language for anyone working in science or research.

Professional Opportunities For many people, the benefits of learning English include broadening their employment opportunities, since it is used so commonly in business. People who speak two or more languages are often ideal candidates for jobs in travel, international business, or translation. Many government agencies and employers that offer work with the general public, such as positions in law enforcement or healthcare, often look for multilingual candidates Social Networking and Relationships Many people see the ability to communicate and talk with others as one of the major benefits of learning English. Even outside of a professional environment, people often like to be able to talk to individuals from around the world. Many people find great social and cultural benefits in having pen pals from other countries, and the Internet makes such communication fast and easy. Knowing English can broaden the types of people you can speak to, whether its via emailor on an online discussion forum. A tremendous number of websites are available primarily in English, and anyone who does not understand the language may have difficulty using them. For anyone interested in traveling to countries in which English is the primary or common language, it is often essential to understand and speak it. Throughout the UK, US, and Canada, traveling and shopping are often made easier by speaking the language since many individuals may not speak any other language. One of the most important benefits of learning English is the ability to explore these regions and more easily communicate with locals to learn about places and events that might otherwise remain unknown. Many people in European countries learn English in school, so knowing it can also be of benefit when traveling in locations even where it's not the native tongue. Learning a language can also be a great way to meet people, even if you never plan on leaving home. A class at a local community center or college can introduce you to a wide variety of people who are also interested in English, and give you the opportunity to interact with them in a controlled setting. Language courses often encourage students to carry on conversations with each other in the language being learned, and this can be a great way to break the ice with new people. Immigration Immigrants to English-speaking countries who do not speak the language are often at a serious disadvantage economically. It's much more difficult to get and hold a job, find a place to live, and even do everyday tasks like grocery shopping if you don't understand the language. Learning English not only benefits immigrants themselves, it also helps families by allowing parents to be involved more fully in their children's lives and education. In addition, these children don't have to translate for their parents, allowing them to be kids instead of interpreters. Entertainment and Cultural Understanding A huge amount of popular entertainment comes out of Hollywood, and nearly all of it is produced in English. American movies and TV programs are distributed all over the world, and are often subtitled for people who don't speak the language. Knowing English can allow you to better understand the subtleties of dialog that subtitles frequently miss. It can be a challenge to translate concepts and terms that don't match one-for-one between languages, and nuances of meaning can be lost. Language is an inherently cultural construct. How people speak, the words they choose, and the topics under discussion are deeply tied into the culture of a place. By learning English or any other language, you are putting yourself into the mindset of a native speaker and are introduced to many of the concepts that he finds important. Gaining a better understanding of other cultures can help you to enrich your own understanding of the world and how others see it.

Research and Academics Many of the most prominent and well known publications throughout the world are written and printed in English. Scholars interested in doing research at an academic level, or working on new scientific developments, should consider the benefits of learning English to read these periodicals and publish their own work. Publication in peer-reviewed journals is often required for someone who wishes to remain in academia, and the ability to read and write in English may be necessary to maintain such a position. Even learning about current events often requires an understanding of the language, since so many global publications and news websites use it. Education Because English is a first language for many countries, many other nations teach it as a requirement in schools. It is estimated that over a billion people in the world speak English on at least a basic level. For many people, the benefits of learning English involve the new opportunities that become available to someone who understands it. Anyone interested in attending a university in the US, for example, needs to speak it or be able to pass a test proving that he or she is fluent.
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills

According to Diane Hedin (1989), "[t]he situations in which young people learn most are ones in which they have the opportunity to determine what needs to be done at developmentally appropriate levels of responsibility." When students are given the opportunities and responsibilities of decision making in a task that is interesting and important to them, they tend to think more deeply about the issues at hand and "use their most complex thinking skills" (Hedin 1989) to solve the problem.

Extracurricular activities also help students stay focused on their academic classes. According to Americans for the Arts, students who are involved in an art program in their school are more than three times less likely to drop out by tenth grade than students who are not. Moreover, a study by Cornell University found that students who participate in some sort of club are less likely to use drugs. This is because students who find a passion in school enjoy learning more than students who only go to school because they are forced to. These students also spend more time engaging in productive activities and feel less need to experiment with risky behaviors.