Context
The English Club Toolkit project (2020) formed part of the British Council’s English Connects programme, aiming to strengthen English Clubs across Sub-Saharan Africa and increase learners’ confidence in using English through more interactive, learner-centred activities. Building on earlier pilot toolkits developed for secondary and tertiary contexts, the project responded to a need for structured resources and support for club leaders—often volunteers—who lacked access to training and materials. Working across multiple countries including Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Gabon, and others, the initiative sought not only to improve the quality of English Club sessions but also to foster local support networks and communities of practice among teachers and student leaders.
Implementation
The project delivered a large-scale programme of one-day, in-country workshops, training English Club leaders and teachers in how to effectively use the toolkit and facilitate communicative, student-centred sessions. These workshops combined demonstration lessons, micro-teaching, and collaborative planning, alongside introductions to British Council digital learning resources. In parallel, the project supported ongoing engagement through WhatsApp groups, enabling peer collaboration, sharing of practice, and remote mentoring. The team also expanded the toolkit by developing new activities and accompanying video content, while adapting delivery approaches to diverse local contexts—from well-established club ecosystems to countries where English Clubs were a new concept. Monitoring and evaluation included surveys, feedback loops, and observation of club activities, ensuring iterative improvement of both resources and delivery.
Impact
The project significantly enhanced both the availability and usability of English Club resources, with the majority of participants reporting that the toolkit was easy to access and effective in increasing student engagement and participation. Teachers and club leaders gained confidence in delivering interactive sessions, while learners benefited from more varied, communicative activities that maximised speaking opportunities. The establishment of WhatsApp communities extended the impact beyond the workshops, supporting sustained peer learning and collaboration across countries. Despite contextual challenges such as limited resources, varying teacher proficiency, and logistical constraints, the project demonstrated strong uptake and positive feedback, laying the groundwork for scalable, sustainable English Club development across the region.
The final Toolkits derived from this project can be found here.