One of the major challenges that EFL students have to face in francophone countries is their inability to speak the English language due to many causes among which the linguistic environment and the fear of making mistakes while speaking. To solve the problem, some Beninese students refer to English Clubs (ECs) activities that provide them with a flexible learning environment. To shed light on the effectiveness of these EC programs, the present study has attempted to explore the management of language anxiety and the development of speaking ability through student participation in these programs. The findings have shown that ECs can offer a pedagogical environment where participants progressively get rid of hindrances like anxiety, stress, fear of making mistakes and being ridiculed while they develop self-esteem and oral communication and gain flexibility and fluency. Based on these findings, the study has addressed the pedagogical value of ECs programs and recommended the support of educational authorities if the battle for the oral communication of Beninese students is to be won.
Keywords: English Clubs, Language Anxiety, Speaking Ability, extracurricular activities
