MCPL offers many resources to help customers learn English and other languages. But one of MCPL's hidden gems is our network of English Conversation Clubs. These gatherings offer those learning English the opportunity to practice speaking English and hear others speak English. The atmosphere of the meetings is friendly, welcoming, and informal. These are not classes. They're gatherings of people from around the world who spend an hour practicing their English by discussing a variety of topics.
Each English Conversation Club meeting is facilitated by a MCPL volunteer. The volunteers usually have topics in mind for each meeting, but the conversations often flow in different directions depending on the interests of those at the meeting. Sometime participants bring up real life situations they've encountered recently, such as problems understanding a bus schedule or questions about an upcoming citizenship test, and the group will happily discuss the issue. One customer recently noted that the confidence boost her participation in English Conversation Clubs gave her enabled her to ace an interview and land the job she wanted.
The life circumstances of English Conversation Club participants are diverse. Some have just arrived in Montgomery County and are totally new to American society. Others have lived here for years. Some are only here in the area temporarily for work, school, or to visit family. Others have immigrated here and are establishing new lives. Whatever their situation, all welcome to join.
There's no need to register for an English Conversation Club, you can just walk right in. Some participants attend Conversation Clubs at different branches depending on their schedules that week. There are meetings during the week, on weekends, during the day, and in the evenings. Come in on, we'd love to see you.
Want to learn more about MCPL's English Conversations Clubs? Get the inside story from Quince Orchard librarian Nancy Chiu-Sillcox and Quince Orchard English Conversation Club volunteer coordinator Annie Etches. They were recently interviewed on MCPL's Library Matters podcast, where they talked about the language learning and community building benefits of the English Conversations Clubs. They also shared some stories about how the clubs have helped participants over the years.
Labels: Language Learning, Library Services
