‘Conversation Tables’ spark dialogue for French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic language learners
This fall, the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures is once again hosting Conversation Tables and Cafes to encourage French, Spanish, Chinese, and Arabic language learners of all levels to meet new people and practice their language skills. These informal conversational settings provide a judgment-free environment to practice speaking and listening and encourage students to learn more about other languages and cultures.
Arabic Cafe, Chinese Chat Cafe, French Conversation Table and Spanish Conversation Table posters
Arabic Cafe
The Arabic Cafe invites students, faculty, and staff to watch Arabic movies and discuss cinema and other topics together. The Arabic cafe promises an inviting space to practice Arabic while enjoying complimentary snacks and thought-provoking films such as The Night of Counting the Years, Ramy, and more.
The next Arabic Cafe will be taking place on Monday, November 18, from 12 - 1 PM and in POD-247J.
Chinese Chat Cafes - New this fall!
Hosted by student facilitator Haonan Daniel Liu, the Chinese Chat Cafe offered a warm atmosphere for Mandarin learners of all levels. The inaugural launch of the Chinese Chat Cafe was a success in bringing students together, filling the room with excited learners ready to chat.
Students shared a wide range of inspiration for learning the language—interest in Chinese philosophy and music, a desire to speak more fluently with family, to communicate with friends and colleagues, and to travel and explore different cultures and cuisines. Through topic-driven conversation, the Chinese Chat Cafe allowed students to demonstrate and develop their speaking skills by answering questions about their zodiac signs, how they spent their mid-autumn festival, and their favourite foods and games.
“The Chinese Chat Cafe provides a welcoming space for Mandarin learners of all levels to connect, practice their speaking skills, and engage in meaningful conversations. It's about more than just language learning—it's an opportunity to build a sense of community through shared interests in Chinese culture.”
The next Chinese Chat Cafe will take place on November 12 from 12 - 1 PM in POD-247J and will be offered virtually on November 26 from 6 - 7 PM.
Liu shared, “We're excited to see both new CHN101 students, fluent speakers, and everyone in between join the conversation, contributing their unique perspectives and fostering a supportive environment for all learners.”
French Conversation Table
Hosted by professors Ndeye Ba and Evgenia Timoshenkova, the French Conversation Tables offer students the opportunity to practice their French listening and speaking abilities through informal conversations.
At their kick-off table, students of various levels of fluency shared their reasons for wanting to learn French—to communicate with family members, to enjoy French film and music, to visit French-speaking countries, or to strengthen their communication skills for professional settings. The unique reasons behind students’ interests connected them to the French Conversation table, where they learned new terminology, practiced pronunciation, shared stories, explored music, and engaged in discussion.
French Conversation Tables take place on Mondays and Fridays. The next Monday session is November 18 from 1 -2 PM in POD-247J. The next Friday sessions are on November 8 and November 22, from 12:30 - 1:30 PM in POD-247J.
Spanish Conversation Table
Hosted by professor Dorismel Diaz and often joined by department chair Enriqueta Zafra, the Spanish Conversation Tables offer a welcoming environment for Spanish-speaking students to strengthen their conversation and learn about different cultures.
With students from across TMU—computer science, media studies, graphic communication, the Arts and beyond—the Spanish Conversation Table was filled with interested and engaged learners. Students discussed code-switching, ‘Spanglish,’ communicating with family, speaking multiple languages and dialects, and shocking native speakers with linguistic fluency. At the October 7th session, participants watched a short film and discussed whether Spanish was surviving amidst the second generation of speakers. Anecdotes about cultural idioms and stories of learning from different contexts made for an enriching conversation.
“At the Spanish Table, we intend to forge vibrant community ties and celebrate the richness of the Spanish-speaking world. We welcome everyone in the community, from beginners to fluent speakers to language enthusiasts, to join this inclusive and embracing atmosphere.”
Spanish Conversation Tables take place on Mondays. The next session is from 2 -3 PM in POD-247J on November 18.
Packed with delicious snacks and engaging topics, the Conversation Tables and Cafes are a wonderful way to network and develop language skills with students and faculty in the TMU community! Conversation Tables and Cafes operate on a drop-in basis; feel free to join one or all the sessions!
Find a date that works for you on the Conversation Tables website.
New dates for the Winter semester coming soon!
