Spanish Language Conversation Group forming

A new Spanish language conversation group is currently in the formation process. The group hopes to bring area participants together on a regular basis in order to share informal conversations in Spanish and discuss a variety of member-chosen topics in Spanish.

The group will provide a social connection along with an educational element as it gathers people with a shared interest in the Spanish language. It will provide members the opportunity to improve and hone their Spanish speaking and listening skills. Cultural topics and issues related to Spanish-speaking countries will also be offered. Additional materials such as short readings, poems, personal stories, grammar, etc. could be incorporated if members choose to do so.

Group membership is open to all intermediate-level or advanced level Spanish language speakers. Native Spanish speakers are very welcome and encouraged to participate. 

In the group setting, members will naturally be exposed to individual variations in pronunciation, accents, and ability levels, which can promote improved personal practice, learning, and growth. The group plans to provide a supportive learning environment where people will feel comfortable to make effort without fear of embarrassment for errors that are sure to emerge in language practice. Those with advanced skills would have a regular opportunity to converse in Spanish to maintain their level and model improved speaking and listening skills for those at the intermediate level.

Jill Worthington, from the Windham Center area, is the current coordinator for the Spanish group formation. She reports that the “ideal” group would meet weekly (or twice a month) for one and a half hours. An important goal is to have enough group members committed to attending regularly so that a well-connected ongoing learning/sharing group environment could be sustained, even when a member or two might be occasionally unavailable to meet. 

Worthington reports that this will be a member-driven group in which the membership will determine discussion topics, session format, meeting times and days, activities, etc. The meeting location for the Spanish Language Conversation Group will be at either the Athens Library or the Waverly Library (dependent on the meeting schedule). Both libraries have plenty of free parking and large public meeting rooms available for use. A final determination of the meeting place, day of the week, time of day, and frequency of meetings will be made by the new members of the group prior to the initial start of the group. 

If you are interested in joining this new group and have intermediate-level or above Spanish speaking skills, contact Jill Worthington at (570) 247-2498 or email to porigow@epix.net.