Ideas for Hosting Foreign-Language Conversation Groups
Sorry that this is a question that's addressed to those of us who teach languages (or are learning them and attend conversation groups). I am having bad luck posting this question in my relatively small field -- just two replies so far--so I thought I'd tried a larger audience.
I am coordinating our university's Russian conversation group this semester, and I know that it can be more interesting and engaging for the students when routines (games, songs, topics for conversation / controlled conversation etc.) are used by the coordinator. I would appreciate it if people with experience doing such things or attending good conversation groups (in any other language is good too) could post a few ideas that worked for them or any resources that might help.
I've done this before with a colleague and we've done: games involving the idea of whether one can/cannot do something in the language; watching cartoons; Russian song sing-along; quizzes on how well the students know Russian culture. We typically have food too--that helps. I can keep doing these kinds of things, but it would be nice to try something new and expand our "repertoire."
Thank you in advance!
I am coordinating our university's Russian conversation group this semester, and I know that it can be more interesting and engaging for the students when routines (games, songs, topics for conversation / controlled conversation etc.) are used by the coordinator. I would appreciate it if people with experience doing such things or attending good conversation groups (in any other language is good too) could post a few ideas that worked for them or any resources that might help.
I've done this before with a colleague and we've done: games involving the idea of whether one can/cannot do something in the language; watching cartoons; Russian song sing-along; quizzes on how well the students know Russian culture. We typically have food too--that helps. I can keep doing these kinds of things, but it would be nice to try something new and expand our "repertoire."
Thank you in advance!