Help new Canadians with intermediate conversation skills practice their English speaking and listening skills in small groups. Volunteers lead interesting conversations about travel, food, shopping, careers, etc.
Read more about "What will you do?"Meet new people and practice your English language listening, speaking, and comprehension skills in a fun and relaxed setting. Intermediate level.
Read more about "English Conversation Group (Intermediate)"Meet new people and practice your English language listening, speaking, and comprehension skills in a fun and relaxed setting. Intermediate level.
Read more about "English Conversation Group (Intermediate, Virtual)"Take your Library out into the world Homebound Readers Deliver Library materials to those who are unable to visit the Library due to health or mobility challenges. Help new Canadians learn English English Conversation Group Help new Canadians improve their English language conversation skills.
Read more about "Take your Library out into the world Help new Canadians learn English"You know by Patricia Johnson’s ready smile and friendly tilt of the head that she is the kind of volunteer to put everyone at ease, a handy skill when working with Library patrons as they practise their English language skills.“Being a Library volunteer suits me,” says Patricia who works at the University of Calgary library. “I have a great day job, but volunteering is often the highlight of my week. I work alongside other great volunteers, helping people develop a skill they will use for the rest of their lives. What could be better!”The ESL Conversation Club is offered at 15 community libraries, supports 1,900+ patrons each year, and puts volunteers together with participants looking to improve their one-on-one conversation and group speaking abilities. Patricia has volunteered at a number of community libraries, but considers Louise Riley her home base.The program makes use of modules, but Patricia says that she and the other volunteers like to shake things up by really personalizing the program for the participants.“We make use of word searches and crossword puzzles, but getting the group to talk about events or issues relevant to them engages everyone in more meaningful ways,” she shared. “Stampede and Canada Day are great conversation starters and, recently, with three of our participants expecting, childrearing came up quite often.”It’s that personal approach and dedication that has Library staff describe Patricia as rock solid, dedicated, fun loving,and as someone with enormous energy. She brings all of these qualities to bear on her volunteer efforts at the Library.But for Patricia, volunteering at the Library is very personal. “I love helping others, making new friends, and being part of something bigger than myself. Volunteering at the Library gives me all that and more.”If you’d like to join the Library’s team of volunteers, please visit the Volunteers page.
Read more about "Stories Meet our Volunteers: Patricia Johnson Patricia puts learners at ease when practicing their English language skills"Join us for an intimate conversation with Full House star, John Stamos, as he leads us through his incredibly moving and vulnerable memoir, If You Would Have Told Me.
Read more about "Hollywood, Home, Heart, and Healing: A Conversation with Actor John Stamos"Join us in conversation with John Irving as he chats about not only his most recent novel, The Last Chairlift, but also his prolific body of work and a lifetime spent writing...
Read more about "A Lifetime of Writing: A Conversation with International Bestselling Author John Irving"When Marian Erb moved to Calgary from Ireland 36 years ago, one of the first things she did was track down her community library.“As a newcomer, everything—from the architecture to the awesome expanse of Alberta skies—was new and overwhelming. The Library became a sanctuary for me, a home away from home,” says Marian.She recalls the welcoming smiles she received from Library staff on that first visit and the support given as she learned about the many resources the Library had to offer.“Staff are the Library’s most important resource,” she says. “They are the first point of contact for newcomers and ensure they have access to computers so that connections with family and friends back home is maintained as they acclimatize to their new surroundings.”While Marian shares a common language with native Calgarians, she can relate to that “lost” feeling common to the newcomer experience, when an accent can mark you as “different.” So, when she considered becoming a Library volunteer, she was drawn to working with people for whom English was foreign.“Newcomers often feel anxious in their new, unfamiliar surroundings. I remember that feeling and love to help people build confidence as they work to improve their spoken English. Volunteering in the Library’s Conversation Club allows me to reach out with friendship and find common ground…and then the words and stories start to flow.”Volunteering can be a daunting concept, but when asked what attributes aspiring Library volunteers should possess, Marian states that it’s really very simple: they need to love meeting new people, have patience, and be genuinely interested in the program they’ve chosen and the people they’re working alongside.“Volunteering at the Library allows me to do what I love, surrounded by beautiful, wonderful books in the company of friendly, like-minded people helping newcomers begin to feel like they’ve come home.”If you’d like to join the Library’s team of volunteers, please visit the Volunteers page.
Read more about "Stories Meet our Volunteers: Marian Erb Marian's work with the ESL Conversation Club helps find common ground"These books are particularly good for beginner or intermediate English language lears (CLB 2-7). They have beautiful pictures, clear and easy to understand lessons, and are new to the Library.
Read more about "New and Nifty Books to Learn English"'\n ', 'Learn the basic English skills you need to open a bank account, talk to a doctor, go shopping, or find a job. You will find English practice, vocabulary, study guides and study tips.', 'Arrivals in English teaches beginner level English: Pre-A1 to A1.', '\n '
Read more about "'Beginner-Level English for Newcomers'"Not sure what language to speak at home? Many multilingual families are concerned that if their child doesn’t start speaking English at home they will fall behind in school or struggle with English skills later.
Read more about "How to Support Your Child's English Learning Journey"Help new Canadians with intermediate conversation skills practice their English speaking and listening skills in small groups. Volunteers lead interesting conversations about travel, food, shopping, careers, etc.
Read more about "What will you do?"Best-selling and highly acclaimed authors are featured 2-3 times a month. These moderated virtual live conversations with writers and thought leaders offer the opportunity to ask questions of the featured guest. Free and open for public registration, each event is recorded so talks can be enjoyed later at the convenience of the listener.
Read more about "Live virtual conversations with best-selling writers"