Hi guys,

The idea of the French/English Language Exchange is for French and English speakers to help each other in learning the language of the other.

This activity is related to a group :
Group: http://www.glocals.com/groups/geneva-french-english-language-exchange-group.htm
Thank you for joining because we pass some information related to our activity. Thank you also for considering our principles. Although we are totally cool, we consider that having no principle at all is a route that leads to dead ends, whereas good principles are a key for a good journey, a support for standing vertical in our world of flat screens :-)

We meet up each Saturday afternoon at 16h20 in order to start at 16H30 Location : in the café des Savoises, rue des Savoises, 11 :
Google map :
https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zrEEtuCeqq7U.kdH_tD79Yh-4

Public transportation :
www.tpg.ch
Main stop in the area : Cirque
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ORGANISATION

1) French, English and allophone mother tongue, who is who ?
Let's adopt the three colored stickers :

1) RED for English mother tongue or C2 level
2) Blue for French mother tongue or C2 level
3) WHITE for all other mother tongues.
Stick yours somewhere on you (hands, forehead, cheeks...), it helps to compose your little group of 3 or 4 persons according to a balance of mother tongues spoken : at least one English and French mother tongue in each group


2) Matching levels works better, 3 levels, and 3 styles of learning, so 9 kind of group :


Level A Hyper structured
Level A structured
Level A informal

Level B Hyper structured
Level B structured
Level B informal

Level C Hyper structured
Level C structured
Level C informal

A = beginner. B = intermediate. C = advance.

INFORMAL means you are willing to adapt to whatever it comes.

STRUCTURED means that you are willing to share a specific time focusing on some skills (like pronunciation, reading, translation ..), and according to some materials you bring (an exercise, an article, a book, a question, …). You just practice, even for a very short moment. Then you can switch to informal, sharing conversation, socializing whatever.

HYPER STRUCTURED. People who join this group share at least for ONE hour of a structured exchange. That is :
- 10 mn of informal talk to know each other.
- 30 mn of English according to something you brought to work on it.
- 30 mn of French according to something you brought to work on it.
> You can bring a sentence, an exercise, an article (whatever suits you)
- When it's over, you can split the group, join another group, turn to informal, restart another session...
- Try not to be more than 3 people in this group.

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ON THE SPOT

Now that you are in, according to your level, just feel free to join any people and any groups you would like to work with :-)

A suggestion of how to process :
- As a basic rule, and If possible, let's have at least one English and one French mother tongue in each group. Split the group when you come to be more than one French and English in your group, and if there a lack of French or English native in another group.
- Usually, during our sharing, we alternate French and English for every 45 mn or so.
- let’s keep mobile, initiate new small groups, try another group... work in groups of no more than 4 persons; and only 3 persons when focusing on pronunciation.

Sharing is a give and take situation. Please, try to find the best practices for the best for everyone. Cooperation is a creative and rewarding process, although the change is not often given back immediately :-)
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MIND THESE TIPS :

1) Small groups work better
2) Be fair in sharing your time of speaking and listening, and of practicing French and English.
3) Tell your partner what you need, ask him/her to help you, and reversely, ask him/her how you can help him/her
4) Alternate a demanding practice with some cool/fun conversation.
5) Last but not least, I insist : find the best way to correct each other, do not worsen your bad habits while you practice, do not get used to bad habit of language. Just do everything that is possible to move forward... For instance, write down mistakes you notice while your partner is talking, and tell them to him/her afterwards. Ask for being corrected.
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IF YOU COME LATE

Do try to come on time and if ever you come late, here are some suggestions :
- Follow the label A, B or C on the tables that matches your level.
- Or wait a bit for a late comer to arrive, and start a new group.
- Or start discretely with a big group, then recompose a new group according to how you get along.
- Join any group among the smaller ones.
- Join an informal style of learning group.
- Join friends you already know, and ask them,
- If you are a French or English mother tongue, try to initiate a new group, even a pair with another French or English guy... and the tree will have even more succulent fruits, thanks to you :-)

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ABOUT YOUR LEVEL

you can check it here :
http://apps.klubschule.ch/etest/sprachtest.aspx?language=fr

Perhaps better, for the anglophones, is the site of DELF/DALF:

http://www.delfdalf.ch/index.php?id=320

As the room is provided free of charge, please take full advantage of the bar, drinks are inexpensive and the management is involved in a fair trade market. > So get your drink at the bar, and pay it straight away so that we won't be sued for your beverage :-)

PLEASE, SIGN UP IF YOU PLAN TO COME :-)

Bodily, intellectually and emotionally speaking, we are Rolling Stones :-) let's move on.