Hi guys,

The idea of the French/English Language Exchange is for French and English speakers to help each other in learning and practicing 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 in the group because we pass some information related to our activity. Thank you also for considering our principles, or to suggest some better ones.

We meet up each Saturday afternoon at 16h20 in order to start at 16H30 Location : at the terrasse, or in the café des Savoises, rue des Savoises, 11 :
Be aware, it is a small street, locate it with 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

THE TRANSITIONAL TABLES
> There are the big tables where participants meet each other, and start to speak English and French.
> Then, according to your level and style of learning, you create you own group of 3 or 4 people, and move to a smaller table.
> If you keep cool and like the open ambiance of the transitional table, you can stay here. There is no problem. ;-)

HOW TO CREATE YOUR GROUP ?
My suggestion : you invite each other according to your style of learning (INFORMAL, STRUCTURED CONVERSATION, STRUCTURED) and, if there are enough participants, try to match your level of language (A. B. or C).

STYLES OF GROUP, DEFINITION
1) Since a group is generally more than tow people, matching levels works better. There are 3 levels, and 3 styles of learning, so 9 kind of group :

Level A INFORMAL OPEN
Level A STRUCTURED
Level A STRUCTURED CONVERSATION

Level B INFORMAL OPEN
Level B STRUCTURED
Level B STRUCTURED CONVERSATION

Level C INFORMAL OPEN
Level C STRUCTURED
Level C STRUCTURED CONVERSATION

A = beginner. B = intermediate. C = advanced.

INFORMAL : it means you are willing to practice your language targuet as it comes with the bunch of people you are with. It is cool and friendly.

STRUCTURED CONVERSATION : it means that you want to pay attention and correct nearly each expression of your conversation.

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, …). Of course, you just switch to informal and an open conversation when you feel like it.

Thank you for sending me word or writing below in « Talk » if you want to be part of a STRUCTURED and STRUCTURED CONVERSATION group. I always choose to share in a kind of STRUCTURED group with volunteers, and I strongly invite you try it once. :-)

REGARDING GROUP COMPOSITION
> If possible, let’s avoid groups with no English and no French mother tongue in them,
> and let’s have at least one English and one French mother tongue in each group.
Allophone people (other languages mother tongue), you just choose a group with one French and one English in it.

NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN EACH GROUP
I suggest 3 people if you want to exchange in a STRUCTURED or STRUCTURED CONVERSATION maner.
In an OPEN and INFORMAL group, it goes from 4 to 6 people (as a rule keep mobile, move to another group, or recreate a small group if yours has gone far more too informal :-)
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MIND THESE TIPS :

1) Switch English to French every hour (or make another agreement)
2) Be fair in sharing your time of speaking and listening.
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 :
- Join the OPEN TRANSITIONAL TABLE
- Wait a bit for a late comer to arrive, and start a new group.
- Or follow the label INFORMAL and A, B or C on the tables that matches the level of your language target.
- Join friends you already know, and ask them if you can join in,
- If you are a French or English mother tongue, try to initiate a new group, even a pair with another French or English guy...
- You can join a STRUCTURED group when they are only 2 people in their group.
- Usually, leave groups of 3/4 people in STRUCTURED STYLE on their own so they can practice as they had planned to do so :-)
- Of course, you can start with a STRUCTURED STYLE, and then move to INFORMAL when you have focused well enough on your topic :-)

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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.