Definitely like my fellow peers, I am feeling that slight nervousness bubble within! Obviously, attendance was an issue mentioned frequently by the last crop of Chat Cafe facilitators. Sometimes homework or studying will definitely take priority over other things. but I hope to help create a comfortable group dynamic where everyone feels comfortable sharing about themselves or their experiences and are not afraid to speak openly! I've met a few friends in high school who came from China or Taiwan or Korea, and their English was pretty basic. They knew what they wanted to say, but had a really hard time communicating effectively because they felt so self-conscious about their grammar/accent. And, that just bums me out that sometimes classes and group activities lose out on these quiet voices because they're afraid to speak up!
When all of my Chat Cafe sessions are done, I really hope there will be strong, new friendships among students who otherwise wouldn't have met. If that doesn't happen, I at least hope that everyone (because they would have totally came to every meeting right...) has found the discussion space useful! Alright, even if MOST people think the conversation circles were pointless, I do hope at least someone loved the chance to practice their English in an informal manner! I also hope at the end of the semester, we all end up a little more informed about a different culture-- be that American, Chinese, or Latino. I'm excited for the knowledge pow-wows of my group to start!
Also, I am SO VERY excited for my first meeting. I am thinking Bubble Island for bubble tea for the first event! If anything, we can talk about how weird the concept of bubbles are.
Hey Sarah -- I'm glad you're excited, and look forward to hearing how the first meeting at Bubble Island goes. I see you applying a dose of self-deprecating humor here in the second paragraph -- which is a thing I do sometimes when I'm nervous. And all I want to say is -- have faith in yourself and your group! Don't imagine that people will find the conversation circle pointless -- they won't! Or in some ways, their very pointlessness IS the point; the fact that you don't have to have an agenda every week can be what makes this a friendly, helpful, low-pressure space in which to converse. Go in believing that the group will be successful and the participants will come because they want to. After all, why else would they have signed up?
ReplyDeleteHey Sarah -- I'm glad you're excited, and look forward to hearing how the first meeting at Bubble Island goes. I see you applying a dose of self-deprecating humor here in the second paragraph -- which is a thing I do sometimes when I'm nervous. And all I want to say is -- have faith in yourself and your group! Don't imagine that people will find the conversation circle pointless -- they won't! Or in some ways, their very pointlessness IS the point; the fact that you don't have to have an agenda every week can be what makes this a friendly, helpful, low-pressure space in which to converse. Go in believing that the group will be successful and the participants will come because they want to. After all, why else would they have signed up?
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