Here we go again

1st meeting - 4 out of 6 attended. Most of them were new and had joined to meet to new people more so than practicing English which I found interesting. One of them had a higher proficiency in spoken English and expected me to nitpick her every 'mistake' during our conservation. Learning from past sessions, I quickly hesitated and clarified the policy of chat cafe in a bid to prevent my members from assuming this as an actual class.

2nd meeting - 2 out of 6 attended. Unlike last time, I did not throw a fit given the turnout but rather had an engaging conversation with the two that attended. We talked about things to do around Ann Arbor that eventually transitioned to talking about roommate problems. The session lasted an hour past the end time which I guess could be a sign that they wanted to be there.

Lets see how the future sessions turn out.

Chat Cafe Pt. II!!!

This past Monday, I had my first chat cafe session of the semester and I'm happy to say it went very well. 4 out of my 6 people attended, which I was satisfied with, and most of the members seemed to either know each other from class or from Chat Cafe last year, so the atmosphere was quite relaxed from the very beginning. We talked a bit about where we're from and what our majors are, the usual preliminary getting-to-know-you information, and from there the conversation continued organically; it was really gratifying to see everyone get comfortable with each other in the first session, something that took a bit longer last semester.

My group seemed super enthusiastic about the idea of going on field trips and trying new restaurants together. I didn't get the chance to do that type of thing much last semester, so I'm really looking forward to getting to know my group better as we do cool stuff together and talk about our lives! So yeah, basically Chat Cafe still rocks and I can't wait to bond with my members over the next couple weeks.

The Chat Cafe Facilitators Blog

Welcome back, Chat Cafe facilitators!  New semester, new Chat Cafe groups, new bitter cold to contend with -- but we'll keep using this same old blog site from Writing 302 last semester to keep up with each other about challenges, questions, grand ideas, and general updates on how things are going.  I look forward to hearing more from you all soon.

Blog Post 6: Last Meeting!

Today I met with my group for the last time and I was surprised at how attached I have become to my members. Although only two people showed up, these are the two with whom I have formed a true connection with and who are eager to meet every single day. I honestly feel like I could talk to them for hours and never get bored! I tried to wrap up some of the main themes that I believed were the focus our conversations and was able to get some truly inspirational responses from my group members. I learned more about them than I had over the entire semester in this single meeting. I came to understand fully why they chose to come to U.S. to pursue their educational goals. One student, interested in Industrial Design, was an artist as a child, but never had a defined path of study in relation to his passion. Only here, at the University of Michigan, was he able to find a career that truly suited him, and that his parents respected. In a different sense, another group member demonstrated to me that his decision to study economics was stemmed from his desire to support himself with a stable job, slightly disheartened by the fact that he felt he lacked true passion. The amount of honesty that we were all able to share was thrilling and helped us to understand our goals better in a more focused way.

Blog Post #6

Some of the best moments during my Chat Cafe sessions this semester have been simply through chatting and learning about different ideas from my group members. I've found this to be the most effective way to create a positive and open atmosphere during our sessions. Earlier during the semester, I would try different activities and games with everyone, and while some of these were very successful, I've found that what they enjoy the most is simply getting to ask each other questions and talk about new topics. I've also enjoyed how much more comfortable they've become speaking with each other as the semester has gone by. Earlier in the semester, they were often quiet and shy, but I am definitely glad to see that they have opened up tremendously!

If I had to do this all over again, I would try to create a stronger group dynamic right from the beginning. This could include more icebreakers and deeper conversation topics. I would also try to make sure that everyone had equal chances to speak, so that they all feel as though they are a valuable part of the group. In addition, I would try to add more variety to our sessions. While we did enjoy chatting about different topics, I think it would have been fun to try new things and go to different places every week.

My experiences as a facilitator have been very valuable in improving my own communication and intercultural skills. I have become much better at keeping conversations going, and learning about which topics are most interesting or relevant for international students here at the university. I've also personally learned more about different cultures and respecting each other's values and traditions. In terms of teaching English, I've learned how effective games and activities can be, and I've also learned how to correct someone's speech politely and effectively. Overall, I think that I definitely gained many skills through my experience as a facilitator!

#6

Hard to believe (and swallow) that I’m coming up on the last two meetings with my group. My interest in the chat cafe program started way back in my youthful/naive sophomore days, just about a year ago when one of my Writing 300 colleagues presented on her conversation circle in class, and today, in a small way I’m proud of myself for following through on that interest and checking out what it would be like to facilitate my own group.

More than this, however, the experience itself has been one of enlightenment and personal growth in a way I did not necessarily anticipate. On the one hand, my group members in conversation allowed me access to their lives at home, in their new country, and at their new school, and with it to their struggles, stresses, successes, and day-to-day dealings—both those to which I could relate, and those which were uniquely their own. Sometimes at U of M it feels like we American students are all too willing to allow the experiences of international students to be left unspoken and unconsidered. The chat cafe program, in providing a space for nonnative speakers to practice conversational English, for me and my group came to be a setting in where we could simultaneously attempt to learn about one another and our far-too separate lives at the University.   

On the other hand, the biggest personal takeaway from my first semester as a conversation facilitator was a more critical assessment of my skills as a listener. As the semester progressed, I tried more and more to push myself, no matter how tired the week had left me or no matter how many things were on my mind, to truly listen and take an active role in my group’s conversations. I hope, in turn, that my circle knows that I have truly valued my time with them and that I really did appreciate and take to heart all that we talked about during our Friday afternoon coffee dates. 

So I suppose that's a wrap for my blogging experience here. But I've still got two more circles to go - and a dinner plan for this weekend - so I won't get *too* sad (yet). It's been a ton of fun, and I wholeheartedly look forward to continuing to take part in the chat cafe program during my remaining few semesters here. 

avete atque valete, my Writing 302 comrades! 

Blog Post #6

I think it has been a very rewarding experience to be a part of Chat Café. This was a very new endeavor for me and I am glad that I did it. While it was initially difficult to integrate all my participants and have them attend the sessions, I slowly developed a relationship with them. By taking them out to dinner and enjoying in good food, we bonded on a more deeper level. We were able to discuss similarities and behave as friends, which I believe is my greatest accomplishment with the Chat Café. I am proud to have been able to interact with my participants and provide them with a better understanding of the American lifestyle. I hope I improved their communication skills and made them feel comfortable and welcomed in the campus community.

If I had to do it all over again, I would conduct our sessions in more casual setting from the beginning of the semester. Earlier, we had been meeting in study rooms at the Ross School of Business and I realized that it was too formal of a setting. It made it seem more like a classroom lecture and less of a casual discussion. When we decide to travel and have activities outside of that setting and go to restaurants, my participants opened up more and discussed their interests and hobbies more. I realized that light-hearted environments proved more beneficial to having true Chat Café sessions with my students.

Overall, the most crucial quality that I have learned as a facilitator is patience. It is very important to maintain a certain degree of tolerance, especially in group settings where everyone communicates differently and has undergone a variety of experiences that have shaped their diverse perspectives. For that reason, not everyone thinks the same way or interprets conversations in a similar manner. I learned to be patient and calmly listen to my participants. I personally enjoy talking but by allowing my students to do most of the talking, I learned to accept their viewpoints open-mindedly and help them accordingly. Going forward, I hope to continue this next semester. In the end, I feel that I have experienced an interesting journey that had its ups and downs; nonetheless, I was satisfied with the outcome and hope that I was able to do good for my participants. It was a wonderful learning experience that I will always treasure as a memorable aspect of my college journey.