Wagga council has launched a new initiative that will see English language classes taught at the library in embrace of the city’s cultural diversity.
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The Language Cafe “will help local people from a non-English speaking background practice conversational English,” according to Library Services Manager Claire Campbell.
“Wagga is a very multicultural community with over 99 different language groups,” she said.
“For a long time the library has supplied books and other resources for people to help learn English.
“The library members said they really wanted the opportunity to practice their spoken English so they could become more confident and also get to meet new friends.”
The language classes are informal, drop in sessions with tea and biscuits, Ms Campbell said. The classes are held every Monday from 11-12, Thursday 10-11, and Saturday 11-12 and 2-3.
Each lesson, the class discusses “popular topics and everyone has a chance to speak with other class members and volunteers throughout the session”.
“The library had over 45 volunteers respond to the training back in June and there will be more classes running in the next few months,” Ms Campbell said.
“Over the last three weeks, 22 community members participated in training to become Volunteer Tutors for the English Conversation Classes.”
Ms Campbell expressed her delight to see the Monday class full of children, parents, teenagers and elderly people and encourages those of all backgrounds to attend the classes.
More information can be found online at the Riverina Regional Library’s website.
