Aubrey Felsen

Students host a discussion in Chinese Conversation Club, one of two new clubs for students to practice their fluency in another language. The other is Spanish Conversation Club.

Two new clubs were founded this year focusing on conversations in languages other than English: Spanish Conversation Club and Chinese Conversation Club. 

Both clubs are focused on providing a space for students to practice their fluency in another language, which they wish they had more opportunities to do in school.

“I’ve always been interested in learning languages, and something that’s hard about it is finding people who you can practice with,” Eve Dyson, creator of Chinese Conversation Club, said.

The Spanish Conversation Club, as well as creating a space in which to practice Spanish, is also focused on traveling around Chicago to volunteer with organizations that may need Spanish-speaking volunteers.

“That’s kind of just a resource that a lot of places don’t have that they need,” Bayaan El-Bawab, creator of Spanish Conversation Club, said. “It also helps us use our Spanish in real world situations.”

The Chinese Conversation Club meets in C-212B on Fridays, and the Spanish Conversation Club meets in C-405 on Mondays.

Both clubs are focused toward students who speak the language, either in school or natively, and want to improve.

“It really is a club for anyone, no matter your level of Spanish,” Bayaan said, “as long as you’re willing to sit with that uncomfort of not knowing every single thing that’s being said.”