Press Release
English Conversation Groups at the Davis Library
(Woodland, CA) – Beginning the first week of November, the Mary L. Stephens Davis Branch Library will be providing a venue for English conversation groups on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. English conversation groups are intended to provide participants the opportunity to increase language skills through practice.
“One of the greatest needs for adults learning English is the opportunity to practice listening and speaking skills in a safe and secure environment,” said Yolo County Librarian Patty Wong. “Many English-learners rarely have the opportunity to practice their English as often, only their native language is spoken in the home and with friends in the community. Conversation groups will increase the confidence of English-learners so they feel more comfortable using their English language skills in new and unfamiliar settings.”
“Yolo County’s library program has been extremely innovative in developing services for our English-learners,” said Yolo County Board of Supervisors Chair Mike McGowan. “The English conversation groups complement our bilingual story times and parenting workshop, and our collections in Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean.”
In this small, group-based opportunity, volunteers facilitate conversation so participants can practice oral and listening skills. Conversation groups are meant to provide English-learners an environment in which they can take risks with sympathetic listeners in a comfortable, non-threatening setting. In English conversation groups, learners can ask questions, share experiences and express spontaneous speech. English conversation groups will be held at the Davis Branch Library, temporarily located at 2801 Second Street in Davis (entrance on Peña Drive) beginning in November on:
Wednesdays: 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Thursdays: 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Saturdays: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
For more information about English conversation groups at the Mary L Stephens Davis Branch Library, contact Deatra Cohen at (530) 757-5593 ext. 3.