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Speaking Group welcomes American and international participants from the UNC campus and the local community. The group meets weekly to discuss topics of culture, university life, or language learning strategies and resources. Our goal is to create a comfortable space to converse in English, to share cultural perspectives, and to build global relationships in our local community.

Chapel Hill Community: Sign Up for the Speaking Group Email

We welcome members of the University and surrounding community. List members receive weekly topics and Zoom links in the remote weeks. Zoom links will be sent at 2:45 each Friday that we meet remotely.

Spring Schedule & Locations

All speaking groups meet Fridays, 3-4 p.m. NC time. (Unless otherwise noted.)

Date Location
Aug 25 FedEx Global Education Center
Sept 1 Field Trip! (5pm) Carolina Inn, Fridays on the Front Porch
Sept 8 FedEx Global Education Center
Sept 15 Zoom
Sept 22 FedEx Global Education Center
Sept 29 Field trip! We’ll meet at 3:00 at the FedEx Global Education Center and take a walk to the Old Well and Bynum Fountain.
Oct 6 FedEx Global Education Center
Oct 13 Zoom
Oct 20 No meeting: Fall Break
Oct 27 Zoom
Nov 3 FedEx Global Education Center
Nov 10 Zoom
Nov 17 FedEx Global Education Center
Nov 24 No meeting: Thanksgiving Break
Dec 1 Zoom

What happens in Speaking Group?

An English Language Specialist from the Writing Center attends each meeting to welcome participants and to facilitate the group meeting.

  • The facilitator introduces the suggested topic then moves participants to small breakout rooms (3-5 participants) for 25 minutes
  • Group members discuss the topic, ask questions, and suggest strategies or resources
  • Participants return to the main room then join new breakout rooms with different partners for the next 25 minutes
  • Everyone rejoins the main room to share anything interesting from their group conversation and to say goodbye

Please note: The facilitator will request PIDs from UNC students and scholars, but community members don’t need to worry about this. Community members can join without a PID.

Who can join Speaking Group?

  • UNC students, including undergraduate, graduate, and exchange students
  • Postdoctoral scholars, visiting scholars, research collaborators, and faculty
  • Spouses and community members
  • Native/fluent English speaking volunteers, we welcome your participation. Please see our volunteer guide

How do I join Speaking Group?

Other oral communication support