Language Cafes, Clubs, and Resources

While the EFL Chat Club is the most obvious place to come and practice your new and blossoming English skills in a friendly environment, Glasgow has many welcoming places for you to try out your new conversational skills. Below is a brief list of places and clubs you can try if you fancy working on your communication skills outside of the common room!

The GUU hosts a friendly meet-up every Friday for the International Society (iSoc). The event takes place in the GUU Reading Room from 15:00 – 18:00 and provides free tea, coffee and biscuits (obviously inferior to those provided by EFL but still delicious). The event is for all international students at the university – not just Postgraduates so offers the opportunity to engage with people of all ages and cultures. The Language Cafe Team usually organises different activities, games and quizzes based on the different nationalities present so is a fun and informal place to make friends and work on your skills. In general iSoc is a great society to join as they organise weekly events and trips across Scotland.

The SRC hosts the Conversational English Project where students can meet for a 1-on-1 meeting with a volunteer tutor for an hour every week . These tutors are students at the University themselves and do not hold the same qualifications as your EFL tutors – they are here to help you with your confidence and enthusiasm while learning your new language! If you’d like to apply for a tutor just click the image below which will take you to the information page:

The Language Hub Glasgow also provides the opportunity to meet with local people and other international students to practice your communication skills and work on that confidence! Lots of people from across Glasgow come here to learn new languages and work on their skills – perhaps you can help a new student learn your language!?

If daytime slots don’t work for your schedule then never fear, the Language Within project hosts a social English workshop from 20:00 – 21:30 every Tuesday and is run by CELTA qualified tutors.

The Glasgow Women’s Library also offers English language classes of 2 different levels – beginners classes are on Wednesdays and Fridays 10am – 12pm and the Pre-intermediate at the same time on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Women’s Library is a fantastic place which seeks to support and encourage education with Women in the local community and in addition to language classes offers general support and advice.

The Tron Church in the City Centre offers free English classes from 7pm – 9pm every Monday and is organised by a group of church patrons and qualified teachers. The Church also welcomes students to attend their weekly bible study for those of you wanting to practice your skills or even just learn more about Christianity. The Sandyford Henderson Memorial Church also offers English language classes offering you the chance to learn English through the Bible (if that’s up your alley) meetings are again on Monday nights 7:30 pm – 9pm.

The final resource for your blossoming English language skills is mylanguageexchange.com this database and online forum allows you to meet with other EFL students in the area for face-to-face chats or work on your written conversational skills through penpals and text chat. You can even sign up to teach other students your own mother tongue!

If you know of any other resources, cafes or clubs, please do let us know so we can tell all of our other bright and vibrant students!

Alex