English learners connect at the library

Moving to another country where you don't speak the language can be extremely challenging. "You feel like a child again. It's humbling," said Beth Schenderlein, whose personal experience as "a fish out of water" in the U.S. led her to volunteer at Talk Time, Eugene Public Library's free, drop-in conversational practice program for local adults learning English.

The Downtown Library hosts Talk Time three times each week: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 4:30-6 p.m. and Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. This schedule is in place from Jan. 14 to June 14, except there will be no meetings March 16-30.

Provided in partnership with the English as a Second Language program at Lane Community College, these welcoming gatherings provide crucial assistance to community members working to achieve fluency. Interested adults are invited to attend "anytime it works for you," with no registration or commitment needed.

Staff and trained volunteers lead "theme of the day" discussions and educational games, as well as one-on-one tutoring, in a friendly and casual setting. Participants learn about other resources available at the library, including books matched to their current English skill level and online language lessons.

Talk Time expanded this year from one to three days per week thanks to library staff's successful grant application for $46,250 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the State Library of Oregon.

"Learning a language is a lifetime process," said Phaedra Salcedo, a library staffer whose first language is Spanish. "There are still times when I pronounce words incorrectly, and when I'm confused by sayings or certain idioms, so I very much relate to our participants. Talk Time gives them an opportunity for social connection and, as their English skills progress, it opens up doors for both economic and personal growth."

Lane Community College currently serves more than 500 students in English as a Second Language classes. The students' first languages include Spanish, Arabic, Mam, Chinese, Russian, Ukrainian, Persian, Korean, Vietnamese and French. Talk Time offers these students extra practice and support, as well providing an educational option for other community members who do not feel the need for formal classes or who are unable to enroll due to class capacity, limited time due to work or family demands, or transportation or financial challenges.

In fact, Schenderlein discovered the volunteer opportunity while looking for English classes for a Japanese friend. "He pretty much didn't speak any English and felt pretty lost," she said. "Sure enough, after about a month, I could hear him speaking English. Talk Time gave him the courage. It's just been amazing watching him develop his confidence in English."

Talk Time supports the library's larger role as a place to build community belonging and resilience. "It's a chance to give back to my community in a way that is totally relatable to my own experience," Salcedo said. "It's also an opportunity to be surrounded by people from various parts of the world sharing our cultural differences and our similarities as well."

Listen to interviews with Salcedo and Schenderlein:

Talk Time: Conversational English (Part One) - Salcedo in English and Spanish

Talk Time: Conversational English (Part Two) - Schenderlein in English and Japanese

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