Language Practice
The Vanderbilt Center for Languages provides an attractive variety of opportunities for students to practice their language skills outside of the classroom. Activities like these play an essential role in advancing their language skills, facilitating interesting exchanges and getting to know students with similar interests and experiences.
Language Tables
Co-hosted by faculty and students, weekly language tables offer regular conversational practice with native
speakers and language learners of all proficiency levels. Language Tables are held in the following languages:
- Chinese
- Arabic
- French
- German
- Hindi-Urdu
- Italian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Russian
- Spanish
At these informal, drop-in sessions, participants come together to talk, learn, practice, and build community. Language Tables can also serve as tutoring sessions for anyone who needs support in their coursework. All in the Vanderbilt community are welcome to join any time, and no signup is required. Fall semester Language Tables and tutoring services begin the first week of September.
If you are interested in participating as a co-host or want to ask a question, please contact Professor David Johnson, Language Table Coordinator
Tutoring and Conversation Hours
The VCL offers both tutoring and conversational opportunity for many languages taught on campus. These sessions are generally held in the VCL office Furman 001. While tutoring is a more structured and targeted form of help, our conversation hours are a less formal social gathering that gives students an opportunity to practice a language with others. For those sessions that are tutoring and conversation combined, the host will gauge the need of specific attendees. Please note that Portuguese and Spanish tutoring are by appointment only. Karen Amorim de Melo would be happy to meet with you (see the links below to schedule now)!
Spring 2024 Schedule
(Haitian Creole times will be added soon, please check back!)
Arabic
Hosted By: Henry Yusem
Tutoring – Mondays & Thursdays (3:30-4:30pm)
Chinese
Hosted By: Watermelon (Song Yuan Feng)
Tutoring – Wednesdays (3:20-4:20pm) & Thursdays (3:00-4:00pm)
French
Hosted By: Younes Moursal
Conversation – Mondays (2:30-3:30pm)
Tutoring – Tuesdays (4:30-5:30pm)
Hosted By: Alexis Finet
Cafe Francophone
Conversation, Coffee, and Games – Wednesdays at 3:00pm
German
Hosted By: Courtney Rehkamp
Kaffeestunde
Conversation, Coffee, and Games – Mondays at 2:00pm
Tutoring – TBD
Haitian Creole
Hosted By: Anseley Philippe
Tutoring – TBD
Hebrew
Hosted By: Corey Feuer
Tutoring – Mondays & Wednesdays (3:00-4:00pm)
Hindi / Urdu
Hosted By: Shahbano Raza
Conversation – Fridays (1:30-2:30pm)
Hosted By: Min Kalasikam
Tutoring – Fridays (2:00-3:00pm)
Italian
Hosted By: Elena Sergio
Tutoring – Wednesdays (1:30-2:30pm)
Japanese
Hosted By: Melumo Togashi
Tutoring – Mondays & Wednesdays (3:30-4:30pm)
Korean
Hosted By: Ejew Kim
Tutoring – Mondays & Wednesdays (2:00-3:00pm)
Portuguese
Hosted By: Benjamin Legg
Bate Papo
Conversation, Coffee, and Games – Mondays (3:30-4:30)
Hosted By: Karen Amorim de Melo
Tutoring By Appointment Only! Mondays (4:30-5:30) , Wednesdays (2:00-3:00pm), and Fridays (online 12:00-1:00pm)
Make your appointments for Portuguese tutoring here!
Russian
Hosted By: Luis Chiner Carrillo
Tutoring – Wednesdays & Fridays (3:30-4:30pm)
Spanish
Tutoring Hosted By: Karen Amorim de Melo
Tutoring By Appointment Only! Mondays & Tuesdays (1:00-3:00), Wednesdays (12:00-2:00pm), and Fridays (online 11:00am-12:00pm)
Make your appointments for Spanish tutoring here!
Conversation Hosted By: Bear Anthony
Fridays (12:00-1:00pm)