Throughout the academic year, the Writing and Language Studio hosts informal language tables during the weekday lunch and dinner hours. These tables are open to all members of the Duke Kunshan community and provide a space for participants to learn, practice, and use a language with other students/staff/faculty in an informal environment. They are different from language classes that teach people grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and so forth. The language tables aim to improve people’s communication competence in the target language, advance their intercultural communication skills, and promote both communities building and the value of multilingualism.
Where to Find the Language Table Schedule
- Check the schedule on the marketing board in front of the WLS entrance (AB 2101).
- Follow our official WeChat account (dukekunshan_LCC) and navigate to: WLS -> Language Tables to check the schedule.
Join a Language Table
Language Tables are open to all members of the Duke Kunshan community and are completely voluntary. There is no registration or prerequisite needed to join a table. While regular participation is welcomed and encouraged, it is not required.
Call for Language Table Facilitators
If you are interested in facilitating a language table by yourself or co-facilitating with others, please contact the Writing and Language Studio (DKU_WLS@dukekunshan.edu.cn).
Advantages of being a language table facilitator
Leading a language table is a great way to practice your facilitation and communication skills. It is also a great opportunity to meet students, staff, and faculty members who are interested in learning about a language and culture you know well.
Required qualifications
Facilitators should be proficient speakers of the language, with a good understanding of its communication norms, grammar, and vocabulary. Facilitators should also be willing to help those who are trying to learn a new language.
Table preparation
Facilitators are not required to prepare any lesson plans or materials for language tables. However, especially if a table has a lot of beginning-level learners, we encourage the facilitator to brainstorm some topics to talk about for each session as well as some basic grammatical patterns and phrases for participants to learn.
Time commitment
Each language table will meet once a week or once every other week, depending on interest and on facilitator schedules.
Contact Us
Email: DKU_WLS@dukekunshan.edu.cn
WLS Office: Academic Building 2101
