This is a video that explains how the event will proceed.You can watch the video by clicking the link.Leo's insta reels

Hello, my name is Leo Choi. I am from Korea. First, I want to clarify that I am not an English education professional or involved in any related field.

I've been working as a cook at a hotel in Calgary through the Working Holiday Visa program. As someone who always finds learning English as a second language challenging, I thought it would be nice to practice English speaking in a comfortable environment with people in similar situations, so I decided to organize this meetup.

I enjoy visiting the Calgary Central Library or Memorial park Library in Downtown on my days off, so I plan to hold the meetup in one of its rooms.

My current English level is between B1 and B2. Based on my experience meeting many people who learn English as a second language, I believe that beginners and advanced speakers are not ideal partners for practicing together due to the difference in their levels. Therefore, I am personally looking for people with an intermediate level of English. However, this is not mandatory, and anyone learning English as a second language is welcome.

During the meetup, I plan to divide attendees into groups of 2-6 people depending on the overall numbers and have them switch members every 30mins for casual free-talking sessions on light topics. If possible, I would like to limit each person’s speaking time to within 3 minutes. I think this will give more people the opportunity to practice more.

To add some fun to the meetup, we will also play a simple game. The winner will receive a small chocolate as a prize.

Feedback on how to improve the meetup is always welcome.
I hope this meetup will be an opportunity for us to have a positive impact on each other.

Additionally, I am looking for someone to help co-organize this meetup. That way, you can save a lot of money, Also, I believe that co-hosting and running the group together will definitely have a positive impact on each other’s English skills. If you’re interested, please let me know!

Hi everyone, I’m Leo
I’m writing this to share some important updates about the meetup, especially regarding the introduction of a participation fee.
Our first event was held in June 2024. Until Mar 2025, I ran this event completely free of charge.

Some of you may already know that Meetup charges organizers a monthly fee. So far, I’ve personally paid over $600, and including extra costs for snacks, game materials to make our events more fun, the total is likely over $700.

Even though that was a significant cost for me, I’ve never once regretted it — because this ESL group has become a meaningful part of my life and something I truly look forward to on my days off.

I still remember the night I first arrived in Calgary last February.
It was cold, I had no family or friends here, and I checked into a motel all alone.
I felt lost and asked ChatGPT for advice on what to do when you feel lonely abroad. It recommended trying Meetup events.
At that time, I didn’t even know what “Meetup” was.
I never imagined that such a small beginning would turn into something this big.
Honestly, without this group, I might have given in to the loneliness and gone back to Korea.

Maybe That’s why I never considered charging any fee until now.

But as our group has grown, there’s more to manage and prepare.
To continue running this event consistently and in good quality, I think it’s now time to introduce a small participation fee.

The participation fee will be used to help cover event expenses and to show appreciation to the organizing team for their efforts

The participation fee was determined based on both the results of a recent survey asking attendees what they consider a reasonable amount, and my own reflection on the question: “If I were a participant, would I still want to come at this price?”

It wasn’t an easy decision, so thank you for reading this long message.
I’ll keep doing my best to make this group enjoyable and meaningful for everyone.
Thank you!
Leo