Calgary English Conversation ESL Meetup Group for Intermediate.

(We’re currently conducting a short survey about the event fee during the registration process.
Please feel free to share your honest thoughts — your feedback will help us improve how we run future events.)

Hi everyone, I’m Leo

I’m writing this to share some important 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 this March
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.
To be honest, charging a small fee would actually give me some external motivation to keep running the meetup consistently.

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
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Please click the link to watch
Leo's Insta reels video
It gives you a general idea of how the event will go.
(The event location and procedure are subject to change.)
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- Please be advised we do NOT accept walk-ins as the room can only accommodate people who have registered. You must register for each event even if you have joined the group.
- Please do NOT show up if you are on the waitlist.
Thanks for understanding!
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Our meetup is for people who use English as a second language at an intermediate level (not mandatory). The purpose is to practice speaking and make foreign friends. I hope you come with an open mind, ready to have comfortable and enjoyable conversations.
To briefly explain how the event will be structured, I plan to have three sections in total.
First, we’ll have a group chat session with groups of 2 to 5 people.
Next, we will have two different types of English quiz games for about 30 minutes. ( Depending on the situation, we might play only one game.)
Lastly, we’ll have a group chat session with groups of 2 to 5 people.
(The group sizes may vary depending on the total number of participants.
)
Please note that you should bring your own water, and you are free to use the restroom as needed.
I've booked at Central Library, 3-16B on 16/May/2025 - from 03:45 PM to 05:40 PM
Note that even if you have joined the group, you need to register separately for this event.