Chinese Language

The Lantern Festival, also known as Yuanxiao Festival, marks the grand finale of the Lunar New Year celebrations. Traditionally held on the 15th day of the lunar calendar, it’s a time when families gather under the glowing lanterns, share sweet rice dumplings (tāngyuán 汤圆), and celebrate unity, hope, and good fortune for the year ahead. 🏮**What will you do?** Create your own glass-tinted or traditional paper lantern\*\*,\*\* a shimmering, hand-held piece inspired by classical Chinese designs. Using a beautiful craft set, you’ll assemble and decorate your own glowing lantern to take home, symbolizing brightness, peace, and renewal. 🥠**What else is included?** Enjoy traditional Lantern Festival treats, tea, and stories as you craft your own lantern and celebrate. Learn about the origins of the festival and its cultural significance across Asia while connecting with fellow students and friends in a festive, cozy atmosphere. ✨ **Why should you join?** * Experience one of Asia’s most beautiful and symbolic festivals * Create a glowing lantern to welcome light and luck into your year * Enjoy treats, culture, and fun with our community * Let’s light up the first full moon of 2026 together! 🏮

Ping Pong is all about Beer, Bragging rights and making Buddies! Come along to the Ping Pong Social at Bounce Shoreditch to unwind, meet likeminded people and of course show off your whiff whaff skills! This event is crafted to serve both serious Table Tennis players with lots of challenges & tournaments, as well as the social players with tailor made games for singles, couples, colleagues & friends. With music playing and drinks flowing you will be able to choose from a variety of creative and quirky games including Ping Pong Tournaments, Social Doubles, Round Pong, Weapon Pong etc. There will be prizes for winners that include bottle of Prosecco & Medals and free entry to future events. We are usually by tables 15,16, 17 this is where you should meet us. However, if we change the tables or if you can't find us for whatever reason, please call/text host Vin and/or ask at reception for us, and you will be directed to us. Experience includes: \~ 4 Hours of Ping Pong Entertainment Tournament for Beginners, Intermediates, Experts (Prosecco for the Winner) \~ Quirky Social Ping Pong games with Fancy Prices for beginners \~ Fun Vibe to socialise in UV lit up exclusive Ping Pong venue FREE entry to our next Beer Pong event for winners

Our next English Conversation Café will be on **Monday 2nd March 2026 at** **7:30pm**! Topic for the evening: Sport/Winter Olympics You will have an opportunity to practice your English and meet new people, through conversation topics and games. This event is mainly for learners of English, so we kindly ask native speakers to give priority to others. The venue is **downstairs** in Costa Coffee, 3 Southwark St, London SE1 1RQ which is a 1 minute walk from London Bridge Station. This is a **free** event, you will not be expected to pay for anything. You will also be able to have a free drink and cake. The café is run by a group of volunteers from [The Globe Church](https://www.globe.church). Please sign up if you would like to attend. If you have any questions please ask us using Meetup. Numbers are limited so please only sign up if you are going to come and change your response if you can no longer come. Look forward to seeing you soon 😊

**FREE TO MEMBERS - SIGN UP WHEN YOU ARRIVE!** **• What we'll do** We will have 2 Portuguese speakers that will be bringing a little bit of Brazil to the class. It is a very informal conversation - not as if you were in a school - more conversational and listening. **• What to bring** Bring a pen and a notebook! **• Important to know** We are volunteers and just love teaching people Portuguese! To reserve your spot please call/message Isabelle 0 7542 547792

**Hello there!** Our Face-to-Face Afternoon Classes are back this March in London! Are you learning English as a second language and looking for an opportunity to practise your English? Interested in **free, in-person classes**? We’ve got you covered! Here at **Stafford House,** our teachers-in-training are gaining hands-on experience by teaching enthusiastic English learners. Each lesson is interactive and fun, with plenty of opportunities to practise speaking, meet other learners, and improve your English along the way. We also offer **free online English classes (London and Canterbury)**. Check out our other events for more information! Please see the **updated** details below! 🕑 **When:** From **2nd March - 26th March (4 weeks)** ➡️Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. ➡️Fridays 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m 📍 **Where:** Stafford House London, 2 Southampton Place, WC1A 2DA (just 2 minutes from Holborn Station) 📚 **Level: Both levels available** **\- Pre\-Intermediate \(A2\-B1\)** **\- Upper\-Intermediate \(B2\)** Spaces are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Please arrive **15- 30 minutes early** to secure your spot. We will ask for your name and email upon arrival. *Please note: confirming attendance on Meetup does not guarantee a place in the classroom.* **Please note that class times or dates may occasionally change due to the nature of the course. If this happens, we will inform you by email.** We look forward to seeing you all very soon! Got Questions? send us an email at [teachertraining@staffordhouse.com](mailto:teachertraining@staffordhouse.com)

**BOOK HERE**: https://sportas.co.uk/games/46286 **Game Description:** 🧡Come and join us for a casual friendly & social badminton session in Archway. This venue consists of 4 courts in total. 🚨Directions🚨 📍Enter via Thornbury Square road and walk all the way downhill. (Note: you won’t be able to enter through the school!) 🚶‍♂️10 minute walk from Archway or Highgate tube stations (Northern Line) 🚗 Free car parking on site 🚿 Showers, changing rooms, water fountain & toilets are available in **Rules** 🏸The session is for mixed ability players so please be positive and encouraging to all players. We highly encourage you to read the rules for classic doubles prior to the session so we can run the games smoothly. 👯‍♀️We play doubles for the whole time and keep rotating courts so everyone gets to play with each other. We use Yonex Mavis 300 Nylon Shuttle cocks. We also have a few spare rackets.

Improve your Mandarin and English while making new friends! Join [Manhattan Mandarin](ManhattanMandarin.co.uk) at the [Jackalope](https://jackalopelondon.com/) in Marylebone - appropriately situated above a Chinese restaurant, [Liu Xiao Mian](https://www.liu-xiaomian.com/). All levels welcome - these are **very casual** meetups where you're welcome to mingle until finding suitable language partners Pop down for noodles or stay outside in the lovely mews, but whatever you do, come ready to chat, make great new connections, and push your language learning forward 🤗🤗🤗 Feel free to bring anything you think will help facilitate language exchange! (games, flashcards) We often provide ice-breaker question sheets just in case you need some help 🤗🤗🤗 Let us know if you need some help mingling You're welcome to try our HSK Classes in Marylebone: [https://www.manhattanmandarin.co.uk/hskclasses](https://www.manhattanmandarin.co.uk/hskclasses) or our Saturday online HSK classes: [https://www.manhattanmandarin.co.uk/onlineclasses](https://www.manhattanmandarin.co.uk/onlineclasses) For more information please contact Harry@ManhattanMandarin.com, 07767260207) Since 2012, with a fantastic team of over 200 native and non-native Mandarin teachers in the US and UK, [Manhattan Mandarin](ManhattanMandarin.com) knows what makes for fun and engaging communication between English and Chinese speakers!

This meetup is open to students of all levels who want to practice conversation in Spanish and English. Beginners will learn and build confidence, while intermediate and advanced students will improve and strengthen their language skills. Hope to see you there!

2nd Sunday of every month, join us for a relaxed and fun language exchange, where meaningful conversations flow as freely as delicious coffee and tea! This isn't just practice; it's **accelerated progress** in a supportive setting, designed to quickly boost your **Mandarin, Cantonese and English** skills. **How We Make It Effective & Enjoyable:** * **Perfect Groupings:** We carefully match you with native speakers and learners at a similar level, ensuring comfortable and productive conversation practice. * **Forget awkward silences!** We provide fun, engaging discussion topics to spark lively chats and keep the conversation flowing. * **Maximise Your Practice:** Rotate between groups if you wish to connect with more people and strengthen your conversation skills! * **Expert Support:** Our experienced tutor is always on hand to help. 👌 **All levels welcome!** Native speakers and learners alike. 💛 Please support the cafe by buying a drink or snack while you are here - they've kindly let us use the space. We can't wait to welcome you! \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Take your Mandarin beyond the exchange.** 🤝 If you’re looking for a bit more structure to go along with your conversation practice, let’s chat! We're offering **complimentary 1-on-1 advice sessions** to help you find the perfect learning path. Get a professional assessment of your level so you can study with confidence. **No commitment** required. [Book your Free Session](https://eu.bigin.online/org20070515371/bookings/course-advice) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **China Unbound** is the best place to learn practical Chinese for adults. While most schools prioritise grammar and writing, China Unbound empowers you to confidently communicate in Chinese in real-world situations. Join us and discover a fun, fast, and personalised way to master Chinese! \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **🤘 FAQs:** **I'm learning Chinese, are the sessions suitable for beginners?** Yes! Come and speak as much or as little as you like, or just come and listen! There is no pressure! **Are there any discounts for Chinese lessons for members?** Yes, you can use code MEETUP10 for your exclusive £10 discount on our [Chinese courses](https://china-unbound.co.uk/personal/) site-wide! \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- 每个月的第二个星期天，来加入我们，享受一场轻松又有趣的语言交流体验！在茶香与咖啡的陪伴下，开启一场自然流畅、充满收获的双语对话。 这不仅仅是练习，而是一种更快提升你英语水平的高效方式。我们为你打造一个轻松友好、真正有用的语言环境，让你的口语交流能力飞速进步！ **我们如何让语言交换高效又好玩：** * **精准匹配，聊天不尴尬**：我们用心将你和母语者或相近水平的学习者配对，确保每一次对话都轻松自在又高效实用。 * **话题有趣，轻松破冰**：拒绝冷场！我们提前准备了有趣又实用的聊天话题，让你一开口就停不下来，交流自然顺畅。 * **灵活轮换，提升更全面**：想多练一点？欢迎自由选择是否换组，认识更多人、接触不同语言风格，快速提升真实沟通能力。 * **专业老师现场支持**：我们的资深语言导师会在现场提供实时帮助，确保你在交流中不断进步、有信心开口！ **活动详情：** 🗓️ **时间**：每月第二个星期日 ⏰ **时段**：下午 2:30 - 4:30 💰 **费用**：免费参加 不只是练语言，这里还有文化的碰撞、朋友的陪伴和成长的喜悦。现在就来加入我们，开启你的高效交流之旅吧！ **🤘 常见问题解答：** **我最后会不会一直说中文而一无所获？** -不会，因为我们的“快速聊天”模式鼓励大家用中/英文交换来交流。 **会员有折扣吗？** 有，欢迎你跟你学中文的朋友分享代码**Meetup10**，他们会获得10镑的独家折扣！

### 📅 EVENT DETAILS 📍 **Where:** Aldgate Tower (just outside Aldgate East Station, Exit 1) 🙋 **Who:** Players who already know how to play with scores (not suitable for beginners) ☕ **Included:** Instructur help, free tea, coffee, and unbeatable vibes ## 🀄 WANT TO PLAY MAHJONG REGULARLY? Mahjong is still a niche board game in London — and since it needs **4 players**, it can be hard to organise regular games with just your own friends or family. In many parts of Asia, **Mahjong parlours** bring people together to play. While we’re **not** running a commercial Mahjong club, we *are* here to build a **community**. Many of our players started as complete beginners in our workshops — and now they’re **hooked**! That’s why we created our **🎟️ Just Play tickets**. ### 🌏 DIFFERENT MAHJONG STYLES WELCOME ### 🇭🇰 Hong Kong Style (Main Style) Our main style is **Hong Kong Mahjong**, with a **3 fan minimum to win**.If you know how to play other Chinese styles like **Taiwanese**, **Sichuan**, or **British Mahjong**, you’re still welcome! We’ll provide **scoring cards** to help you adapt. ⚠️ However, these tables are **not suitable for beginners**. If you haven’t yet graduated from Level 1 or Level 2 of our workshops, or if you don’t know how to score, please join our learner workshops first to build confidence. ### 🇯🇵 Japanese Riichi (Growing Community) Riichi Mahjong is **new to our community**, but we love its fast pace and strategic complexity!If you already know how to play Riichi — \*\*amazing! Please join us.\*\*If you play Chinese Mahjong and want to try Riichi, one of our instructors or friendly regulars might help, but we **can’t guarantee full teaching support yet**. You're welcome to learn by playing alongside others. ### 🇺🇸 American Mahjong (New Community in 2026) We’re excited to add **American Mahjong** to our offerings. It’s quite different from Chinese Mahjong, so we’ll run newbie workshops and regular Just Play sessions from 2026. **Note**: Just Play bookings require solid prior knowledge of American rules. However, we encourage cross‑style learning, so if you already know one style of Mahjong, learn another with us, so you can play at any table. ## 💷 OUR BEST PRICE PROMISE We’re doing our best to keep **Just Play tickets affordable** for a 2-hour session — that’s our **best price promise**. 🙌 Unlike clubs that charge entry or venues that require a minimum spend, our ticket price covers only what’s needed: venue, staff, admin cost. And yes — with a booked ticket, **YOU ARE GUARNATEED A SEAT AT THE TABLE**, and we also provide **free tea, coffee**, and the occasional **festive treat**. ☕🍪 We're not a charity, but we are **deeply committed** to creating a welcoming Mahjong community. 💛 Your support helps us keep the tiles clicking, and we love seeing familiar faces return week after week! ## 📱 JOIN OUR MAHJONG WHATSAPP COMMUNITY Stay connected with fellow players in our friendly WhatsApp group — a space to ask questions, get updates on upcoming events, and even arrange private games outside of our Saturday sessions. It's the easiest way to stay in the loop and grow your Mahjong circle! [LINK HERE](https://chat.whatsapp.com/IQXv3nGfbeMCfvI6HsGjfZ "https://chat.whatsapp.com/IQXv3nGfbeMCfvI6HsGjfZ") **Important Notes** 1. Each attendee must be registered to our building in addition to the meetup ticketing. If you book two tickets, we will need both individuals’ full names and email addresses for registration. 2. On **the same week**, you will receive an email from "Aldgate Tower" with your **building entry invitation**. This email includes a **unique visitor QR code**, which you’ll need to scan at the ground floor speed gates. Then, head straight up to the **6th floor**, where we’ll be ready to welcome you. 3. Please check your **spam or junk folder** if you don’t see the email. Still nothing? Send us a message / whatsapp us on +44 7423 755734 , and we’ll assist you promptly.

# **The Ostrich Social** #### **3408 Indianola Ave** BYOB / Pizza will be provided so Please RSVP Dresden Stammtisch is a monthly social gathering for members and friends of Dresden Sister City, Inc. The event is free and open to the public. We speak German or English - it is largely up to you!

Join us for a Japanese Book Fair + Ramen Meetup! We’ll browse the used Japanese Book Fair together at Yokoso Center, then head next door to Tensuke Ramen from 5–6 PM to enjoy ramen and other Japanese dishes. After we eat, we’ll hang out and play a few casual games. Come for books, stay for food and community, open to all!

Inspired by our successful events like "Saturday Mornings @ East Market" and other "Pot Luck in the Park" lunches, this gathering promises to be a blend of fun conversations, language exchange, and cultural insights, all while sharing wonderful foods with each other. Please bring a dish to share and anything you would like to drink. We will provide plates, plastic silverware and napkins. So, come hungry and ready to chat!

**New Dojo Location!** **Draft Day Columbus** 1130 Dublin Road Columbus, OH 43215 We're going to try a new dojo location for a few weeks and see how it works Dojos are informal Python group study sessions where everyone interested in Python gathers to learn about Python, help others with Python, or just hang out. Everyone is welcome from Python beginners to experts. Bringing a laptop is encouraged (we'll have extension cords and power strips). If there's something you want to learn leave a comment on this invite so we can plan ahead. We're looking for topic suggestions and people interested in presenting at our monthly meetings. To this end we've set up a survey form at [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/15eBKF1nQQ2XS5gzD4rvhVRHMBEj7lJtHuA9wXupS3Uc](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/15eBKF1nQQ2XS5gzD4rvhVRHMBEj7lJtHuA9wXupS3Uc)

Hey Everyone! Let's meet at Belle's Bread Bakery and Cafe. There is lots of free parking and easy access to the cafe and many shops and restaurants as well. This is a great way to meet new and old friends while chatting about life and practicing English language speaking skills. All are welcome and encouraged to join us anytime between 11am and 1pm. Looking forward to seeing you soon.

Come out to Improving for our monthly iOS and Mac meetings. This Month's Presentation: Nothing yet. (You should volunteer). What is Cocoaheads (http://cocoaheads.org/)? CocoaHeads is a group devoted to discussion of Apple Computer's Cocoa Framework for programming on MacOS X and iOS (including the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch). During monthly meetings, members present on their projects and offer tutorials on various programming topics. What is BuckeyeCocoa (http://buckeyecocoa.org/)? BuckeyeCocoa is a group of Objective-C/Swift developers/enthusiasts. We host monthly Cocoaheads and near-weekly NSCoder meetings in Columbus, Ohio. The meetings are free to attend. Presentations! Presenters welcome! We are always in need of people willing to present material. Any Swift and/or Objective-C related topic is welcome. Times can be 5 minutes (i.e. lightning talks) to a maximum of 2 hours. Interested? Contact info is on the BuckeyeCocoa website. To volunteer for a presentation contact us at @BuckeyeCocoa on Twitter. Follow us on Twitter! @BuckeyeCocoa (https://twitter.com/#!/Buckeyecocoa/) For more information: http://buckeyecocoa.org/

Ciao a tutt\*! Let's meet Monday at 6.30pm at the **Grandview Heights Public Library** in **Conference Room A** to speak in Italian for 1 hour. \*note change in location\* Grandview Heights library (1685 W 1st Ave, Columbus, OH 43212) Keeping Monday for consistency but we can discuss if there are better days/times/locations!