English with Native Teachers

Join us every Wednesday for an authentic Korean experience in the heart of Brussels! 🇰🇷✨ Let’s share Soju, delicious Korean food, fun karaoke sessions, and plenty of good vibes. Don’t miss our photo booth moments and the chance to meet amazing new people from all over the world! 🎉 Free entry, just order at least one drink to support the venue. 📍 Gyosang, Rue Sainte-Catherine 8, Brussels 🕢 Every Wednesday, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM Come for the language exchange, stay for the laughter, food, and Soju! 🍶🎤

Loyal goofballs or purry fluffballs? From the ridiculous amounts we spend on our pets to the way we proudly identify ourselves as “dog people” or “cat people,” our furry companions say a lot about how we live and maybe even who we are. So let's tackle one of humanity’s oldest, and most important, divisions: Team Dog vs Team Cat 😄 Expect playful arguments, friendly chaos, and zero actual animals harmed 🐶🐱 Just strong opinions and good vibes 😊 This debate will follow a British Parliamentary format with eight debaters split into four teams of two. Participants who wish to speak are highly encouraged to bring a paper and pen. You are welcome to participate even if you have no prior debating experience. ⚠️ Disclaimer: We aim for debates that are respectful, constructive, and welcoming. • Respect ideas and people: Listen actively, stay quiet while others speak, and debate arguments, not identities or beliefs. • Be concise and civil: Keep questions short and relevant; avoid hostility, hate speech, or discrimination. • Respect boundaries and time: No unwanted advances or suggestive behavior; arrive on time to avoid disrupting the debate. • Follow moderators: They guide the discussion and ensure fairness. Looking forward to seeing you there 😊

What's up Friends! 👋 Let's break the ice again! 😂 ! 🧊✨ This time let's try after work when the rink should be less busy🤞 📍 Time & place: Feel free to join at any time. For the ones who can make it at 18:30 we'll meet inside the Posseidon ice rink in the skate rental room. ❄️ The idea: Skate as long as you like (rink closes at 10pm). For the ones who get tired (of falling) we can meet at the cafeteria around 19:30 to recharge with some drinks and snacks. 🤑 Entry fee (cash or card): 13 EUR with skate rental 9 EUR if you bring your own skates 💁‍♂️ good to know: Consider arriving 15 mins earlier - getting a ticket takes time when there’s a line! ⏳ Bring a 50 cent coin for a locker if you need one (non-refundable) Picture ID is required for skate rental. Bring your handgloves🧤- you will need 'em! More info: https://www.skate-poseidon.be/ ⚠️⚠️⚠️ Skating is fun, but safety comes first! When the rink is very crowded (Fridays, weekend) stay extra alert! Enjoy responsibly! 👀 Keep an eye on last-minute details in the chat. 💬 See you there😉

The **BeJUG** is back on February 18, kindly hosted by [AE](https://www.ae.be/), for an evening that blends technical innovation with personal perspective. This edition features **two talks** that approach our craft from different angles: \- Green AI with JobRunr: Sustainable training and inference on the JVM by Ronald Dehuysser \- Finding the Spark: A Career Reset Button by Loïc Magnette Come join us for this next event! **Schedule** \- 18:00: Doors open \+ Food and Drinks \- 18:45: Intro and BeJUG updates \- 18:50: Talk 1 \- 19:35: Little break \- 19:45: Talk 2 \- 20:30: Mingling \+ Drinks **Topics** **Green AI with JobRunr: Sustainable training and inference on the JVM** AI is booming - but so are its energy costs and carbon emissions. What if your Java application could schedule AI training and inference tasks not only when resources are available, but also when energy is greener and cheaper? In this talk, we’ll show how JobRunr, a distributed background job scheduler for the JVM, can be used to orchestrate local AI workloads in a carbon-aware way. By combining JobRunr’s scheduling capabilities with carbon-intensity data and dynamic cloud pricing, we can: \- Train and fine\-tune models when electricity is cleanest \- Run inference jobs where latency meets sustainability \- Reduce CO₂ emissions and operational costs without sacrificing performance You’ll learn how to integrate local AI workloads using Ollama into your Java stack, configure carbon-aware scheduling, and measure both sustainability impact and cost savings. By the end of this session, you’ll know how to cut CO₂ emissions and costs while keeping your AI workloads running reliably and see how you can make AI work for both your business and the planet. **About Ronald** Meet Ronald Dehuysser, a software architect from Belgium and creator of JobRunr. Seamlessly integrating with Spring Boot, Micronaut, and Quarkus, JobRunr is Ronald's solution for efficient distributed background job processing. When he's not working on open-source software, he is probably either rock climbing or sipping a fine Belgian Duvel beer. **Finding the Spark: A Career Reset Button.** A few years ago, I hit a strange point in my career. On paper, everything looked fine: good projects, solid skills, a stable job but inside, something had gone quiet. The excitement I used to feel when writing code was gone. I wasn’t looking for a new language or a better framework, I was just trying to understand why I had stopped caring. At some point I decided to join the wider Java Community. I expected to learn techniques and tips, but what I actually found was something much deeper. I met people full of energy and generosity who reminded me that behind every line of code there’s a story, an exchange, a spark. Something I believed I had lost was gradually rebooted by that sensation of belonging. That rediscovery is the topic of this talk. About how meaning can be restored through contributing, sharing, and connecting. You'll discover what inspires and motivates us to do our work, how community can change how we grow as developers, and why giving back frequently results in more than you might anticipate. I hope this story helps you understand that a new relationship with your craft, your community, and yourself is the answer to career apathy, not a new language. **About Loïc** Loïc Magnette is a seasoned software developer with a strong background in consulting. Currently a senior developer at Oniryx, he specializes in Java and Angular, delivering innovative solutions and sharing his knowledge as a speaker. As a co-organizer of the Belgian Java User Group (BeJUG), he fosters connections within the developer community. Outside of tech, Loïc’s passion for wildlife inspires his work and creativity.

**First time comers** Please make sure to read the rules and contact the organizer before! Otherwise you will be moved to waiting list. Apologies for inconvenience but we have to do it to avoid no-shows. **Games format.** 95% are double games (unless someone needs a break), typically 4 people play together 2 sets and then mix with players from other fields. We play with plastic shuttles - Yonex Mavis 2000 (which are provided). **Registration** If it's your first time, please send a private message to the host to confirm. No-shows are taken quite seriously because they unbalance the games a lot. Also once you register please keep an eye on you private messages, in case we need to contact you. **Players level** Having players with much less experience often unbalances the game making it much less interesting for more experienced players. We still try to be welcoming. As a rule of thumb, if you know what a "clear" is, you are welcome to join. (Note that on Sundays the attitude is a bit more relaxed than on Wednesdays, it's the weekend after all ;) ) Otherwise, feel free to get in touch with me (Timur) and we can see if we can arrange so you and existing players can have good experience playing. **Price and payments** The price of participation is EUR 8.95. Payment is on-site in cash, or via payconiq. Info provided during or shortly after the event. **Cancelations and no-shows** * Switches and cancellations are free of charge if done more than 50 hours before the start of the matches * If you cancel within the 50-hour window before the event starts, you will be placed on the wait-list for the next week's event, whether or not a replacement is found. If no replacement is secured, you'll still need to cover your share of the costs.

EN (FR en bas): We're still accepting people in our classes. Join us!​ -step 1: Book here! -> [https://www.danceproject.be/reservations.html](https://www.danceproject.be/reservations.html) -step 2: Show up! Schedule: [Monday to Thursday](https://www.danceproject.be/classes.html#schedule) Fees : [All info on trials, packs, subscriptions here](https://www.danceproject.be/classes.html#fees) Locations: -Rue Brialmont 7, Brussels Metro/Tram: Botanique Salsa, Bachata, Lindy Hop, Forró Intro - 1: From base to the dancefloor! When you come for the first time we go over the base & rhythm with you. Then you are included in the group and everybody learns the same new steps for which you just need the base. Practice makes perfect: just relax and enjoy Salsa, Bachata, Lindy Hop and/or Forró! Our group is very welcoming and looking forward to meet new dancers! Salsa, Bachata, Lindy Hop, Forró Roots I - 2: Ready to go deeper on Salsa, Bachata, Lindy Hop &/or Forró? Let's go! [https://www.danceproject.be/classes.html#improvers](https://www.danceproject.be/classes.html#improvers) Salsa, Forró Roots II - 3: Looking for #SalsaChallenge? Already familiar with Forró Root? We've got your back! [https://www.danceproject.be/classes.html#intermediates](https://www.danceproject.be/classes.html#intermediates) More info: -Web: [https://www.danceproject.be](https://www.danceproject.be) -Whatsapp: +32 493 16 41 10 -Mail: brussels.salsa.project@gmail.com -[Facebook](https://facebook.com/brussels.salsa.project) -[Instagram](https://instagram.com/brussels.salsa.project) \-\-\-\-\- FR: Nous acceptons encore de nouvelles personnes dans nos cours. Rejoins-nous ! -1ère pas : Fait ta réservation ! -> [https://www.danceproject.be/reservation.html](https://www.danceproject.be/reservation.html) -2ème pas : Vient danser ! Horaire : [lundi à jeudi](https://www.danceproject.be/cours.html#horaire) Les prix : [Toutes les infos sur les essais, packs, abonnements ici](https://www.danceproject.be/cours.html#prix) Endroits : -Rue Brialmont 7, Bruxelles Metro/Tram: Botanique Salsa, Bachata, Lindy Hop, Forró Intro - 1 : De la base à la piste de danse ! Lorsque tu nous rejoins on voit la base et le rythme avec toi. Ensuite, tu es inclus dans le groupe et tout le monde apprend les mêmes pas pour lesquelles tu as juste besoin de la base. C'est en forgeant qu'on devient forgeron : détend-toi et profite la Salsa, de la Bachata, du Lindy Hop et/ou du Forró ! Notre groupe est très accueillant et a hâte de rencontrer de nouveaux danseurs ! Salsa, Bachata, Lindy Hop, Forró Roots I - 2 : Prêt à approfondir la Salsa, la Bachata, le Lindy Hop &/ou le Forró ? Allons-y! [https://www.danceproject.be/cours.html#inities](https://www.danceproject.be/cours.html#inities) Salsa, Forró Roots II - 3 : Tu cherches #DefiSalsa ? Tu connais déjà Forró Roots ? Nous sommes là pour toi ! [https://www.danceproject.be/cours.html#intermediaires](https://www.danceproject.be/cours.html#intermediaires) Plus d’info: -Web: [https://www.danceproject.be/fr.html](https://www.danceproject.be/fr.html) -Whatsapp: +32 493 16 41 10 -Mail: brussels.salsa.project@gmail.com -[Facebook](https://facebook.com/brussels.salsa.project) -[Instagram](https://instagram.com/brussels.salsa.project)

First impressions matter – especially when you speak. In this first session, we focus on how to **open a speech or presentation with impact**. You’ll learn how to capture attention from the first seconds, clarify your message early and avoid the common mistake of “warming up” too long. This is a **practical workshop**: * You will speak * You will receive live feedback * Your presentation will be recorded so you can track your progress This session is part of a **four-session public speaking programme**. Participants are expected to attend all four sessions to get the full benefit. Cost: 20€ for the whole programme. Workshop dates (Wednesdays): • 7 January • 21 January • 4 February • 18 February

**PLEASE READ THE ATTENDANCE POLICY (below) IF IT'S YOUR FIRST TIME** **SUNDAY COFFEE & JAPANESE CONVERSATION** 日曜日のコーヒー＆日本語会話 Our "Japanese/English Conversation Exchange" offers you a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of Japanese culture and language, all while helping native Japanese members to learn their target language. 私たちの「日本語/英語会話交流」は、日本の文化と言語の世界に没頭しながら、ネイティブの日本人メンバーが英語、フランス語、またはオランダ語を学ぶのを手助けするユニークな機会を提供します。 **Date: /** 日付：**(almost) every Sunday** **Time: /** 時間：**from 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm** **Location: /** 場所：**Cafe Caberdouche - Place de la Liberté 8, 1000 Bruxelles** **Venue Note: /** 会場の注意：**The manager of the cafe kindly accepted us to book a table on a regular basis. To thank him for his kindness, please order AT LEAST ONE DRINK**. カフェのマネージャーが親切にも私たちに定期的にテーブルを予約することを承諾してくださいました。その親切に感謝の意を示すために、少なくとも1杯のドリンクを注文してください。 **Location Assistance: /** 場所の案内：**If you can't find us, ask one of the waiters. They know where we are :) You can also send us a message.** 私たちを見つけられない場合は、ウェイターの一人に尋ねてください。彼らは私たちがどこにいるか知っています :) メッセージも送っていただけます。 **Event Agenda: /** イベントのアジェンダ： * **4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: JAPANESE CONVERSATION** \- Join us for the Japanese conversation and cultural exploration\. Beginners are welcome // 日本語会話 \- 最初の30分は日本語の会話と文化探求に充てられています。初心者も聞くだけでも歓迎です。30分後に参加しても構いません。多言語交換 \- ベルギーの多様性を体験し、ネイティブの日本人メンバーが英語、フランス語、またはオランダ語を学びたいと熱心に待っています。さまざまな言語で異文化交流の会話に参加しましょう。私たちの日本の友人にベルギーの文化、伝統、生活を紹介しましょう。 * **6:00 PM: EVENT CONCLUSION** \- Please respect the event's start and end times to maximize your language exchange opportunities\. Your participation and enthusiasm are appreciated\! イベントの終了 \- イベントの開始時間と終了時間を尊重して、言語交換の機会を最大限に活用してください。参加と熱意に感謝します！ **Attendance Policy: --->** 以下の日本語 * We're excited to have you join our events and appreciate your commitment to learning and growing together. To ensure a productive and enjoyable experience for all participants, please take note of our attendance policy: 1. **Punctuality:** Please arrive on time for scheduled events. Late arrivals can disrupt the flow of the event and may miss important information. 2. **Language Commitment:** If you sign up for language-specific sessions, such as Japanese conversation or language exchange, we kindly request your commitment to actively participate in that language for the designated duration. 3. **Respect:** Treat fellow participants, organizers, and cafe staff with respect and courtesy. Harassment or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. 4. **Removal Policy:** A participant who is not respectful towards other members will be removed from the group and blocked, with no warning. This point is not negotiable. 5. **Cancellation:** If you are unable to attend an event you've registered for, please let us know as soon as possible. This helps us plan accordingly and allows others to take your place if there's a waitlist. 6. **No-Show Policy:** Three no-shows (failing to attend without prior notice) may result in restrictions on event registration to ensure fairness to other participants. By attending our events, you agree to adhere to these guidelines. We aim to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone can learn and connect. Thank you for being part of our community! **出席ポリシー：** 私たちは、イベントに参加していただけることを楽しみにしており、皆さんが一緒に学び成長することに取り組んでいただけることを感謝しています。すべての参加者が生産的で楽しい経験をするために、出席ポリシーにご留意ください： 1. 時間厳守：予定されたイベントには時間通りにお越しください。遅刻はイベントの流れを乱し、重要な情報を見逃す可能性があります。日本語のみのセッションは午後4時、全言語のセッションは午後4時30分開始です。 2. 言語へのコミットメント：日本語会話や言語交換など、特定の言語のセッションに登録された場合は、その言語での積極的な参加をお願いします。 3. 尊重：他の参加者、主催者、カフェのスタッフには敬意と礼儀をもって接してください。嫌がらせや迷惑行為は許容されません。 4. 退場ポリシー：他のメンバーに対して敬意を持たない参加者は、警告なしにグループから削除され、ブロックされます。このポイントは交渉の余地がありません。 5. キャンセル：登録したイベントに参加できない場合は、できるだけ早くお知らせください。これにより、他の人があなたの代わりを取ることができます。 6. ノーショーポリシー：事前の通知なしに3回のノーショー（欠席）がある場合は、他の参加者に公平になるようイベントの登録に制限がかかる場合があります。 私たちのイベントに参加することで、これらのガイドラインに従うことに同意するものとします。私たちはみなさんが学び、つながることができるように歓迎される包括的な環境を作り出すことを目指しています。コミュニティの一部としてご参加いただき、ありがとうございます！ **Note: Please stay tuned to our event page for updates and schedule changes. We can't wait to see you there and exchange languages, cultures, and stories!** 備考：更新やスケジュールの変更については、イベントページをご覧ください。そこで皆さんにお会いして、言語や文化、物語を交換できるのを楽しみにしています！

[Sign up vis Hipsy](https://hipsy.be/event/181041-chinese-tea-gathering-and-cultural-sharing-gong-fu-cha) The intension for our first tea gathering in 2026 on Sunday, 04 January: * Being alone together * Let's walk into the wilderness, * Let's walk each other home, my people, with tea as our conduit What people say about Chinese Tea with Wenwei: “**A real revelation**” "Immersive, Informative, Intimate" "Wholesome" “Enormous passion for her roots”, “ The most convivial and informative of tea drinking experiences “ "Beyond tea tasting" "Gentle healing" Our gatherings are rooted in the **ever-evolving** Chinese tea culture. We explore how contemporary Chinese people enjoy tea in daily life, discover its beauty, and reflect on **the philosophies and mindsets** behind it. I also call it an **honest tea-sensing experience.** Around tea, countless stories have been told or imagined. The story I’d like to share is the one already present — **in the tea itself, and in our bodies.** In our stories, we search for “herbal remedies from the mountains and delightful moments at a writing desk”. We serve top-quality teas that carry **a comforting Qi:** no jitters but calm, no bitterness but transformation. For me, it’s like opening a window for European friends to glimpse Chinese tea culture - a taste and **a reference point for what tea means back home**. In each gathering, we follow the changes of the tea, let our imagination wander, and enjoy the journies it takes us on. **Not a ceremony**, not a tradition beyond tasting, beyond organic To give you an idea, below is an example of the teas we served: Depending on the number of participants and the time we have, we will taste 3 to 5 different teas, experiencing the **terroir of the mountains,** the **character of heirloom varietals,** the artistry of suitable **processing methods,** and immersing ourselves in an **Eastern aesthetic.** **Yellow Tea** \- Wild Laochuan tea from the Hengduan Mountains\, Sichuan heirloom varietal, Spring 2025. First flush, first pluck; grown by nature, with abundant tea energy (chaqi). **Oolong Tea** \- Dongfang Meiren \(Oriental Beauty\) from Fujian\, bitten by small green leafhoppers\, 2024\. From an ecological tea garden\, with intertwining honey\, floral\, and fruity aromas\. **Dark Tea (Hei Cha)** \- Heirloom varietal tea trees\, semi\-wild in deep mountains\, Spring 2016\. Fresh woody and floral notes\, pure dark tea with a cooling sensation\, and a pronounced Hui Gan \( Returning Sweetness \) **Black Tea (Hong Cha)** \- Zhengshan Xiaozhong \(Lapsang Souchong\) from Tongmu\, Wuyi Mountains – heirloom varietal\, Spring 2023\. Withered and smoked over native pinewood inside village houses, then roasted. Pine smoke fragrance with longan-sweet liquor and floral undertones. If you'd like, you can also try brewing the tea in Gong Fu styl yourself. **"The only thing that does not change is change itself"**, this also applies to Chinese tea culture. We are excited to hold a space where we create our unique experience together. The teas may be different for each gathering , but the love and passion we infuse will be just as strong, and for some of you, it will be a real revelation. Reserve your spot for **this convivial and informative gathering** in an intimate circle, where everyone shares, and every sense is engaged. Warmly, Wenwei Zhang **36€/ person** **[Sign up vis Hipsy](https://hipsy.be/event/181041-chinese-tea-gathering-and-cultural-sharing-gong-fu-cha)** Instagram: chinese_tea_with_wenwei Facebook:Chinese Tea with Wenwei in Belgium Google review: [https://g.co/kgs/cHZXuXL](https://g.co/kgs/cHZXuXL) Any questions: 0032 456 17 56 35

Hello! This is a meet-up to play singles and doubles at Terdelt from 2 pm to 4 pm on Sunday. Meeting is at the courts. The courts are booked under the name Jean-Marc. This event is for intermediate and advanced players and not organised for novice players or beginners. Please make sure to bring the exact sum of 11 € in cash. The event is non-commercial. This sum covers the cost of the courts reserved. The organizer is not there to make money out of you. Ladies are encouraged to join. If anyone wants to drop out, they should do it on Saturday morning, not on Sunday the day of the meetup, another wise it would be too late to find a replacement in time or to cancel a court in time with reimbursement. If this happens too late then those who have cancelled after Saturday morning will have to cover the extra cost for reserving the courts. In the past meetups, it happened too many times that we were an oneven number and because of that all those present had less fun to play. If you don't show up without giving a written excuse, the first future participation will be cancelled. If it happens too many times you will not be able to participate anymore. In case if we are an uneven number of players, then the last player (except the host of course who has to collect the money) can leave or persuade other players to play with him or her. Of course if the last player leaves, then he or she doesn't have to pay the participation fee. If this player leaves, he or she will be added on a future event by the host or organizer in the participation list if the player is far away in the waiting list. This is the advantage of leaving on a voluntary basis;-). We operate on the principle of Fair Play as we do not have umpires or referees. Any disputes or disagreements over line calls or scores should be resolved immediately on the court and, when agreement is not possible, the point or game should be replayed. When one of the players still doesn't accept this compromise, then it should be reported (meetup message by preference) to the host of the tennis meetup event. One of the consequences could be that the first upcoming event could be cancelled by the organizer for the player who doesn't comply with the compromise to play the point or the game again. Whenever there is a big problem, it should be reported as well to the organizer of the group so he can, if necessary, take actions to improve the situation for all the players. Please also note that if you are the first on the waiting list, you will automatically be moved up to the attendance list if someone pulls out. So if you are on the waiting list and see that you cannot attend, please also change your status to not going. If you would like to organize a meet up either this week or next week please get in touch with me, my name is Jean-Marc. It will depend on your initiatives to create more tennis meetups per week.

This playful, welcoming workshop invites you to explore self-empowerment through the art of blackout poetry. Black Out Poetry, or erasure poetry, involves selectively covering words from a printed page to make a new composition. Using existing texts, you’ll uncover words and phrases that resonate with you, transforming ordinary pages into something personal and meaningful. In this workshop, we will examine ourselves and our views of the world, exploring how perspective and experience shape how we bring ourselves to the table. No writing experience needed—just curiosity. Along the way, you’ll slow down, tap into your inner voice, and connect with like-minded people in a relaxed, creative space where discovery and expression come first. Get ready to experiment, play, meet others and have fun. **::::Agenda::::** \- 18:00 Arrival & Welcome \- 18:30 Start of session
 \- 20:00 Closing followed with networking **::: Location:::** Kamilou, Rue Joseph II 36, 1000 Bruxelles (Upstairs) Our guest facilitator is **Maddie Corley**, a respected creative instructor with several years of experience as a songwriter, writer, educator, and artist, working directly as both teacher and learner. She is dedicated to using hands-on learning exercises to advance student growth, confidence, and skillsets. In addition to being student-focused, she is also organization driven, focusing on impact and longevity. An out-of-the-box thinker skilled in public speaking, presentation work, leading groups, and being adaptable to different environments.

Hello, readers ! In February we are reading All Fours by Miranda July. We will meet at Maison de Quartier Malibran, Rue de la Digue 10, 1050 Ixelles. **Please keep your RSVP up to date** and happy reading!

# 🗣️ Language Exchange at Gare Maritime **Practice languages over drinks in Brussels' coolest food court!** Join fellow language enthusiasts for an evening of conversation, connection, and cocktails at the stunning Gare Maritime. Whether you're polishing your French, learning Dutch, or practicing any other language, come mingle in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. ## 📍 The Venue **Gare Maritime Food Court** \- Tour & Taxis A breathtaking industrial space transformed into Brussels' hottest social hub. With its soaring ceilings, vibrant atmosphere, and multiple bars serving everything from craft cocktails to Belgian beers, it's the perfect setting for a language meetup. ## 🎯 What to Expect Grab a drink and dive into natural conversations with people from all over the world. Chat in French with a Parisian, practice Dutch with a local, share travel stories in English, or switch between languages as the mood strikes. This is all about organic connections and real conversations - no pressure, no structure, just good vibes and great company. **Everyone welcome:** complete beginners to fluent speakers, locals and expats, native speakers and eager learners. ## 👥 Who Comes to These Events? Our community includes language students, professionals new to Brussels, polyglots, locals wanting to practice their English, expats improving their French or Dutch, and anyone curious about other cultures. The common thread? A love of languages and meeting interesting people. ## 🍹 Drinks & Atmosphere Gare Maritime shines when it comes to drinks. Multiple bars offer creative cocktails, local craft beers, quality wines, and non-alcoholic options. The industrial-chic setting with communal seating makes it easy to strike up conversations and move between groups. ## 💡 First Time? No Worries! Just show up and introduce yourself. People are friendly and everyone remembers being a beginner. The best way to learn is by speaking, and mistakes are just part of the journey. Bring your curiosity and willingness to try - that's all you need.

Welcome to our weekly event in the upstairs room of The Sister Café, rue Chair et Pain 3, one block from the Grand Place. Please get there early enough to order your drink at the bar first. Thank you! After introductions we will collect questions from the group participants, choose one by voting then discuss it for an hour. Then most of us stay for drinks and bizarre conversations. Past questions have been wide and not confined to academic philosophy: What is a genuine friend? Is social media turning us into emotional zombies? Do we lose some of the experience of things by defining them? Are we driven by sex? Is loneliness a personal failure? Is morality relative? **Crucially, be kind and respectful and generous** in your disagreements; remember how much you personally enjoy someone else proving you wrong before celebrating your cutting counterexamples.

Let's grab some coffee/food and share a morning chat! The East Market has an ample parking lot and outdoor and indoor seating. Grab a cup of coffee from Winston's Coffee & Waffles or on your way to East Market and meet us on the second floor - table behind or east of the elevator. If the weather cooperates we will be meeting in the patio. Per what this group is about: "Everyone is welcome! International transplants to Columbus who want to improve language skills, Columbus residents who want to discuss international travel and culture, and anyone who enjoys getting together for good conversations."

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.

Attend a free seminar on how to have successful and lasting relationships. At this seminar you will learn: How to spot and handle negative and toxic relationships. How to get through the "rough patches" in a relationship. How to choose the right people to work with. The three things that make or break any relationship. How to make a good relationship great. All are welcome. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. Hosted by the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

The aim of this group is to get together and practice our German. Doesn’t matter if are a beginner or a native speaker. The goal is to speak and improve our German. Everyone is welcome! If the weather is good, look for us in the Biergarten. Pro Tip: Get there before 6:00 for happy hour pricing.

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!

The topic for February is "Transitions" Speak Easy: true stories, told live. The idea is simple: an audience, an open microphone, and great stories. Hilarious, gripping, poignant- it's up to you. Audiences are invited to come to listen or come to tell as folks from all corners of Columbus offer their stories live on stage! Held at Wild Goose Creative's warm, intimate space, this night of tales occurs on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7:00 pm. Please arrive early if you want to tell, as we generally only have room for a limited number of tellers, and the sign-up sheet has a tendency to fill up fast. Formed around the idea that people need stories--they're what hold and draw us together--SpeakEasy celebrates the strangeness and commonness of being human. And in a world of smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, and more . . . it gives people a real, breathing, in-person way to connect. The night is geared for true stories of all kinds, taking the best tales told around kitchen tables, in darkened pubs, on the street corner, and at late-night parties and giving them an audience. Speak Easy is also a great outlet for performers, writers, and artists looking to share their favorite stories and perfect their skills. We strongly encourage tellers to please tell the story rather than read it so we keep within the spirit of good storytelling and stay engaged with the audience. All are welcome. Hang around after the show for a drink and build community!

Bienvenue! Columbus French Conversation group invites you to our Saturday morning French conversation club. Expect a casual and welcoming atmosphere in which to learn french! I will bring my laptop so we can look up new vocabulary as needed! The venue is a beautiful French restaurant so you can really get into the zone :)