Foreign language conversations at Angelo State

  • Published
  • By Robert D. Martinez
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AFB, Texas --  Need to brush up on your Spanish or German? Angelo State University, San Angelo invites Goodfellow Air Force Base personnel to attend informal French, German, Russian and Spanish conversations sponsored by the university's Department of Modern Languages. ASU's Department of Modern Languages offers bachelor's degrees in French, German and Spanish, with teacher certification in each area of study and offers courses in Russian and linguistics.

The sessions are faculty led and there is no curriculum or specific topics set so participants can join in any time and attend when they can. The meetings benefit foreign language students and provide an opportunity for those fluent in these languages to hone up on their skills.

"Many people in San Angelo and the surrounding area told us for years they'd love to brush up on their speaking skills," said Dr. Karen Cody, associate professor, French and Spanish, Department Head of Modern Languages. "So we began the coffee and conversation sessions last semester and resumed them for the spring semester in January."

"The interaction between native, near-native speakers and beginners is always lively and interesting," Dr. Cody said. "Often cultural content is shared--every meeting is different depending on who attends. The fun is in meeting other people with interest in the language and culture."

Sessions will be conducted during lunch hours and after business hours in a casual atmosphere at ASU's University Center, rooms 110 and 111 in the dining area behind the Rams coffee station or Starbucks.

To practice French conversation, meetings will be held 5 to 6 p.m. on Mondays.
To practice Russian, meetings will be held 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Mondays. Contact Mrs. Davis at edavis@angelo.edu for more information.
For Kaffee und Kommunikation in German, meetings will be held 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Thursdays.
For Café y conversación in Spanish, meetings will be held 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays .

For more information, contact Dr. Karen Cody at karen.cody@angelo.edu or (325) 942-2245 or visit http://www.angelo.edu/dept/modern_languages/coffee_conversation.html.