During my time at Pitt, I was a member of the French and Arabic clubs. The goal of these clubs was not just to socialize, but to practice the target language while also learning more about these language-speaking regions of the world. Each club allowed for conversation that challenged perspectives and solidified others, while also fostering a love for the language and its people. Personally, I enjoyed these clubs because they gave me a chance to interact with people while using the language that was outside of a classroom setting. There were no expectations, and each member benefitted from the knowledge of one another. Language became a collaborative experience, rather than a competitive one.
I was also an English Language Conversation Partner with Pitt’s English Language Institute. I met with a student from ELI as per schedules permitted and we spoke in the target language (English). I enjoyed this experience because I not only got to make a new friend, but I got to interact with and learn about a new culture AND share parts about mine. This was one of the most rewarding experiences I had while at Pitt. You can read more about ELI here.