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                    Library volunteers

                    Staff member outside the Kathleen Syme Library.
                    The English Conversation Club is a free City of Melbourne Library program run by volunteers. It is a safe place for adult English learners to practice their conversation skills, connect with others and discover everything Melbourne has to offer.

                    ​​​​​Participants can book into both online and in-person sessions each week. Face-to-face sessions run at:

                    • City Library
                    • Kathleen Syme Library in Carlton
                    • Library at The Dock 
                    • Southbank Library at Boyd. 

                    Volunteers facilitate conversation by introducing topics and guiding the flow of conversation to make sure each participant has the opportunity to contribute.

                    Volunteers must be native speakers of English and must have sound knowledge of Melbourne (minimum five years lived experience) as the conversation will often gravitate to what’s on in Melbourne, local issues, customs and slang.

                    Volunteers need to be kind, patient, and available to autonomously run a fortnightly one hour session for at least six months of the year. Please note that teaching experience or specialist language knowledge is not required. Our conversation groups are informal and focus more on social connection and fun than language skills.

                    If you would like further information on the volunteer role or to apply please email the libraries team at libraryvolunteers@melbourne.vic.gov.au.
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