Improve your language skills and make new friends

Written by Marian Valentina Rivas Delgado

"Take courage, my heart: you have been through worse than this. Be strong, says my heart; I am a soldier; I have seen worse sights than this."

— Homer, *The Odyssey* 

There's no doubt that it takes courage to speak English or French in front of new people when you're still learning. However, if the atmosphere is friendly, conversation is possible.

That’s why, at Planeta Immiland Education, we’ve created a physical space specially equipped to welcome anyone who wants to practice their language skills through reading and conversation, whether in English or French.

This is the first International Book Club at our academy, which begins with a group reading of Homer’s *The Odyssey*!

Today, I invite you to discover how this story of challenges and fantasies can change the way you see the world and help you speak a new language with more confidence.

Every book deserves a good conversation

The Odyssey / The Odyssey / L'Odyssée

This epic journey, filled with challenges, decisions, and lessons, will take you on an incredible adventure that will awaken your ability to better understand the language.

Odysseus, known as Ulysses in our Latin tradition, is the king of Ithaca and the Greek hero whose long and eventful journey home after the Trojan War involves encounters with legendary creatures, gods, and obstacles that will test his wit and determination.

It's just like when we overcome language challenges. So there's nothing to fear from this classic of world literature!

Before you visit some of these pages, I'll let you know that the only thing you really need to join our book club is the desire to practice English/French, a willingness to share your opinions, and enough curiosity to ask questions without hesitation about the text.

How can you prepare for your first day at the book club? 

Make sure you've read the entire book, and get ready to join the conversation.

If you consider yourself a shy person, use these simple tips to help you through your first session:

• Start with the basics: Don’t go in with the idea of analyzing the play like a philosopher. Just share which scene made an impression on you—like Odysseus’s trick on the Cyclops—or mention lines that are difficult to understand or pronounce.
• Use active listening: Listen to others as they develop their ideas about the journey back to Ithaca, and take them into account as you structure your own presentation.
• Remember, this isn't a test: No one is going to judge your accent or how fast you speak. The important thing is to encourage yourself to share your opinion.

On the other hand, if you're already at a more advanced level, take advantage of this space to challenge yourself and contribute to the group:

• Use the discussion to refine your pronunciation of terms in the text that require greater precision, such as journey, suffered, sacred or longtemps.
• Join the book club by suggesting topics related to the characters’ cunning or Odysseus’s decisions. That way, you’ll discover your potential as a a language advocate, helping others overcome their fear of speaking while opening your own doors to global success.

The Odyssey is a really interesting book, full of adventures and stories that will get you thinking and reflecting in your second language, helping you make great strides in your ability to draw conclusions, paraphrase, express your opinions confidently, and make new friends.

How about a short read to warm up?

To help you gauge how you feel about the book, I'm sharing two short paragraphs with you. Read them carefully and see how much you understand. 

The Odyssey

"Tell me, Muse, of the man of many ways, who was driven on long journeys after he had sacked the sacred citadel of Troy. Many were the men whose cities he saw and whose ways he came to know, and many were the sorrows he suffered in his heart upon the sea..."

The Odyssey

"Muse, sing the story of this man of a thousand wiles, who wandered for so long after destroying the sacred city of Troy. He saw the cities of many peoples and learned their ways; on the sea, his heart endured much suffering..."

International Book Club Requirements 

If you don't understand everything while reading the book, that's okay! That's usually how it goes in in-person book clubs. 

It's not about being fluent in the language, but there are minimum requirements for admission.

• You should read the whole book because much of the conversation revolves around the characters and their story.
• If you're a beginner, you're welcome to join if you feel comfortable, but the minimum level is A2.
• You must bring your copy.
• Reserve your spot in advance.

The reading circle is designed so that everyone can clear up any doubts, improve their pronunciation, overcome their fear of speaking aloud, and enter the world of reading without judgment or evaluation.

The real strategy here is to to build confidence by speaking freely and encouraging you to speak in another language. The book is a means to an end, not the end goal of our club.

Take the next step

If you live in Bogotá, Colombia, and want to practice your language with new friends, come check out our book club.

Click on the link: https://www.planeta-immiland-education.com/eventos-bogota and find out how the experience works. 

I hope you found this topic helpful!

Remember that a story can change the way you see the world, and a good conversation can help you speak a new language with more confidence.

See you in the next blog post, where we'll continue to explore how languages can open the door to new international experiences and opportunities!

With love, 

Planeta Immiland Education