Language with a difference
FOURWAYS - Non-profit organisation Lingo Links has brought a new and fun way of learning foreign language to the community.
Developed and founded by Rhona Wetzka, the programme offers a friendly platform for language learning.
“Just imagine chatting away and making friends in your favourite foreign language without even buying a plane ticket. This is a wonderful opportunity to practice an acquired language or indulge once again in a language from your childhood,” said Wetzka.
Wetzka said the foreign language conversation circles consist of small groups that meet in members’ homes or coffee shops to socialise in different languages such as African, Asian and European languages.
She said each group is unique and chooses its own way of operating, meeting time and place. Some are bilingual, where the participants speak and help others to speak each other’s languages, such as Spanish to English or English to Afrikaans.
Mother tongue speakers, who are mostly newcomers to the country or long-time immigrants, form the backbone of the conversation circles. African language groups rely on the skills of retired professionals like teachers, lawyers, doctors and nurses.
“For newcomers from all over the world, there are English groups where they are helped to adapt and make friends,” she added.
“The only requirement is a basic knowledge of the foreign language. If there is no suitable group in your area, residents should start one as it only takes two to lay the foundations and start practising,” Wetzka encouraged.
Details: www.lingolinks.co.za; info@lingolinks.co.za; 072 786 9961.
