5 Free Resources For Seattle ELL Students

English Conversation Practice

Talk Time Classes

Many public libraries have a class called Talk Time. It’s not a formal class— you don’t need to register; just drop in! In Talk Time, you’ll have opportunities to practice conversing with volunteers. Each Talk Time group is different because of the volunteers who help with that group. Try out a few groups and see which one you feel most comfortable with. Then keep going back. Although not every classmate shows up every week because it’s a drop-in class, I know people who have met new friends from these groups and remain in touch with each other. To find a Talk Time group near you, Google “Talk Time library.”

English Language Practice and Community

English Language Learner Alliance

Another free resource is the English Language Learner Alliance (ELLA for short.) This organization is anyone who wants to meet new people and practice speaking English, including those who have recently arrived in the U.S. and those who have been here for a long time. ELLA offers conversation groups for adults, special topics for life in the U.S., parent/child playgroups, parent/child song and story hour, and other special events. All of their programs are free, and you can drop in anytime.

Making Friends and Socializing

Meetup.com

Another resource that can help you meet new friends is meetup.com. This is a great resource for college students and older learners, as you need to be 18 to sign up. The site connects you to others in your area by interest. There is a wide range of interest groups, from photography to hiking, language practice, and walking groups. Some of the groups may ask for a $5 contribution as the coordinator needs to pay to have the meeting listed on the website but, otherwise, the events are usually free.

Local Librarians

King County Public Libraries

The King County Libraries is one of the most-used library systems in the country, and their librarians are a fantastic resource for ELL students. You can email them with questions about the project you are working on and ask for suggestions on the best resources for your research. If you need additional help, you can even book time with a librarian for 30 minutes. Visit kcls.org/ask to get started.

These five resources are available to help you increase confidence in speaking English, meet new friends, improve your language skills on your own, and use the skills of a trained librarian to help you with your research projects. Best of all, they are all FREE!