Conversation Practice Opportunities

This page lists conversation practice opportunities for many of the languages offered at Columbia for the Spring 2026 semester. These include weekly conversation hours, meetings, and similar events for informal speaking practice. Please email lrc@columbia.edu if you have any questions or would like to add an event to this list. All languages are up-to-date unless otherwise noted.

We thank you for participating in this fall semester’s conversation hours. At the moment, we are updating our times and locations for the Spring 2026 semester. We appreciate your patience, and remember to check back soon for any updates!

 

Language Event Name Format Time and Location
Arabic Arabic Debate Club (w/Prof. Nasr Abdo) In person. More info here.

Previous Semester:

Tuesdays 6:30-7:30pm @ 207 Knox Hall (606 W 122nd St)

Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian BCS Conversation Hour In person. More info here.

Previous Semester:

BCS Conversation Hour is currently on haitus until further notice.

Email columbialanguages@gmail.com for more info.

Catalan Cafè Català In person. More info here.

Previous Semester:

Cafè Català is currently on hiatus until further notice.

Email eu2130@columbia.edu for more info.

Chinese Brown Bag Chinese In person. More info here.

Previous Semester:

Fridays 1-2pm @ 624 Kent

Czech Czech and Slovak Conversation Hour In person. More info here.

Previous Semester:

Following Dates 7:30-9:00 PM @ Café Amrita, 301 W 110th Street (between Manhattan Ave and Frederick Douglass Circle):

Tues, Jan 29
Tues, Feb 12
Tues, Feb 26
Mon, Mar 12
Tues, Mar 25
Tues, Apr 8

Email cwh4@columbia.edu for more info

Dutch Koffieuurtje In person. More info here.

Following Fridays 1-2pm @ Deutsches Haus (420 W 116th St):

Fri, Feb 27
Fri, Apr 3
Fri, May 1 (NOTE: 12-1PM)

French Café Conversation In person. More info here.

Elementary: Tuesdays 4-5pm @ Buell Hall (2nd floor)
Email lmn2152@columbia.edu for more info.

Intermediate & Advanced: Tuesdays 5-6pm @ Buell Hall (2nd floor)
Email fng2108@columbia.edu for more info

German

Kaffeestunde

Schwimmbad: Barnumbia Deutsch

In person. More info here.

In person. More info here.

Every other Monday 5:30-6:30pm @ Deutsches Haus (420 W 116th St)
Jan 26
Feb 9 & 23
Mar 9 & 23
Apr 6 & 20
May 4

Previous Semester:

Every other Thursday 7:15-8:15pm @ 327 Milbank Hall

Japanese Nihongo Chat Club

In person. More info here.

(Join their discord server here)

Previous Semester:

Following Dates @ 403 Kent Hall:

9/19 (F) 2:15-3:15 pm
10/9 (Th) 5-6pm
10/24 (F) 2-3pm
11/14(F) 2-3pm
12/5 (F) 2:15-3:15pm

Korean Korean Chat Club In person. More info here.

Previous Semester:

Following Dates & Times @ 403 Kent Hall:

Oct 3, 3-4pm
Oct 17, 3-4pm
Nov 7, 3-4pm
Nov 21, 3-5pm

Indonesian Indonesian Language Table

In person.

More info here, Oct 24.
More info here, Nov 8.
More info here, Nov 23.

Previous Semester:

Following Dates:

Oct 24, 3-4pm (@LRC)
Nov 8, 10am-finished (excursion)
Nov 23, 10am-finished (excursion)

***NOTE: Please view attached flyers for dates and registration info.

Italian

Caffè e Conversazione

Columbia GLOT Italian Language Group

In person. More info here.

In person. More info here.

Previous Semester:

Thursdays 10:30-11:30am @ 277 LeFrak Center (Barnard Hall)

Every Thursday 5-6pm @ 510K Lerner Hall

Persian Persian Circle In person. More info here.

Previous Semester:

Thursday 12-1pm @ 207 Knox Hall

Portuguese Bate-papo (Café e Conversação) In person. More info here.

Previous Semester:

Tuesdays 4-5pm @ Casa Hispánica (612 W 116th St)

Russian Russian Tea Gathering
(чаепитие)
In person. More info here.

Previous Semester:

Thursdays 5-6pm @ 713 Hamilton Hall

Email mt3750@columbia.edu for more info

Spanish Café y Conversación In person. More info here.

Previous Semester:

Thursdays 4:15–5:15pm @ Casa Hispánica (612 W 116th St)

Vietnamese Vietnamese Language Chat Table with VSA In person. More info here.

Previous Semester:

12-1pm @ 403 Kent Hall

Sep 12
Oct 17
Nov 14
Dec 5

Email cn2496@columbia.edu for more info

Yiddish Kave Sho In person. More info here.

6:00-7:00pm @ Deutsches Haus (420 W 116th St)

Wed, Feb 4
Wed, Mar 4
Wed, Apr 1