Baku Book Center launches free Conversation clubs
13.10.2018
On October 13, 2018, the Baku Book Center, in partnership with the Creative TK Education Complex, launched free Conversation Clubs in foreign languages for children and adults as part of the “Oxu!” (“Learn!”) project. Ten days prior to the launch, both organizations posted announcements about the project on social media. Participants were only asked to have a basic understanding of the language they wished to practice and to come ready to speak. The initiative attracted more than 200 participants of different ages, who joined Conversation Clubs in Azerbaijani, English, Russian, German, Spanish, and French, with 10–15 participants in each group. Meetings are held in the educational zone of the Baku Book Center. During sessions, participants read news articles and excerpts from books, engage in discussions and debates on a variety of topics, and practice conversational dialogues. Debates are particularly effective in keeping participants engaged and encouraging them to use new vocabulary actively. The Conversation Clubs provide a relaxed and friendly environment to learn commonly used idioms and practice practical speaking skills. The main goal is to enhance communication skills in foreign languages and improve participants’ practical language use. Knowledge of foreign languages is increasingly essential in today’s world and is often a key to success in many professional and personal endeavors. Conversation Clubs allow learners of all ages and levels to practice speaking in real-life situations, which is more engaging and enjoyable than a traditional classroom setting. This approach increases motivation and encourages independent learning. The Baku Book Center and the Creative TK Education Complex hope that this joint initiative will inspire greater interest and motivation in learning foreign languages.