Seeking Language Guides for Una Europa at UCD 

Are you a UCD student? Do you speak German, Italian, Finnish, Polish, Dutch, Spanish, French, English or Irish?

(An bhfuil Gaeilge agat? Read this article as Gaeilge) 

Are you interested in meeting new people and developing your intercultural and communication skills, while helping other students practice speaking a foreign language? 

Become a Language Guide volunteer and contribute to the Una Europa Language Café this semester! 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What is the Una Europa Language Café?

The Una Europa Language Café is a multicultural and multilingual programme that provides an opportunity for all UCD students to practice speaking German, Italian, Finnish, Polish, Dutch, Spanish, French, English or Irish in an informal setting. These languages are spoken at Una Europa partner universities across Europe. 

The Language Cafés are led by the Language Guides, student volunteers who are native speakers or who are fluent (C1) in one of the languages above. All Language Guides will receive a free hoodie to wear (and keep!) for moderating the Language Café, as well as a confirmation of their volunteer activity in the form of a certificate or LinkedIn review. This volunteer activity is also eligible for the UCD Advantage Award.

What is the role of the Language Guide?

Language Guides lead the conversation in their native or second language and support other students who wish to learn their language in an informal setting. Language Guides are not teachers; they serve as conversational partners and provide support to the learners by contributing their language skills to other students’ informal learning.

Language Guides are expected to prepare conversational topics and ensure that the conversation runs smoothly. The topics should be useful and interesting to the learners as well as general enough for beginners to be able to follow, e.g. travelling, hobbies, film, music, sports, etc.

When and where does the Una Europa Language Café take place?

The Una Europa Language Café will be held once a week for one hour (60 minutes) per session in the UCD Global Lounge. The exact day and time will be agreed upon with the selected Language Guides.

The Language Café does not take place on the weekends, public holidays, and lecture-free periods, and they should ideally take place between late afternoon and early evening on a weekday.

Why apply?

This is an ideal opportunity for students who are interested in: 

• Sharing their language and culture with other students
• Deepening their connection with their native or second language
• Getting to know new people and making new friends
• Developing intercultural and communication skills
• Gaining experience in group leadership

--------------------------------------------------------------------

How to apply

If you are interested in becoming a Language Guide, you are welcome to attend the info session on 30 September 2024 at 13:15 (1:15pm) in the Global Lounge, where you can learn more about the opportunity and ask any questions you have. Feel free to bring your lunch to eat during the session.

Register for the info session:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf-aL44l096sjJCE6pO84GV11ZuVRAHRjJbUvzaz9kC9wYSdg/viewform  

If you are ready to apply, volunteer to become the Language Guide via this link until 6 October 2024:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSewnKvrghSsofOVgSZ0R1CIUKex04Wg6bLSn2iKW54uecHGoQ/viewform

For more information, please contact Tajana Mohnacki at tajana.mohnacki@ucd.ie.