Initially a modest gathering of linguaphiles at a Portland café, this collective has evolved into an animated community. People convene every week here to hone their skills in languages like Spanish, French, German, and others strictly via dialogue and interaction.
The Language Table club has been operating for several months as an opportunity for individuals with varying levels of proficiency in languages to hone their skills and form a collective community.
“There are many individuals in the Portland region who wish to expand their linguistic skills,” remarked Gerald Gagne, one of the club’s initial organizers.
A further coordinator, April Perkins, assists in shaping the program as someone who speaks multiple languages and aims to start selling merchandise shortly to raise funds for the organization.
Gagne mentioned that his initial inspiration came from a college club experience where he found himself missing regular opportunities to practice Spanish after entering the professional sphere. Recognizing the lack of accessible and consistent resources beyond structured classes, he teamed up with several others to address this gap.
From its modest beginnings, the club has flourished.
A new member, Sean Christensen, remembers a time when they had a meetup with merely 16 participants. Today, the community boasts over 100 members who regularly attend sessions every week to hone their Spanish skills—and more.
“There’s a table for every language,” Christensen said in Spanish: “Hay una mesa para cada idioma.”
The club currently offers language tables for French, Portuguese, German, and Italian as well. Participants have the option to join multiple groups according to their preference, thereby getting exposed to various accents, expressions, and degrees of proficiency.
The emphasis is not solely on grammar and vocabulary, however. The club invites native speakers to assist learners in feeling more immersed and integrated into the community.
“People feel more welcomed within the community because of this,” Gagne clarified.
To learn about when each language table convenes,
You can check out the group’s Instagram profile.
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