creating a local polyglot community

Creating a LocalPolyglot Community

Alexander FergusonBlog: http://www.echonotation.com/Twitter: @echonotationPresented at: The 2016 Polyglot Gathering in Berlin

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http://www.echonotation.com/

Don’t reinvent the wheel!Does the community already exist in your area?

Are there groups you can partner with in your area?

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Don’t reinvent the wheel!Does the community already exist in your area?

Are there groups you can partner with in your area?

EXAMPLES:

● Cultural Centers / Organizations● Heritage museums● Local, language-specific clubs● Schools

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Seattle PolyglotsJune 2015 -> Feb 2016 (when I left to Vietnam)

-- Used Meetup.com

-- By February: ~99 “members”, 25 “showed up”, 7 “regulars”

-- All who showed spoke at least 3 languages, most were conversational in 5+

-- Weekly meetings: language free-for-all, Romance Languages chats

-- Member main interests: conversation, dining out, cultural events, presentations

So.. basically.. A lot like the Polyglot Gathering… 4

Making the Community requires PLANNING!

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Making the Community requires PLANNING!5 Questions to ask yourself:

1. WHAT2. WHERE3. WHO4. HOW5. WHEN

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Making the Community: WHATWhat kind of group do you want to create?

What will you do?

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Making the Community: WHATWhat kind of group do you want to create?

What will you do?

EXAMPLES:

● Conversation practice● Polyglot tips / tricks● Cultural exploration● Language “oddities” and presentations● How-to’s and mini language lessons● Group language goals● Language Games

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Making the Community: WHEREWhere will you meet?

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EXAMPLES:

● Cafés● Libraries● Cultural Centers● People’s houses● The park● Schools / Campuses

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EXAMPLES:

● Cafés● Libraries● Cultural Centers● People’s houses● The park● Schools / Campuses

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BRAINSTORM!

Making the Community: WHOWho will be a part of the group?

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● The whole community● Just students

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How will you find members?

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● Meetup● Facebook groups● Bulletin Boards● Campus Groups● Flyers

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● Meetup● Facebook groups● Bulletin Boards● Campus Groups● Flyers

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BRAINSTORM!

Making the Community: HOWHow will you organize the meetings & communicate with each other?

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Making the Community: HOWHow will you organize the meetings & communicate with each other?

● Email list● Bulletin board● Social Media (Meetup, FB, Twitter)● Email lists● Membership online?● Messaging apps (Whatsapp, line, etc.)

-- Can everyone contact everyone else? Or can they only contact you?

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BRAINSTORM!

Making the Community: WHEN (+ more how)Scheduling!

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● How often will you meet?

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● How often will you meet?● Will the schedule for each meeting be organized?

a. Introducing each otherb. Theme / Presentations / Discussionc. Free-for-all conversation

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● Will you schedule topics ahead of time?

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● Will you schedule topics ahead of time?● Can people see what topics will be ahead of time?● How organized is TOO organized

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Growing the Community: Are you ready?Is it time to grow?!

WAIT LONGER!

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Growing the Community: Are you ready?Is it time to grow?!

WAIT LONGER!

● You don’t want to grow too fast if it is “low quality growth”● Community building is like language learning: persistence is the most

important part, and progress takes time.● My first 3 months were slow, then the group grew a lot faster

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Growing the Community: Who IS the Community?What do you know about your community?

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● Who is showing up?● Do members share the same interests and desires for the group that you do?● Age range? retired/student/professional?● Interested in speaking practice? General language geekery?● Seasoned polyglots or passionate novices?

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● Who is showing up?● Do members share the same interests and desires for the group that you do?● Age range? retired/student/professional?● Interested in speaking practice? General language geekery?● Seasoned polyglots or passionate novices?

I kept statistics for my group:

● Most common languages (in order) -> en, es, fr, it, de, ru, pt● Speakers of Middle Eastern and S Asian languages least likely to show up

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Growing the Community: ChangeIs it time for the group to change?

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Growing the Community: ChangeIs it time for the group to change?

● Are some activities not working out?● Are you getting any complaints?● Seasonal constraints (e.g. outside picnics and activities)● Un-included demographics (Ages? Genders? Languages spoken? Native

speakers?)● Is the group splitting into multiple groups?● Is there an interest you can’t yet accomodate? (Movies, Presentations, etc.)

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Growing the Community: ParticipationQuality over Quantity

1. It’s better to have fewer people who are more enthusiastic than more people who are less interested

2. Identify your most “engaged” members3. Accept help / ask for participation / nurture others to lead -- plenty of people

want to be involved in things they care about4. Help everyone feel (and be) involved

The more people are enthusiastic, they more THEY will help grow the community

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Growing the Community: Rinse and RepeatMake adjustments along the way, but keep going back to the same questions you had at the beginning of making the community.

Just be persistent.

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Questions?

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Thank you!

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creating a local polyglot community

Leadership & Management