English Conversation Circle at Shrewsbury Library awarded grant

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Shrewsbury – The English Conversation Circle program at the Shrewsbury Library has procured a $4,000 discretionary grant from the Greater Worcester Community Foundation (GWCF) to help continue the program through 2015. The library has been offering the program since 2010 and for the third consecutive year has been the recipient of a GWCF grant.

The free English Conversation Circle program is a forum for adult learners, mainly immigrants who wish to improve their fluency in English. Participants are able to make new friends, learn about American culture, and gain the confidence to seek better educational and professional opportunities. The program has attracted a diverse group of people who have settled in Shrewsbury and the neighboring towns but who were originally from China, Japan, India, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Russia and other countries.

Four committed ESL teachers contribute to the success of this program.

“If you could picture yourself in a foreign country for an extended time without family or friends, you’d know how comforting it would be to find yourself in a group of people like yourself,” facilitator Lea Hench said. “Our friendly members reach out to one another, share cultural stories, and enjoy just being together each week.”

For more information and class schedules, call the library at 508-841-8531.

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