Volunteering

    Volunteering is a great way to meet people in your community, practice speaking English and use your skills to help others. You decide when and how often you can help. Below are some of the many ways you can lend a hand in Framingham.  If you don’t live in or near Framingham, there will likely be similar organizations in your own community that can use your help.

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Mango Languages

mango  This is a very good tool for teaching yourself English.  It’s free if you have a library card at almost any of our libraries.  You can use it on your computer, and there are apps for Apple and Android.

Mango is available on the websites of MetroWest libraries – including Framingham, Natick, Ashland, Marlborough, Milford, and most others.  Boston Public Library has Mango, and anyone in Massachusetts can get a Boston Public Library eCard online.

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Conversations with Tutor Mike

tutor-mike  Tutor Mike is a robot who is happy to have a conversation with you.  First, tell him your name (such as by writing: “Hi Mike.  My name is Marian.”).  When you press Enter, he will write back to you.

You can write anything you like to Mike (“How old are you?”; “Where do you live?”; “I like your hair.”) and he will try to answer you. He can also help you with your English if you make a mistake. (Try to ask him: “What is a apple?”) And lots more.

For smartphones and tablets, there is a free Tutor Mike app for Apple (called “ESL Robot”) and Android (called “ESL Robot Pro”).

100 Conversations

It’s important to practice speaking – out loud – as much as possible.  If you would like to practice when there is nobody to speak with, you can use this YouTube video called 100 English Conversations Practice.

It’s a set of conversations between two people.  When one person is quiet, read their words out loud. They speak at normal speed, so this will also give you practice speaking more quickly.  It’s easier if you make the video the full size of your screen.

If you are with a friend who is also learning English, you can turn the sound off on your phone/computer, and you can each speak half of the conversation.

Can I Pet Your Dog?

pet-your-dog  “Can I pet your dog?”  If someone says this to you, they are asking if they can touch (pet) your dog.  If your dog is good with strangers, it’s nice to be friendly and say “yes”.  If your dog might be uncomfortable with a stranger, you can politely say “no”, and then let the person know why.

It’s a good idea for you to ask this, before you pet someone else’s dog.

Dogs make it easier to have a short conversation with someone also out walking.  In addition to “Can I pet your dog?”, you could start with something like “That’s a beautiful dog.  What kind is he (she)?”, or “It’s a great day for a walk, isn’t it?”

Do you know this great place to take your dog to play?  Eagle Pond at Callahan State Park in North Framingham.

Conversation Groups in Our Area

English Conversation Groups are free and informal.  They’re a great way to learn some English and practice your speaking. They usually meet once a week for 1 to 2 hours, and you attend when you can.  Here is an updated list of conversation groups in our area. Due to the pandemic, most of the places have groups that are either suspended or being offered online.  So unfortunately, space is more limited than usual.

If you know of any other conversation groups offered in the area, or of information that needs to be updated, please let us know.

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