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EVENT:
Come make connections with others who
share your interest in Mandarin!
Reasons to
attend:
- practice speaking
Mandarin
in a social environment
- make new friends who also
enjoy speaking Mandarin
- Socialize -- in Mandarin
- network with other
professional who may (or may not) be in China-related
fields
You probably will NOT feel
comfortable attending if:
- you are expecting someone to
dedicate their time tutoring you in Mandarin at this event.
People are friendly and some may be willing to help you out, but,
remember that this is a social event for everyone. You must
be pro-active about your own learning and conversations (just like
any social event).
- you don't know any Mandarin
at all. If you are interested in China but have never learned
any Chinese, you may find other venues more appealing such as the
World Affairs Council lectures, City College Chinese language
classes, the Center for the Pacific Rim, or the Asian Art
Museum.
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WHO:
All
levels are welcome and encouraged. Please come intending to speak in
Mandarin. Please be respectful of the language environment and speak
in Mandarin as much as possible & use English only as
necessary.
You do
not need to be a member of the World Affairs Council to come.
-
The
age of participants ranges from about 21 -
70.
-
The
number of participants ranges from about 30
- 50 each time.
-
So
far the Mandarin level of participatns has been about 20%
beginners, 50% Intermediate, and 30% native or
advanced.
First
time to the group? Welcome! Each time there are many
newcomers and you will be certain to find plenty of people to talk
with quickly.
Please
keep in mind this is not a "class" -- you must be pro-active about
your own learning and your own conversations (just like any social
event.)
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WHERE:
In the past we have met at various venues including
- bars & lounges
- museums
- parks (daytime event)
Please check the eVite for each month's venue.
We need more ideas!
This is a non-profit group and we do not have a budget to "rent" or "reserve" a location. If you have any ideas for where a group of 50 people can meet without a reservation, let me know. wacsf_mandarin@yahoo.com . in general we try to pick places with
- Convenient to public transportation
- Convenient for parking
- Quiet enough for conversations (i.e., no venues with loud music)
- Enough room for 50 people
- No fee for using the space and no commitment for a specific number of beverages purchased
- Individual payment is OK. (Some venues try to enforce one big bill for the whole group. We avoid such places.)
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WHEN - DATE &
TIME:
We meet monthly and generally pick a weeknight although we have had a couple weekend events.
For details about the
exact date of our next next meeting, please contact Linda at wacsf_mandarin@yahoo.com . We will send you the date and the
invitation which you may later use to
RSVP.
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COST:
We try to keep things simple. Many events are free. Some events are at bars or lounges where we ask participants to purchase a drink so that our group will be welcome back.
Check the eVite for the amount of this month's event.
The event organizer is a 100% volunteer and the orgaznier is not paid for being the organizer.
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TRANSPORTATION:
- Car: We try to pick venues with a parking garage near-by. Check the eVite for details.
- BUS & BART: We try to find locations convenient for public transportation.
Find bus/bart
maps
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RSVP:
Some venues require a firm RSVP commitment if we have firm reservations. Other venues are not as strict. In general, please RSVP and honor your RSVP
To get on the
invitation list, please write to group moderator wacsf_mandarin@yahoo.com
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WHAT IS THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL?
The Council's mission is to engage the public in the exploration of issues and opportunities that transcend borders. The Northern California Chapter is the largest of the affliliates of the World Affairs Councils of America - the largest international affairs non-profit organization in the United States.
Main World Affairs Council Website: www.ItsYourWorld.org
From the World Affairs Council's main website:
Public programs have been at the core of our engagement with the San Francisco Bay Area community since 1947. Over two hundred speakers annually offer members of our community the opportunity to hear and participate in discussions with leaders from every field related to world affairs. Heads of state, Nobel laureates, government officials, journalists, authors, and academic experts all visit the Council to share their views and understand ours. Public programs also include special series, conferences, and photography exhibits.
The Council's Global Philanthropy Forum aims to build a community of donors and social investors committed to international causes, and to enable and enhance the strategic nature of their giving and social investing.
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CONTACT -
QUESTIONS?
Please contact the volunteer
moderator:
Looking for a different language? See the
World Affairs Council's list of
all Language
Dinner
Contacts.
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