New English conversation club at a Charlottetown church unites immigrants

It could be hard to find places to practice English while meeting new people, but a new option downtown welcomes everyone.

By Valeria Mandujano, Oct. 30, 2023

A big black board was left on the front door of the church. 

Written in italics, with pink and yellow chalk: ‘English & French conversation club’. 

    It was 4 p.m., Oct. 28, and the doors were wide open at the First Baptist Church downtown Charlottetown.  

    In a room inside, two old green couches and 20 chairs were arranged in a circle. 

    Gustavo Gonzalez, the creator of the club, was sitting among them. 

    Others started to arrive. 

    Some sat on the couch, others chose a chair. 

    As soon as they sat down, Nancy Alcudia, Gonzalez’ wife, approached them with a notepad. 

    People wrote down their names, and later she came back with a sticky handwritten name tag for them to put on their chest.  

    Eleven people were looking at a wide TV screen with a slide presentation, waiting for the conversation to start.  

    “I always inform the participants with anticipation the topics we are going to aboard so they can study and talk in each session,” said Conzalez. 

    The club opened on Oct. 21. 

Gustavo Gonzalez wanted to create a community of international people to support each other. He and his wife, Nancy Alcudia, started a conversation club on Oct. 21 at the First Baptist Church downtown Charlottetown, for people to practice English and French and have a place to express themselves. VAL MANDUJANO PHOTO 

    Gonzalez and his wife started the club after seeing language being one of the main struggles for international people. 

    “It is difficult to understand everyone. Everyone has a different accent, different nationalities," said Alcudia.  

Support the community

    They wanted the club to be a space for immigrants to support each other and practice the language. 

    “I'm an international student. I´m also an immigrant as well, so I perfectly know what the needs of international people are,” said Gonzalez. 

    After arriving to P.E.I in August, the Mexican couple decided to create a Latin community and opened a WhatsApp group.  

    Today, more than 70 people had joined.  

    Not only Latin people but all immigrants or islanders are welcome. 

    They organized varied activities like picnics, outdoor cinema, sports competitions and celebrated this past Thanksgiving with a big dinner. 

People shared their childhood memories and experiences on the last session on Oct. 28 at the French and English Conversation club at the First Baptist Church in downtown Charlottetown. VAL MANDUJANO PHOTO 

    Back at the session, the slides showed the words ‘Welcome to the Conversation Club’ written on bold big letters. 

    Gonzalez stood up and changed to the next slide. 

    The topic of the session was childhood experiences and memories. 

    After sharing his childhood memories as an example, Gonzalez sat down and chose a boy sitting at the front to share his story. 

    People were smiling and chatting like close friends. 

Recently started

    The conversation club has had two sessions. 

    Ten to 20 people attended. 

    Gonzalez aim is to provide them a safe place to talk and practice their English. 

    “While they are here at the conversation club each Saturday, they have the opportunity to express themselves with freedom,” he said.  

    Jimmy Wen met Gonzalez at church. 

    He suggested Wen to attend the club, which also offers French practice before the English sessions. 

    “He recommended this to me. Right now, I’m focusing on French learning … but today I decided to stay longer to see how the whole thing is like,” said Wen.  

    For Wen, the club lets people learn more lingo and speak more fluently.

“I like the way Gustavo delivered the session to us. It let us discuss different topics, everyone has a chance to speak.” 

Dinamic sessions

    Gonzalez creates slides with questions about the topics and related images for the sessions to be easier and more dynamic.  

    As a language teacher, he wants everyone to feel comfortable speaking. 

    “One thing I love about this is that not are all just different ages, they are all different nationalities,” he said. “On the first session I was amazed to see young people and adults expressing themselves in English.” 

    For Alcudia, who also taught languages back in Mexico, it has been an opportunity to help and let people to learn from each other. 

    “I could say that the majority of those who are here in this club, including me, is difficult to be able to function in the maximum splendor,” she said. “But we can always learn between each other.” 

Gustavo Gonzalez and his wife, Nancy Alcudia, arrived at P.E.I in August 2023. They started with a small community of Latin people with the aim of helping and supporting each other. VAL MANDUJANO PHOTO

    At the end of the session, Gonzalez stood up and thanked everyone. 

Alcudia took her phone out. 

    Everybody gathered around hugging each other. 

    All were smiling. 

    Some scattered, some stayed chatting and some went home. 

    Gonzalez and Alcudia started to return the old chairs back on their places. 

    The session was over. 

    “People tell us “Why do you invest a lot of time, effort, in people you don't even know? … But I think it's worth it. Our convictions are very strong. Our principles, our values are there,” said Gonzalez. 

    For Alcudia, this has been an important phase in their lives, and she would like to continue helping people. 

    “What I have learned throughout these months is that nothing is complicated, you complicate your own existence. Everything is possible with effort. You have to say, ‘Yes, I accept the challenge’ and I go with everything you have.” 

    The Christian couple is planning to open a Bible study group at Holland College in the next weeks and celebrate a big dinner for Christmas with the community.