A café located in Cunz Hall is helping students, staff and faculty members wake up to different cultural opportunities.
Ohio State students who wish to increase their fluency in a foreign language or want to learn more about a particular culture can speak with native speakers and each other during a conversation hour sponsored by the department of Germanic languages and literatures.
Kaffeestunde has been meeting weekly throughout the academic school year for 20 years.
The event, held on Fridays at 11:45 a.m. in Room 464 of Cunz Hall, gives German students the opportunity to improve speaking, listening and conversation skills.
Derek Myers, a senior in criminolgy, attends Kaffeestunde after his German class lets out on Fridays.
“You get to meet other people and interact with the teaching assistants,” Myers said. “You get to hear native speakers and practice speaking German.”
Myers said the free refreshments are another good incentive for attending Kaffeestunde. The Germanic department provides visitors with free hot beverages and pastries.
“It’s a positive experience,” Myers said. “I have a lot of fun.”
Game-playing is one way staff members and students can interact with each other and practice their language skills. At Kaffeestunde, memory games are played, as well as German Monopoly.
Olga Kronberga, a German teaching assistant, attends Kaffeestunde on Fridays and enjoys playing German games.
“We don’t always play games at Kaffeestunde,” Kronberga said. “Sometimes we play because it is more interesting than just talking. This is a chance for all of us to get together and have fun.”
A new event sponsored by the Russian Club, which is similar in idea to Kaffeestunde but intended for Russian students, is called Russian Roulette. The group will have their first meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday Feb. 12 at Woody’s in the Ohio Union, 1739 N. High St.
“It’s a chance for students to practice speaking Russian,” said Elizabeth Lubmina, a sophomore in international business and president of the Russian Club.
The Russian Club meets at 4 p.m. on Fridays at Bernie’s, 1896 N. High St.
“The Russian Roulette is for those who don’t want a smoky bar atmosphere,” Lubmina said.
