In terms of learning a second language, few people will question the benefit of formal training by a qualified teacher in a classroom setting. But if a student aspires to move to the next level of confidence and fluency, he or she would definitely benefit by supplementing classroom learning with regular visits to—what German learners refer to as—a stammtisch, or conversation circle.
If you aren’t familiar with the word stammtisch, it’s a German word which literally means, “a table reserved for the regulars.” On a more figurative note, a stammtisch is an informal meeting, a gathering of the minds, and a chance to socialize and imbibe, if one so chooses. For those who are learning to speak German, a stammtisch is a chance for students of various levels to practice what they are learning or have learned in the classroom. Students most often meet at a local beer garden or coffee shop, stay for an hour or two, and simply chat with one another in German. Although it is referred to as a stammtisch in the German culture, learners of countless other languages often gather together in the same fashion to improve their language skills, while getting to know like-minded individuals in the process.
The setting of a language conversation circle is usually quite relaxed, so grammatical errors are usually the norm and not the exception. In fact, opponents of this type of informal learning might claim that such a casual setting allows for errors to become permanent fixtures in the speech patterns of beginning speakers. After all, no one is assigned to correct mistakes as they arise. Instead, the language learning is decidedly organic in nature, which is why conversation circles like these can be highly effective as a supplement to more structured learning, or as a way to practice and maintain a language that a student has already spent a great amount of time learning.
