ISSO English Conversation

Spring 2026 Program Details

Take a look at our schedule from last semester, below. 

For updates on the Fall 2026 schedule, check back later this summer!

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Join us throughout the semester, on Tuesday mornings from 10am to 12pm. Spouses/ partners with all levels of English ability are welcome! 

It is entirely FREE to attend any and all sessions, as your schedule allows. Please register for each session that you plan to attend:

  • Feb. 10, 17, 24*
  • March 3, 17, 24, 31*
  • Apr. 7, 14, 21*, 28
  • May 5*

*Monthly in-person session. Please note that there is no session on March 10.

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VIRTUAL SESSIONS are held most weeks of the semester, with the goal of building speaking confidence and friendships via guided discussion.

Each session will center on one discussion theme, with various questions designed to practice communicative functions: description and explanation, past and future tenses, advice, comparisons, and more. 

For example, the discussion may center on "food," with questions about cooking habits, dining out vs. dining in, and similar topics. Participants will also receive general feedback on grammar/ vocabulary.

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IN-PERSON SESSIONS are held once a month, with the goal of helping bridge friendships from virtual sessions into "real life" connections.

Depending on the date, participants will either meet at ISSO Morningside for fun team building activities, or at a local museum for a group excursion to learn more about NYC local history and culture! 

Click the "register" button below or check the ISSO Family Programming calendar for specific details on our next meeting. *Registration is limited to previous attendees of virtual sessions.

Register

For attendance purposes, please use the same name and email address when registering for each session.

Register for Virtual (Zoom) Sessions
Register for the Next In-Person Session

Frequently Asked Questions

In recognition of the essential role that accompanying spouses/ partners play in the success of their CU international family, ISSO offers this special programming to help you build both communicative confidence and personal connections. ISSO understands that international spouses/ partners don't have their own school/ department community, and often don't meet the same English requirements as Columbia students and scholars.

ISSO asks that students and scholars please check the Resources for Students page or Resources for Scholars page to learn more about English learning opportunities available to them.

Yes. This is how ISSO manages attendance and/ or allocates enough spots for in-person sessions.

No. Programming during the fall and spring semesters generally follows a hybrid schedule of virtual (Zoom) and in-person sessions, based around themed discussions and teambuilding activities. Summer programming may be more activity-based and may take place in different locations around the city.

Be sure to bookmark this page to stay updated on programming for future semesters!

Additional Questions? Contact the Programming Team