About Language Bridge
What’s Language Bridge?
Language Bridge is a non-profit organization serving as a home for, and facilitator of, a peer-to-peer educational project helping young English learners with limited native language practice opportunities to improve their conversational English skills.
Our native English-speaking tutors are school-age volunteers from the United States who have been selected based on their high academic achievements in English and demonstrated experience or interest in tutoring.
Our mission
Our mission is to remove language barriers and replace them with language bridges—authentic connections that allow young people increase proficiency in English through peer-to-peer conversational practice. Holding consistent conversations with native English speakers allows English learners to gain proficiency and confidence in their language skills, not only benefitting their self-esteem, but also their future as global citizens.
Why learn (and teach) another language?
Language learning opens up opportunities in education, personal growth, and work, while also improving cognitive function. Those who learn or know more than one language have wider range of learning tools, are more flexible and creative in problem solving and thinking, and have improved verbal skills.
Why English learners like Language Bridge?
Conversational practice with native speakers is a great way to:
- learn the authentic, “live” language
- improve listening comprehension
- grow your vocabulary
- practice pronunciation
- gain speaking confidence
Whether you travel, study, or work abroad in the future, you will be talking to people who don’t always sound like your current classmates. With Language Bridge experience, you and people from other countries will have easier time understanding each other.
Our online sessions are friendly and informal. There is no judgment and no grades. You can make mistakes and ask as many questions as you want—it’s all part of the Language Bridge process!
Every session is a unique opportunity to discover the subtleties of today’s conversational English and hone comprehension and speaking skills. We truly hope to see you here!
What our students and tutors are saying?
Daria
Hi, I’m Daria! I’m 17 and I am a High School Senior from “just outside Chicago.” As a Language Bridge founder, I do a lot of organizational work and housekeeping, but I also immensely enjoy meeting with my students and helping them improve their conversational English. I probably learn as much from them as they do from me, as the format of our meetings encourages the participants to talk about a multitude of facets of their lives!
Vika
My name is Vika, I'm in the 9th grade. It's a very interesting project, I like it and I want to do more. I have been making a lot of progress with my spoken English and can now understand native speakers much better than before I joined Language Bridge.
Yulia
Hi, my name is Yulia. I am 15 and this is my second year with Language Bridge. For me Language Bridge is the best way to practice my English. During our meetings I can supplement my vocabulary with new words and useful phrases. And of course we can use them in our speaking and ask questions to each other. That’s pretty good!
SOFIA
Hi, my name is Sofia. I am 17 years old. I study at a Gymnasium. This is my second year with Language Bridge—this is an amazing project. It is very helpful in improving my language skills. I like Language Bridge. It helps me to learn English. I learn a lot of amazing facts about America, as well as words and rules in this language. My tutor Dasha from Chicago uses a lot of informal phrases which I didn’t know. Now when I watch movies or listen to podcasts I understand them much better.
Liza
My name is Liza, I am 17 years old. I am a freshman at the University, but I started attending Language Bridge more than a year ago when I was in High School. I like this project because I have the opportunity to communicate with a native speaker and improve my skills every week. Also I like that I learn a lot about USA, about its traditions and culture.
Lisa
Hi, my name is Lisa. I am 14 years old. I really like this format of communication, because it improves my knowledge of the English language. My language leader Timothy from Ohio has been great!
Vova
Hello, my name is Vova, I am 17 years old. I really like this format of learning English. For me, this is not only a chance to practice my English, but also an opportunity to communicate with peers from abroad. I have a great time conversing with my tutor Nick from Cleveland.
Zachary
Hi I’m Zachary! I’m 17 and I go to New Trier High School near Chicago, Illinois. I love all types of music, movies, and sports. I play tennis and hockey, and I also play saxophone. My family enjoys traveling and I love to talk to new people from different cultures!
