Interested in maintaining your Italian? Consider:

The Italian Conversation Group was created for the purpose of maintaining, promoting and increasing the Italian Culture.

The Group meets once a month in:
Houston, Texas, for discussion in Italian.
Our events thrive on the spontaneity, generosity and enthusiasm of our members.

Most group members live in Houston or bordering towns. Meeting attendees have various levels of proficiency; some are quite fluent, while others mostly listen. However, no English is spoken, and no lessons are given. There are no assigned books or topics of conversation.

You may attend some sessions and not others, but after attending a few sessions, you should be prepared to host the group from time to time, which involves serving light refreshments. The easiest way to find out if you are interested in these meetings is to attend one or two, with no obligation.

We generally meet the 2nd or 3rd Monday of each month, from 7:45 p.m. to around 10:45 p.m.
Meeting announcements giving the date and location of the next meeting are sent via e-mail about a week in advance.

If you are interested to join this group, please contact: Planet Italia for further information.

ITALIANO!
Nato come estemporaneo gruppo di conversazione italiana, The Italian Conversation Group è divenuto un punto di riferimento sociale e culturale sia per gli italiani residenti nell’area metropolitana di Houston che per americani o stranieri che nutrono un serio interesse per la cultura e per la lingua italiana.

Il nostro principale obiettivo è quello di promuovere la cultura e l'uso della lingua italiana, attraverso la conversazione informale, senza quindi l'impegno di abbonamenti, iscrizioni e frequenza di regolari corsi di lingua.
The Italian Conversation Group garantisce un dialogo tra italiani e persone residenti in queste aree geografiche, offrendo un luogo che si presta allo scambio di reciproche esperienze e di preziose informazioni socio-culturali riguardanti sia l'Italia che gli Stati Uniti. Esso è pertanto utilissimo sia ai neo-arrivati, che a coloro i quali intendono mantenere vivo il loro interesse o ottenere informazioni su attualità, attività culturali e viaggi.

I nostri incontri hanno luogo mensilmente presso abitazioni private proprio per consentire ai nostri membri di conversare in un'atmosfera tranquilla, rilassata e familiare. Le nostre non sono feste, ma festive riunioni. Alle riunioni si incontra nuova gente, si chiacchera del più e del meno o, se lo si desidera, di cose serie; si prendono contatti, si fanno nuove amicizie, ci si informa su novità, leggi, servizi, percorsi turistici alternativi, ricette, pubblicazioni, mostre d’arte e attività culturali sia italiane che locali, il tutto assaggiando prodotti e vini italiani e verificando le ottime abilità culinarie di alcuni dei nostri partecipanti.

L’atmosfera è rilassata e conviviale. Il nostro club e frequentato in egual misura da italiani, americani, messicani e stranieri provenienti da ogni parte del mondo. Il livello di conversazione non è prestabilito e dipende interamente dall'abilità e dall'esperienza dei partecipanti. Ai nostri incontri la conversazione italiana è d'obbligo.

Registratevi al nostro sito. L'operazione é gratuita, e i vostri dati personali non saranno mai resi accessibili ad alcuna entità privata, commerciale o pubblica.
Grazie per esservi uniti a noi in questa eccitante avventura.
Speriamo d'incontrarvi alla prossima riunione!

ENGLISH!
The Italian Conversation Group began when several friends got together to practice speaking Italian. The group remained fairly small for about a year – in fact, one time only a single person showed up.

The gatherings took place in restaurants around Houston but when the group grew, it became impossible to manage the meetings and keep our 'ragione d'essere'– converse in Italian – alive.
After trying a few more cafés and restaurants, it was decided to attempt a more cordial atmosphere by meeting in private homes.
The Italian Conversation Group has ever since grown at a steady pace, and most of our members are active participants.

Accessibility to our meetings is defined by one simple rule: as long as the participant makes a sincere effort to speak Italian, s/he is always welcome to join in.
In fact, at the meetings we do not speak English or other languages. Thus, while we remain open to new members, it is in our sole interest that The Italian Conversation Group does not slip into the format of a generic party. We therefore discourage our members from inviting friends who do not speak Italian.

We must also remind ourselves that we meet in private homes. The only reason we feel compelled to formulate these thoughts in English is to include in this discourse those individuals whose language skills have not achieved full proficiency. It would be unfair, assuming that everyone approaching our club is capable to discern advanced Italian.
We nevertheless hold true our rule: at the meetings, Italian is required and expected.

At the meetings, 'italiano' is spoken at all levels. You will fit right in, whether you are capable to set off on a philosophical dissertation, or you need to learn how to order at the restaurant.
Members' skills vary from beginners to native speakers.

Accompanied by the fine food and wines our members bring, our meetings are the perfect environments for a non-Italian member who is interested in our culture and language to hear the native tongue here, at home.
Our members can meet a variety of people who have already developed an interest in our secular traditions and language, and expand their network and acquaintances.

Our meetings have become the checkpoint of all the Italians who arrive in Houston and the polar information center of anyone who is planning for a trip to Italy.

Europeans have fed their nostalgia of the old continent and retrieved those colorful habits and warm hospitality, which are the distinguished marks of the Italian culture.
So, next time you plan to make it to an event, pick-up some bread, grab some Italian cheese, or get some tiramisù, sherbet, Nutella or biscotti.
Wine consumption has never been a concern as it is done very moderately, convivial style.
If you have time, make something you like to cook.
Our events thrive on the spontaneity, generosity and enthusiasm of our members.

The Italian Conversation Group grows and prospers out of the continuing enthusiasm of our members and the generosity of those who host its meetings.
Grazie a tutti per la cortese partecipazione.

The Italian Conversation Group was built for the purpose of maintaining, promoting and increasing the Italian Culture in the fields of language, literature, art and music.

The Italian Conversation Group’s Cultural Programs are oriented toward keeping our group together through cultural, artistic, social and recreational events.

MEETINGS.
Our next event is:
Houston, Texas, Monday, December 17, 7:45 PM.
Houston, Texas, Lunedi, 17 Dicembre, 19:45.
Find out where!

In addition to the regular meetings, The Italian Conversation Group sponsors and promotes other social and cultural events involving Italian language and culture.

The Italian Conversation Group also promotes and organizes various small group events throughout the year, such as cooking classes, Italian conversation meetings, outings to opera, other festivals, restaurants, art exhibits, Italian film showings, and other activities of interest to members.

If you are interested to join this group, please contact: Planet Italia for further information.