Free · November to December · going alone · Language Café Finder
Holiday season at a language exchange
Winter tables are friendly and a little different: people talk about food, travel and home. Here is how to go alone in November and December with ten easy prompts, holiday phrases and a plan for after.
10 small-talk prompts for holiday tables
They work in any language and stay away from religion and politics. Pick two, say them slowly, then listen.
- What do people eat here at the end of the year?
- Do you travel home for the holidays, or stay here?
- What is a good winter word in your language?
- What is your favourite winter food, and can you describe it?
- How do you say "Happy new year" in your language?
- What is the weather like at home in December?
- Is there a market or a street in your city that looks beautiful in winter?
- What do you usually do on the last evening of the year?
- What is one small tradition from your family that you like?
- What are you looking forward to in the new year?
Holiday phrase decks (firstphrases.app)
Short, free decks for the season. Only languages with a published deck are listed.
Christmas phrases
New Year phrases
Many exchanges pause over the holidays
Many weekly language exchanges take a break over Christmas and New Year, and some move to a different day. We do not know every schedule, so check the organiser's official page or announcement before you travel, and go on to the next date if there is no meeting.
Go to a market together after
Many cities have Christmas markets in December. Ask the people you met if they want to walk to one after the exchange: it is easy, public and has an end time.
Keep going into January
Use the 30-day plan to turn one winter evening into a habit, and host a small table yourself with the free kit.
Free 30-day speaking sprint Table tents and level cards for hosts Find an exchange in your city
How it works
- Pick your city. We list free conversation groups run by libraries and public programmes, plus upcoming language-café events from Come Alone.
- Check the language, level note and time on the official page. Most groups are drop-in; some ask you to register once.
- Arrive five minutes early and tell the host your level in one sentence. Groups are built for exactly that moment.
- Want to keep meeting people after? Meet & Mint shows events and people near you — join one alone, meet the group.
Questions people ask
Is it okay to go alone?
Yes. Most people at an exchange arrive alone. Say your level in one sentence and ask the host where to sit.
Do I need to know holiday words?
No. The prompts use simple words, and the phrase decks give you a few extra ones.
What if the exchange is cancelled?
Check the organiser's page before you go. If it is paused, pick another group on this site or try again in January.