Every day, students shuffle into a dining hall to speak French or Chinese or Taiwanese or Khmer or Latin, or another of the 26 languages that are spoken at weekly language tables on campus. And every day, students who don’t know about their existence miss the opportunity to engage in lively conversations, reach new cultural understandings, and begin new friendships, instead eating in a dark recess of RoMa, alone.
Princeton’s language tables are all different — some offering intimate spaces for new learners and others an exuberant atmosphere for fluent speakers. Even so, every table is open to any student, regardless of background or language ability.
Each table has an organizer, whether an undergraduate, graduate student, postdoc, or professor. Luna Ramirez Castellanos ’29, one of the undergraduate Spanish table organizers, was first introduced to the concept of language tables at the Academic Expo, and quickly became an organizer.
“This being my first year living in a country abroad, I was very scared of missing my culture back home, missing speaking my language, and it was such a great opportunity to get to share how much I love Spanish with other people,” said Castellanos, a first-year student from Colombia.
In addition to bringing the Spanish-speaking community together, Castellanos has another power that is a well-kept secret: She is able to provide a meal swipe for students who have none, as are other language table organizers.
When the day of her first table came, Castellanos said she was “a little bit scared that no people would show up.” Instead, dozens of students packed into Whitman-Butler Dining Hall for lunch, ready either to speak their heritage language or connect with a new culture. Ever since, the Thursday Spanish Table attendance has never waned, with around 20 students attending routinely; it has even moved to the Whitman extension to have more space.
The Tuesday French Table averages four to six students each week, offering a more intimate environment for French learners to connect with Princeton graduate students and heritage speakers.
For Nina Zeltser ’29, the table has been a great place to build relationships. When speaking on the Russian Table, which she also frequently attends, she added, “it’s especially nice to be able to talk to some of the upperclassmen who definitely welcome all the freshmen that come to the group, and they also give great advice. They really care about how you’re doing.”
It hasn’t just been a rewarding experience for the undergraduates. French Table organizer Margaux Emmanuel GS says that the language table has allowed her to get to know undergraduates whom she might not have met otherwise. It also lets her put into practice teaching techniques in an informal setting when students arrive with questions.
“Seeing the motivation of Princeton undergraduates has been really amazing. I know that you have very filled schedules and that you take the time out of your days to just come and practice the language, which is really cool,” Emmanuel said.
However, if you are not already part of the group, it may be difficult to find it. The University’s language tables website is stocked full of dates that will be skipped, but it’s not a complete list — in any given week, an organizer might not be available, leaving students with the possibility of finding an empty table.
“I don’t think it’s easy to find the language tables or find information about them. If you don’t know that they exist, you’ll most likely never find out that [they do],” Castellanos said.
Even so, language tables have become a habit for many students, and even a non-negotiable weekly routine for some. “It’s been a great place to get to know new people, to speak my mother tongue, and to sort of refresh from a day of a lot of work,” Castellanos said.
“We have a cute little tradition where everybody goes and gets ice cream at the same exact time. It’s really sweet,” Zeltser said, smiling.
If you’re looking to make new friends, connect with a new culture, or get ahead in your class, look no further than the language tables. You might just find a vibrant community waiting to welcome you.
Zane Mills VanWicklen is a contributing writer for The Prospect and a member of the Class of 2029. He can be reached at zm6261[at]princeton.edu.
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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