Orientation

This study group doesn't have any membership fee.
There are some official events may have some costs like outings, dinners, etc., but they are participated by volunteer, not compulsory.
Moveover, the place we use is not officially authorized by the store and we didn't pay any fee to rent the place. We are just common customers to the store, so it's recommended to buy a food or drink from the store.

There is no group leader to dominate this study group.
We tend to give everyone equal power and share equal responsibility, and no one has overwhelming power to change here casually.
Instead, we've built some mechanisms to let this study group keep moving forward, without having to have someone to dominate here.
There are some reasons we have some requirements, and also some reasons we don't do something unnecessary.
These mechanisms are built with lots of experiments incrementally, step by step, week after week. Know how to Make a change.

It's welcome for the host to bring something special to here like games, role play practice, etc. as long as it's in accordance with our current ways.
However, if it's required to do something special which differs from our current ways, in order not to change casually by anyone including a host, please put it out and discuss first.

Because uncomfortable feelings won't be good on learning, and will also reduce the willingness to participate our gatherings.
Be aware not to assume everyone has similar standpoints, because we all have different background and situations.
We hope attending here can bring our members positive momentum on English learning. The more we attend, the more we feel better and like here, the more we prepare and practice, and consequently the better we are. No one should suffer from the uncomfortable feeling caused.
Also refers to About being a host.

It will be fine if we can stay neutral and be objective to a controversial or sensitive topic.
It's inevitable that some popular topics are also controversial or sensitive. Since we all have different standpoints and opinions, generally it would be fine if we can stay neutral and be objective to discuss, and try to be tolerant and respect to others' opinions. Also refers to About being a host.

It's recommended to explain special terms, nouns, or content in short if it's hard to recognize soon.
Although the intention itself is good to persuade members to prepare and learn more, we all have different English level and preference on learning. And things interesting to someone don't mean interesting to others as well.
Therefore, try to explain something difficult in short, for members who are busy or not interested could attend without preparation and hesitation. Also try to make it more interesting, to persuade members to put more efforts and learn more. Also refers to About being a host.

Safety is the first priority. If happened, just notify your absence in the line group.
It's also available to notify your absence after the gathering if you forgot accidentally.

The host can be absent as well. If you also can't make weekly topics, please contact the one assisting hosts and another host will be assigned.
Sometimes something emergent might happen. It's recommended for the host to attend, but it's not necessary.
If you've posted the weekly topics but can't attend, just same as usual, notify your absence in the line group.
If you became unavailable to make weekly topics, please contact the one who assist hosts first, and another host will be assigned.

For members who joined less than one month or haven't been a host, we'll recommend to quit first and join again later when available. Why
You can keep in touch with any member here you know, and let the member add you in Line group again when you are available to attend regularly.
For the remaining members, it's available to be absent for under 3 months. If over 3 months, it's the same as above.
Also refer to our Basic requirements.

As we mentioned before your join, we are sorry we'll ask members seldom to come to say goodbye and quit our line group. Why

We didn't assign anyone to be a moderator or do time management.
The reason is partly because it's hard to know how many tables we'll occupy beforehand, and also hard to assign extra members to do these things.
To guide group discussion, the phrases are not hard to us, and we just need some practice.
You can learn the phrases from EFL - Phrases for Group Discussions, and volunteer to be a moderator in the beginning of gatherings to practice.
About time management, as a matter of fact we generally don't strictly manage the time unless we need to speed up to finish on time.
No need to worry because if no one does above things, members with some experience will become the moderator generally.

Currently we do not separate into different tables before the gathering.
During the gathering we'll separate into another table if there are over 7 members on a table.
If it's estimated to have 2 or more tables beforehand, it's recommended to separate averagely on everyone's arrival.

Because from our past experience, it could take a lot of time if we don't ask, and sometimes we can't wait for several days in a row.
Fortunately we don't have too much discussion on the line group. So we asked members to read group message, and reply only to group announcement like attendance, being hosts, official events, etc., only once a day. Also refer to our Basic requirements.

From our past experience, if members can be absent without notice or doing anything, they might just be absent and remain slient forever.
We hardly have an example for a member who was absent without notice for a long time, then one day appeared and stayed with us again.
The reason is the more they absent, the more they feel like they are outsiders, and consequently the more they feel reluctant to come.
Sometimes it's the very slight connection for members who are busy or unavailable to attend for a while, to attend again on the off chance.
Moreover, it's preferred to notify our absence before Saturday 10PM, to be able to know whether to skip our gathering tomorrow if equal or less than 4 attendees. Also refer to our Basic requirements.

We don't need to try hard to push applicants or guests to join.
From a long term point of view, instead of having lots of members joined, it's more important after several weeks how many members still stay with us and attend regularly. Therefore, make our requirements clear, and let our guests think thoroughly to have a clear mind to make their decisions.
Also refer to Recruitment.