By Ana Beltran, Adult Services Assistant | March 2026
Learning English as an adult can feel intimidating and overwhelming, but the library is here to help!
The motivation to learn English can come from a variety of places. Some people may want to better understand their child’s school administration, others want to connect with their neighbors, and some are interested in enjoying movies and TV shows in English. Whatever the reason may be, one thing is certain—you never get enough practice when learning a new language.
To help English learning adults in our community, the library offers a variety of programs to practice and gain more confidence.
Conversation Group & Reading Circle
If you are learning English, or know someone who is, our Conversation Group is a casual and welcoming place to practice speaking skills. The group is made up of both native English speakers and learners from all over the world!
It meets every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. in the library's Meeting Room 3, and registration is not required. Each week, the group dives into a series of questions and lets the conversation flow naturally. Topics have included questions like “What is the strangest thing that has happened to you?” and “Where do you like to go out to eat?” The conversation is always respectful, appropriate, and fun!
We also provide a conversation group that meets online via Zoom every Monday at 2:00 p.m, offered in partnership and led by Literacy DuPage. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link. Register here: addisonlibrary.libcal.com/event/15744585.
For those who want to build reading, pronunciation, and comprehension skills, the English Reading Circle meets Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m. Participants read short articles together and talk about what they’ve read, with time to review pronunciation and vocabulary. No registration is required.
ELL Book Club: Books & Bites
For longer reading, advanced English learners can join our award-winning ELL Book Club, Books & Bites! This group is a great fit for English learners who enjoy reading and discussion.
We read a full book over the span of four weeks through a mix of independent and group reading. We meet once a week to discuss what we’ve read so far while enjoying food from Nardi’s Pizza.
The group has read from a multitude of genres. Past titles include How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz, Oprah Winfrey’s What I Know for Sure, I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai, The Inmate and The Perfect Son by Freida McFadden. The next book will be We Are Not Free by Traci Chee.
Registration is required for Books & Bites. Participants receive a free copy of the book to annotate, fully engage with, and help with comprehension. Register here to join Books & Bites in March: https://addisonlibrary.libcal.com/event/16217873.
ELL Book Club: Books & Bites
Literacy Kits
English Conversation Group
ELL Saturdays & Literacy Kits
Something new we’re offering at the library is ELL Saturdays. This program happens one Saturday a month and each month we do a different activity for people to practice English. We’ve held conversation groups, pronunciation classes, and worked on Literacy Kits together.
Literacy Kits are take-home activity packets available every other month. They can be taken home and they offer practice in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Literacy Kits are a great option for independent learners or those with busy schedules.
Kits are available on the second floor in Adult Services or can be downloaded at addisonlibrary.org/literacy-kit. Patrons also have the option to return the packet and schedule a time to come and review their work with staff.
Additional Community Resources
In addition to library programs, College of DuPage (COD) offers free English classes for DuPage Country residents at a variety of Addison locations, including the library. Students first take a placement test and then register for the appropriate level class. For more information regarding classes offered, please contact COD directly at 630-942-3697.
Learning English as an adult can be challenging, but it can also be rewarding, social, and empowering. The library is here to support English learners every step of the way. Learning English can be fun and collaborative. If you know an English learner looking for a place to practice, tell them about the library!