Volunteers are being sought to help out with language buddy programs in Seoul.

The Seoul Village group is seeking more facilitators to help with its informal conversation clubs as well as its more focused weekly group meetings for learners of languages such as Spanish, Korean, French, Russian and Portuguese. The group is also seeking volunteer linguists to provide simplified translation services offered via phone, text or e-mail.

“Considering that we don’t have enough volunteers, we provide simplified oral translations for you in case of emergencies,” said organizer John Ha. “For example, when you are in a cab and need to give correct directions to the driver or when you are buying something and need to communicate better with the salesman.”

Some group members also teach English to North Korean refugees attending college who need help improving their language skills, or simply need a buddy to hang out with.

“Every person has his own preferences and available time to get involved in some of these activities along with other buddies who share the same interest,” Ha said.

“We do what we can with the few resources we have but the idea is to make small steps forward into making Seoul a little bit more friendly for all our friends from all over the world.”