Downtown Madrid Intercambio

Here at Cheap In Madrid (CiM) we’ve been encouraging everyone who wants to improve their Spanish (or any other language for that matter) to join an intercambio (language exchange) group. The Downtown Madrid Intercambio is another great intercambio group. It meets every Thursday from 18:00 to 11:30 at the Downtown Madrid bar (c/ San Mateo 21, metro: Alonso Martínez or Tribunal) and it is free. I sat down with the woman running the intercambio, Gemma Pascual, for a chat.

CiM: Did you and your partner Luis found this intercambio?
Gemma: Yes we did.

CiM: When did it start?
Gemma: Three years ago, in the summer. Luis and I love to travel and we have participated in many intercambios in New York. It made me very proud to see people in New York trying to learn Spanish. Also, we have always worked in multinationals and had international friends. We wanted to continue to experience that international atmosphere.

CiM: What is the atmosphere like at the intercambios?
Gemma: People are very open and friendly. Everyone has come to learn and practice.

CiM: How do you get the different people to talk to each other?
Gemma: I greet them as they come in, and I bring them to the table where people are practicing the language they’re interested in, and I introduce them to everyone at the table. I speak English, Spanish and German so I’m able to talk to many of our members in their native language.

CiM: What other languages besides Spanish and English do people come to practice?
Gemma: French, German, and Italian. Lately Chinese groups have been forming off and on. We’d like to set up a more permanent Chinese group. Many Chinese people come in looking to practice English, interestingly enough.

CiM: Are you trying to practice any other languages right now?
Gemma: Yes, I’m trying to brush up on my German.

CiM: What about the intercambios enthuses you most?
Gemma: I get to meet lots if interesting people and I keep in touch with them even after they’ve left Madrid. We recently had a member who was preparing for an interview in England. He got the job. I’m not saying we did that, but it’s nice to know we helped and did our part. It’s a nice feeling. I love seeing people improve. It’s great to see them get over their initial shyness about speaking another language and just start talking. It’s important to relax and remember that everyone has come to practice. If you were perfectly bilingual, you wouldn’t come!

CiM: Does this group host any other events?
Gemma: Yes we put on short films here. Standup comedians perform here some nights. Also, artists come to give exhibitions here sometimes.

CiM: Tell me about some upcoming events.
Gemma: There will be an Argentinian themed party this Friday the 27th at 10:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome!