Joining a Language Exchange group here in Madrid (locally known as Intercambios) is a great way to practice your Spanish and meet new people. The Cheap In Madrid Blog (CiM) is profiling the various different intercambio groups, so you can get an idea of all the different opportunities you have in this city to improve your Spanish.
The Madrid Babel intercambio group, founded in 2000, now has over 25,000 members, and in 2009 and 2010 won the prize for “Best Intercambio of the Year” from European Vibe Magazine. They meet Wednesdays starting at 8:30 p.m. and Sundays starting at 7:00 p.m. at Café Galdós (Los Madrazo 10, metro: Sevilla). There’s no entrance fee, and everyone is welcome.
I had a chat with of Madrid Babel’s founder and leader, Fran Rodríguez Veiga, about his group. I also had the chance to speak to the people who help him organizing events: Paula Lorenzo Geada, Desislava, Gerardo Khaski and Abel Brey Carrillo.
CiM: What is the atmosphere like at the intercambios?
Fran: Usually around 200 people show up, from students to professionals, 20 to 50 years old, from about 30 different nations.
Paula: We have regular members and also every week new people come.
CiM: What about the intercambios enthuses you most?
Fran: Meeting people from all over the world. A lot of people that come here have travelled a lot so they have great stories to tell.
Paula: I agree. I was just talking to a guy from Colorado who says that the south of Spain is similar to the south of the US: lots of fried food, a more laid back pace of life. Talking to people here you realize that we’re not really all that different.
CiM: How do you get the different people to talk to each other?
Fran: We introduce everyone to each other and we start up conversations. We tend to introduce people to each other if they have things in common, for example, we introduce students to other students or businesspeople to other businesspeople.
Paula: We know all the regular members, and we introduce the new members to them every week.
CiM: What do you recommend to people here trying to learn Spanish?
Desislava: When I first got here to Spain, it was hard because people talk really fast and use slang and expressions I hadn’t studied in school. In fact, it took me almost a year to really start talking to people. I recommended people get talking as soon as they can. There’s no better way to do it than conversation. It helps you get over that initial shyness.
Paula: Nowadays people learn languages to speak them. It’s not like in the 18th century where it was more about writing books and letters. Now we really want to get out and speak. So joining an intercambio is useful. Also, visitors should really get out and experience all Madrid’s cultural activities. That’s a great way to learn about a country. The more you get out and meet new people, the more you can learn from them about the local culture and practice Spanish. Also, whatever you like to read about or watch in your language- comics, westerns, comedies- you should try in Spanish. That way you already have an interest and an emotional connection that will make it easier for you to absorb the input.
Gerardo: Travel around Spain, to experience Spanish in different environments. In fact, soon we’ll be collaborating with Walkandlearn.net to bring people on tours, so they can learn about Spain in Spanish.
Abel: You should really get out and take tours, see the city, walk around and talk to people. When you’re ready, going to see stand-up comedy is a great way to practice your Spanish.
CiM: What other languages besides Spanish and English do people come to practice?
Desislava: People come here to practice many languages. There are a lot of people here to practice French, German, Chinese and Japanese.
CiM: Are you trying to practice any other languages right now?
Fran: Yes, at these intercambios, I practice speaking English, Italian, Russian, French and German.
Paula: English, French and Italian.
Desislava: English and French.
CiM: Does Madrid Babel host any other events?
Gerardo: We organize trips all over Spain. We’ve gone to many places, including to the Pyrenees, Zamora, Valencia and Rioja. They’re great because by the end of the trips, people have made new friends and they really get a chance to loosen up and practice languages.
Fran: Yes, we go see original version films (with subtitles in Spanish). We also organize international dinners and tapas at a variety restaurants and bars, excursions, sports, cultural visits, wine tastings, etc. There are also parties with an international flare which usually attract over 500 people.
CiM: Can you recommend an interesting book about Madrid?
Fran: La forja de un rebelde by Arturo Barea
Paula: Benito Pérez Galdós wrote many great novels about Madrid.
CiM: What’s a good movie that takes place in Madrid?
Fran: Todas las canciones hablan de mí
Abel: Abre los ojos. Pedro Almodóvar makes a lot of great movies here in Madrid.
Paula: Los años bárbaros. It takes place in Madrid after the Civil War , and it’s based on a true story about students from my university, Universidad Complutense.
I also got a chance to talk to regular members David, Inés and Aiwen. David pointed out that because he speaks English, he’s always put on international projects at his job, so he never gets a chance to practice Spanish at work. That’s why he comes to intercambios. He says people shouldn’t feel shy, or get upset if they’re corrected. If someone corrects your Spanish, it’s because they like you and want to help. Also, if you don’t understand something, don’t be afraid to say so and ask people to repeat what they said. Inés, who’s a local who comes here to practice English and French, enjoys the chance to meet new people. Aiwen, who’s originally from China, comes here to practice her English so she won’t forget everything she learned when she lived in the US. She loves the international and diverse atmosphere.
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