JACKSON, Wyo. — How many times have you downloaded DuoLingo, tried it for about a week, then put it on the backburner despite its countless often shameful reminders that “it’s time to practice!”?
Language apps are a great tool if you can stick with them, but common knowledge says the best way to learn a language is through actual conversation.
Ask McKenzie McBride and Neyvi Loaeza. They have been partners through Language Exchange JH for a year now, going into their second season. Every week, they get together for an hour and just talk. About anything. Their summers, work, upcoming plans. They spend half an hour speaking English — McBride’s native language — and half an hour speaking Spanish, Loaeza’s native language.
“It’s a great way to practice,” McBride says. “It really forces you to use Spanish.”
Language Exchange JH is a collaborative program hosted by the Teton County Library, Central Wyoming College, and Teton Literacy Center. It partners native language speakers with people hoping to practice that language. Partners get together once a week to practice speaking just by having conversations with each other.
The program is perfect for people like Loaeza, who admits to being “really shy.”
“Sometimes I get nervous. I don’t know what to say,” she says. But she has found a friend in her partner, so the pressure subsides. They’re not there to judge, or even to teach. They’re there to talk. To get to know each other. Language acquisition is a happy byproduct.
“Now, I feel more comfortable,” Loaeza says.
“It gets easier,” McBride agrees. “The nice thing about meeting with someone once a week is you can build that confidence with the other person, too.”
Language Exchange JH tries to pair people with at least one similar interest. Loaeza’s and McBride’s is cooking. They’ve even cooked for each other in each other’s homes. It’s an easy place to take the conversation when it lulls, even if just to admit that neither of them has had much time to cook recently. But they both have things they want to cook. Maybe for Thanksgiving, they agree.
They can also talk about Loaeza’s daughter and her recent trip to Mexico. They share stories from their summers and pictures as accompaniment. Eventually, they switch to Spanish and talk about reading, studying, TV, school. One of Loeza’s goals is to read a book in English. Both want to be better writers, and agree to practice writing together.
“The structure is totally up to us,” McBride says. “It’s totally what you make of it.”
Language Exchange JH is still accepting applications for the 2019-20 year, and they’ve extended the deadline until Oct. 18. The program runs for the duration of the school year, until May. Spanish and English are the most common languages, but learners of all languages are encouraged to apply — program coordinators will do their best to find a match for you.
Learn more about the program and apply online.
