Q: What is the Language exchange service?

Language exchange is a non-formal learning activity. It isn’t the same as a language class or course, but helps to consolidate formal learning. It’s also a completely equitable exchange: each student offers conversation in their language in return for conversation practise in their partner’s language, so both are native speakers and learners at the same time. The Language exchange service has two main aims: to contribute to the linguistic reception of exchange students, helping them integrate into academic life and the culture of the city around them; and to advance the internationalization of local students.

Q: General considerations and requirements

1. To take part you must be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree, university master’s degree or doctoral programme at the UB (including affiliated centres) or registered on a course taught by the EIM of the Language Services . 2. We try to accommodate everyone who applies, but bear in mind that completing the registration form does not necessarily guarantee you a place. Pairs are organized in order of registration, so some people may have to be placed on a waiting list. Demand is higher for certain languages: indicating more than one (if you have a good enough level to offer another language) makes it more likely we’ll be able to find you a partner. 3. You must have some previous knowledge of the language that you want to practise: enough to follow a basic conversation. If not, the language exchange isn’t feasible. 4. The database of participants is updated at the beginning of each academic year.

Question 1

What is the Language exchange service?

Accepted Answer

Language exchange is a non-formal learning activity. It isn’t the same as a language class or course, but helps to consolidate formal learning. It’s also a completely equitable exchange: each student offers conversation in their language in return for conversation practise in their partner’s language, so both are native speakers and learners at the same time.

The Language exchange service has two main aims: to contribute to the linguistic reception of exchange students, helping them integrate into academic life and the culture of the city around them; and to advance the internationalization of local students.

Question 2

What will I get out of it?

Accepted Answer

If you’re an exchange student, the Language exchange service is a great way to improve your spoken Catalan. It will help you to follow classes Catalan better and get more involved in the cultural life of Barcelona. If you’re a local student, you can improve your fluency in another language you’re learning.

The Language exchange service is also a chance to take part in a cultural exchange, reflect on linguistic realities, meet other students and help people who are learning your language!

Question 3

How does it work?

Accepted Answer

1. Students who want to take part should complete and send the registration form. If you’re an international exchange student you need to indicate the language(s) you offer. If you’re a local student, you should indicate the language(s) you would like to practise.You must ensure that your contact details are accurate as we need them to put you in touch with your partner or group.

2. We look at the applications received and the order of registration to put partners together or form small groups. To get the right match, we check the information you provide in the registration form and do our best to align timetables, availability, locations and interests.

3. Once you’ve been assigned a partner, an intern from the Language Services will contact you by email, telephone or chat to make arrangements for the first meeting.

4. If possible, the intern will come to the first meeting as well to give you some useful material, make suggestions about how to get the most out of the exchange, etc.; if they can’t be there, we’ll find another way to provide the material. Whatever the arrangement, you need to be proactive and get involved to make the meeting a success. After that, it’s up to you to keep in touch with your partners and arrange the next meetings.

5. If we can’t find a suitable student within a reasonable period of time (for example, one to two weeks at the most), we’ll contact someone else from the waiting list.

6. The aim is for each pair to organize itself and meet regularly, preferably once a week, for as long as you want.

Question 4

What will I be expected to do?

Accepted Answer

You should be active in ensuring that the pair or group works effectively: attend all meetings, or make sure that your partner or the rest of the group knows in advance if you won’t be able to attend.

Each student must commit to using the language they offered when registering for the exchange. Local students must be pro-active in encouraging the use of Catalan in the group. 

Once you have been assigned a partner, you should keep in touch with the intern in charge of coordinating the service, so that the Language Services can monitor the activity and ensure things are running smoothly. If you would like to withdraw from the service, please let us know so that we can reorganize the group. We would also ask you to notify us if you have any serious problems with the group or with the service in general.  

You can get in touch with us if you need new ideas, and we’d be very grateful if you could share your experience on our blog, sending us a picture and a short description of your meetings, why you decided to take part in a language exchange, something interesting you’ve learned, or anything else you’d like to share. These stories help us to publicize the activity and reach new participants!

Question 5

General considerations and requirements

Accepted Answer

1. To take part you must be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree, university master’s degree or doctoral programme at the UB (including affiliated centres) or registered on a course taught by the EIM of the Language Services. 

2. We try to accommodate everyone who applies, but bear in mind that completing the registration form does not necessarily guarantee you a place. Pairs are organized in order of registration, so some people may have to be placed on a waiting list. Demand is higher for certain languages: indicating more than one (if you have a good enough level to offer another language) makes it more likely we’ll be able to find you a partner.

3. You must have some previous knowledge of the language that you want to practise: enough to follow a basic conversation. If not, the language exchange isn’t feasible.