WHY DON'T WE TALK
WHY DON'T WE TALK
? Looking for a place to meet new people, to practice and improve your language? Get your flags, grab a drink, and say hello to MUNDO LINGO! by FLORENCIA BENIGNO
F
our years ago Benjamin Moreira, a young English man who was travelling around the world, found himself living in Buenos Aires and thinking how great it would be to have a place of integration and exchange of tips about the city, where he could also practice his Spanish as well as help others with their English studies.
HOW DOES IT WORK
You have to follow Mundo Lingo’s flag system: once you arrive at the meeting point the organizers provide you a flag that correspond to the language that you speak. So once you get the flags you have to arrange them on your chest according to your conversation level, your native language at the top and the weakest The first Mundo Lingo reunion was held in 2011 at at the bottom. The Temple Bar (945 Marcelo T. de Alvear St.) with the organization of “Benji” and some of his friends. It There is a group of “ambassadors” who are in became a place of reference for lots of foreign people charge of assisting people that goes to Mundo Lingo living, working or studying in the country, a reunion for the first time or people that attend the meeting where they can learn tips about the city –what to do, without company and feel a little shy. Among the what to visit, etc.– and where they can also talk in the ambassadors there is a group of Argentines, called language they want to practice. “honorary ambassadors”, who have always attended
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to Mundo Lingo, and there is also a group of foreign people called “idiomatic ambassadors”, who represent different linguistic communities. They are all attentive to people that go alone or feel inhibited and help them to get in touch with the groups that speak the language they want to practice. “We want to avoid isolation. If you want to speak, you’ll find yourself speaking to somebody in five minutes. But if you have any trouble to start a conversation, this support group will be there so you can participate actively in this event”, explains Miguel Raspanti, manager of Mundo Lingo Buenos Aires. WHO WILL YOU FIND
per week, London (United Kingdom) and Cologne (Germany), both of them with two weekly events. On February 4th it started in Melbourne (Australia) with really good prospects, and at the end of February it will start in Houston (United States) and in San José de Costa Rica. The last city in the list for the moment is Barcelona (Spain), which will start hosting the event in March. WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE Tuesdays: The Temple Bar (Marcelo T. de Alvear 945) Wednesdays: Soria Bar (Gorriti 5151) Friday: Oliver’s Club (Guatemala 4462)
Miguel explains that Mundo Lingo’s main public is not made by people that come to Buenos Aires to spend two or three days: “We promote the event as a cultural meeting so our public is full of people who are studying in Buenos Aires, working or travelling to learn the language.” Among the people that usually go to the event you’ll find a wide spectrum of nationalities. The organization has approximately 130 flags of countries and linguistic communities. And there are seven flags that they use the most: United States, Germany, Brazil, United Kingdom, Italy and France. There are also visitors from other countries including people from Asia, South America, North America, Central America and Africa. A MUST VISIT PLACE Mundo Lingo is a place where people have fun. It is very friendly and you can attend alone, with a partner, with your couple, be 100% sure that you’ll find it easy to establish bonds with people. In addition, it’s a good place to meet people who can give you tips about the city. “There are few places where you can meet new people without any excuse to talk; I think this is a unique concept and it is useful for many people,” comments Miguel. As the main idea is to talk and practice your languages, it’s a perfect place to improve your studies and overcome shyness. MUNDO LINGO AROUND THE WORLD There are another four cities around the world where you can live the Mundo Lingo experience: Montereal (Canada), which hosts three meetings
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Find out more about Mundo Lingo at http://mundolingo.org
5 REASONS TO TALK TO AN ARGENTINE 1. They are open to dialogue. Argentines like to talk and they can chat about the most different issues you can imagine. 2. They are friendly. Don’t be scared of approaching an Argentine, they will like to meet and talk to you! 3. They are curious. They are good listeners and conversationalists, but they also like to find out something new about the people they meet. 4. They always know a joke. In Argentina you’ll find people with a great sense of humor, and be sure that they will come up with a joke or a funny anecdote during your conversation. 5. They have a rich and varied genealogical tree. As Argentina received lots of immigrants during the past centuries, ancestors of Argentines may come from wherever. It’s fun to find out their roots!
? Looking for a place to meet new people, to practice and improve your language? Get your flags, grab a drink, and say hello to MUNDO LINGO! by FLORENCIA BENIGNO
F
our years ago Benjamin Moreira, a young English man who was travelling around the world, found himself living in Buenos Aires and thinking how great it would be to have a place of integration and exchange of tips about the city, where he could also practice his Spanish as well as help others with their English studies.
HOW DOES IT WORK
You have to follow Mundo Lingo’s flag system: once you arrive at the meeting point the organizers provide you a flag that correspond to the language that you speak. So once you get the flags you have to arrange them on your chest according to your conversation level, your native language at the top and the weakest The first Mundo Lingo reunion was held in 2011 at at the bottom. The Temple Bar (945 Marcelo T. de Alvear St.) with the organization of “Benji” and some of his friends. It There is a group of “ambassadors” who are in became a place of reference for lots of foreign people charge of assisting people that goes to Mundo Lingo living, working or studying in the country, a reunion for the first time or people that attend the meeting where they can learn tips about the city –what to do, without company and feel a little shy. Among the what to visit, etc.– and where they can also talk in the ambassadors there is a group of Argentines, called language they want to practice. “honorary ambassadors”, who have always attended
30
to Mundo Lingo, and there is also a group of foreign people called “idiomatic ambassadors”, who represent different linguistic communities. They are all attentive to people that go alone or feel inhibited and help them to get in touch with the groups that speak the language they want to practice. “We want to avoid isolation. If you want to speak, you’ll find yourself speaking to somebody in five minutes. But if you have any trouble to start a conversation, this support group will be there so you can participate actively in this event”, explains Miguel Raspanti, manager of Mundo Lingo Buenos Aires. WHO WILL YOU FIND
per week, London (United Kingdom) and Cologne (Germany), both of them with two weekly events. On February 4th it started in Melbourne (Australia) with really good prospects, and at the end of February it will start in Houston (United States) and in San José de Costa Rica. The last city in the list for the moment is Barcelona (Spain), which will start hosting the event in March. WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE Tuesdays: The Temple Bar (Marcelo T. de Alvear 945) Wednesdays: Soria Bar (Gorriti 5151) Friday: Oliver’s Club (Guatemala 4462)
Miguel explains that Mundo Lingo’s main public is not made by people that come to Buenos Aires to spend two or three days: “We promote the event as a cultural meeting so our public is full of people who are studying in Buenos Aires, working or travelling to learn the language.” Among the people that usually go to the event you’ll find a wide spectrum of nationalities. The organization has approximately 130 flags of countries and linguistic communities. And there are seven flags that they use the most: United States, Germany, Brazil, United Kingdom, Italy and France. There are also visitors from other countries including people from Asia, South America, North America, Central America and Africa. A MUST VISIT PLACE Mundo Lingo is a place where people have fun. It is very friendly and you can attend alone, with a partner, with your couple, be 100% sure that you’ll find it easy to establish bonds with people. In addition, it’s a good place to meet people who can give you tips about the city. “There are few places where you can meet new people without any excuse to talk; I think this is a unique concept and it is useful for many people,” comments Miguel. As the main idea is to talk and practice your languages, it’s a perfect place to improve your studies and overcome shyness. MUNDO LINGO AROUND THE WORLD There are another four cities around the world where you can live the Mundo Lingo experience: Montereal (Canada), which hosts three meetings
31
Find out more about Mundo Lingo at http://mundolingo.org
5 REASONS TO TALK TO AN ARGENTINE 1. They are open to dialogue. Argentines like to talk and they can chat about the most different issues you can imagine. 2. They are friendly. Don’t be scared of approaching an Argentine, they will like to meet and talk to you! 3. They are curious. They are good listeners and conversationalists, but they also like to find out something new about the people they meet. 4. They always know a joke. In Argentina you’ll find people with a great sense of humor, and be sure that they will come up with a joke or a funny anecdote during your conversation. 5. They have a rich and varied genealogical tree. As Argentina received lots of immigrants during the past centuries, ancestors of Argentines may come from wherever. It’s fun to find out their roots!
