Walking into a room where everyone is speaking a foreign language can be intimidating. Your thoughts begin to race as questions are asked: “What are they saying? Are they talking about me?” Immediately, you distance yourself from the group and reflect back to your language class and ask yourself “What were those phrases Señora Sanchez used?” Bits of broken Spanish begin to slip out. Recognizing your lack of comprehension you’re tempted to ask, “Do you speak English?” in a broken form of Spanish. Now let’s take this situation down south, not to a city in the U.S., but one called Villa María in Argentina.

Now, you’re the foreigner and locals who speak English are excited to speak with a native. In addition, you’re the first American they’ve ever seen. Argentines have a deep sense of appreciation for American culture, even while harboring a strong distaste of U.S. foreign policy. Yet, many of them are interested in learning English. Take a stroll downtown and folks will stop in the middle of their tracks just to stare, wondering where you are from and why you’re speaking in English or Spanish with a “gringo” accent.

This same recurring scenario happens every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon at the Universidad Nacional de Villa María (UNVM), at the university’s dining hall. As a Fulbrighter, I established an English learning club in the heart of the city. The English club, “Café Inglés”, which translates to English Coffee, offers students the opportunity to use the English skills they acquired throughout grade school in a safe and non-threatening environment. Whether it’s with a cup of coffee, or some maté (Argentine tea) to go around, the club serves as a space for cross-cultural exchanges as participants share about American and Argentine traditions, culture, and ideals.

Although Argentines are exposed to the English language and study it by the time they are in kindergarten, few master the language. An even smaller percentage of the population use their English skills regularly. As a result, many view English as a language meant for the privileged few. This led me to question the value of the English language for an average Argentine. At the university in Villa Maria, students study an array of subjects, ranging from music and photography, to electrical engineering, political science, and medicine. My interactions with local students underscored the importance of the English language in many technical fields. The ability to deduce English technical writing is imperative to the growth and success of these students in their field of study.

In light of these discoveries, I decided to establish Café Inglés, where cross-cultural communication could thrive in a safe space. It is my hope that the forthcoming entries will shed light on the role that cultural exchanges and cross-cultural communication can play in reshaping public opinion in a southern town known as Villa, Maria.

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