The co-founder of Gringo Tuesdays, a space that seeks to connect local culture with the rest of the planet through the practice of languages, tells how the idea was born and his experience in Colombia.
© Provided by El Espectador
Australian Travis Crocket says that Gringo Tuesdays is expanding to the UK, Brazil and Mexico. / private file
Where did the idea of holding Gringo Tuesdays in Bogotá come from?
The idea was born when I had the experience of living in the center of Bogotá twelve years ago. As a foreigner (Australian), a lot of young people on the street asked me if I might speak to them in English so they might practise. I thought that there was a lack of space where people might carry out this type of practice with natives and that is how Gringo Tuesdays was born.
What is the objective of Gringo Tuesdays and what are the requirements to participate?
Our mission is to connect the local culture with the rest of the planet through the practice of languages. Parallel to this, we offer memorable experiences to those who attend with various activities and services that facilitate those connections that occur in the development of each event.
(We recommend: The “Memory Exercises”, by Salomón Kalmanovitz)
The event is organized by levels. How do attendees know if they’re low, mid, or high?
We are organized by tables, each table has a flag that represents the language that is going to be practiced there. On each flag, in writing, is also the level, which can be basic, intermediate or advanced. The selection of the level is done by the same assistant, we let them do a self-assessment and try the levels they want.
Do you think that with this event the structural learning models to which we are accustomed can be changed?
More than changing the traditional models of education in a classroom with grammar sessions, what we intend in Gringo Tuesdays is to bring attendees closer to a more natural learning, a simple model of practice and error and 100% immersion in the language. This model is often more effective if the person’s goal is only to speak another language.
Does the event only receive local people or will it also be open to foreigners?
The idea is that both come together, both foreigners who want to learn regarding Colombian culture and locals who have the goal of meeting people from other countries and also practicing languages. Foreigners also have extra benefits just for the fact of leading conversation groups in their native language.
As co-founder of the event, what do you think is the importance of carrying out this type of free activity that allows people to learn in different ways?
Generating this type of cultural spaces in the city has several positive aspects and the one that we consider most important is that of offering the locals a chance to get closer to another language in a real context, with native speakers in real situations; In turn, we offer tourists and foreigners in general an excellent opportunity to get to know the local culture by practicing Spanish or another language.
What languages are part of these meetings?
In all our events, attendees will always find groups of English, French, Italian, German, Spanish and Portuguese. And on special occasions and previously communicated we have groups of Russian, Arabic and Mandarin.
(Can read: Disidentes Festival opens call for artists in Colombia and the world)
Will the event have special guests?
The weekly event features the best DJs on the local scene and at very special parties we have special singers or artists to liven up the party. In turn, when the language exchange has a very specific guideline, we have several allies in academic matters, who come with the aim of improving the experience of the attendee.
How many editions of Gringo Tuesdays have been held and what have been the results?
To date, we have only stopped, since our inception, during the pandemic and have carried out more than 500 editions of Gringo Tuesdays. Thanks to the perseverance and dedication of our collaborators, we have earned the recognition of having the best fun and party plan on a Tuesday in Bogotá.
Does Gringo Tuesdays have something new lined up for 2022?
After establishing our event in Medellín, we have people who have expressed their interest from all corners of the planet and we are in an expansion phase with a view to reaching three countries this year: the United Kingdom, Brazil and Mexico.
