Cultural Exchanges at Na'atik: A fun activity that is much more than it seems

English program manager, and former My Scholarship student, Erick Chuc Santos, this month writes about a crucial part of the Na’atik program for local students.

One of the most fun and important activities that takes place in Na'atik’s Library is our intercambio or cultural exchange. This activity is carried out with the participation of our MaS students who are learning Spanish, and our local students who are learning English, offering them the opportunity to practice and interact with a larger group of native speakers of the languages they are each learning. Cultural exchanges offer a unique opportunity for students immersed in the acquisition and learning of a second language to experience an enriching and meaningful exchange across cultural borders. Beyond mere linguistic transfer, these exchanges promote pedagogical and psychological development, positively influencing the confidence and self-esteem of participants in ways that often go unnoticed by students. Here are some of the cognitive advantages for students of participating in a cultural exchange. 

Firstly, cultural exchanges aid in the building of foundational language skills. Beyond the practice of listening and speaking skills, this activity also offers opportunities for contextual practice. Which means the use of the language that has been studied in the classroom can be put into practice in real organic communication scenarios, similar to an immersion experience. Using phrases and constructions learned in the classroom as part of an authentic conversation helps students to fully understand and process grammar rules. By interacting with native speakers, participants not only improve their vocabulary and grammar, but also acquire idioms and authentic expressions their counterpart uses in their day to day speech, making their language sound more natural and fluent. 

Cultural exchanges also have the advantage of creating certain pedagogical developments. They present students with an opportunity to interact with others from different cultures, ethnicities, languages, ideas and mentalities, which leads to a better understanding of both their differences and similarities. Cultural exchanges foster a collaborative approach to learning, where students become co-constructors of knowledge. This promotes an atmosphere of mutual support, understanding and patience. Another of the most important aspects resulting from a cultural exchange, and which is very important to be aware of, is the change of perspective. Exposure to different cultures and forms of learning broadens the perspectives of students, which is one of Na'atik’s main missions. This leads students to develop critical and cultural skills to be able to visualize situations that are spoken about from another point of view.

Finally, one of the great advantages of cultural exchanges is the positive psychological impact they have on students' minds. One of the great advantages of cultural exchanges is the development of confidence and self-esteem. By successfully communicating in a second language with native speakers of that language, students gain confidence in their communication skills.

Overcoming language barriers reinforces the idea that they are able to face challenges and overcome them successfully, whether in the school environment or beyond. Equally important is the way cultural exchange, through the interaction of students with the natives of their target language, promotes the development of tolerance and empathy. Exposure to different cultures reduces prejudice and encourages openness to difference. This contributes to an environment of mutual respect and understanding, strengthening the emotional well-being of students and creating unique connections with people of other nationalities. 

Our students have given us some testimonials about their experiences of intercultural exchanges.

Walter, a scholarship student from our Adolescentes 6 class, shared his views;

What do you think about the experience of being in a cultural exchange and how have they helped you?

"For me the experience of cultural exchanges is very good because it helps you to share, disseminate and exchange what you have learned in English classes. You can practice with native [speakers]; exchange language and you understand them and that they understand you, which for me is a great feeling that it is worth the effort. You know places they have visited and as well, we communicate places we have visited, too." 

Juan, also of Adolescentes 6 and a Na’atik scholarship student, joined us after the pandemic and is now studying English at the University of Quintana Roo. He gladly shared his views on the cultural exchanges in which he has participated.

How do you feel about the experience of being in a cultural exchange and how have they helped you?

"The experience has been very helpful as it helps us to develop more in the language. It also helps us a lot to interact with the real language they use in their day to day lives. Because it is also different to use the language as we learn it in schools than to use it on a daily basis. And as a result, it doesn’t help to learn different idioms, different phrases that they as native English speakers use day by day, which sometimes only in these kinds of interactions is how we can learn them and use them at the moment. This exercise also helps me a lot with what I am currently studying and I would like to see more in the future. "

Finally, Joel, who is a student who has regularly volunteered to take part in our cultural exchanges, also shared his experience and his opinion. 

How do you feel about the experience of being in a cultural exchange and how have they helped you?

“Sharing time with the native speakers, and hearing about their experiences, allows us to know how the language works naturally, which is of great help for us as students since meeting people from other countries gives us the possibility to know even professions that are not so common here, as on one occasion we met a sound engineer. And I find it impressive that coming from so far, we share the same ideas and tastes. And this has helped me develop better in the language and meet interesting people around the world. I hope there are more in the future to continue practicing and meeting new people.”

Our cultural exchanges are not only a fun activity, a challenging task for the students of Na'atik, or just one more tool for the acquisition of a second language, they also play a crucial role in the pedagogical and psychological development of our students. By providing practical and enriching experiences, these exchanges not only create competent polyglots, but also confident, tolerant and culturally conscious individuals who become better human beings prepared to face the challenges of the globalized world in which we live.

To read more about our local education program, and how immersion experiences, online classes and donations help us to give local students access to opportunities that will help them create their own futures, check out our Impact page.  The Na’atik Library and Intercultural Activities Hub is funded 100% through generous donations.   We also have an Amazon Wishlist for supporters in Mexico and the US, with a list of books, games and educational resources which our students would love to have access to.

The opportunity to interact with our local students during events like this is a fantastic addition to our MaS language immersion program, which already offers unparalleled cultural and linguistic immersion. To inquire about reserving you immersion experience and making this the year you master Spanish or Yucatec Maya, contact the team on MaS@naatikmexico.org