The Language Café: A Place of Cultural Exchange
Languages only live up by their speaking. The Language Café, in German “Sprachcafé”, provides a place for this in the middle of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz campus. The Language Café takes place in ReWi 1 every Wednesday evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. It is organized by the employees of the “Freetime and Events” Team of the Studierendenwerk Mainz (Student Union Mainz): Eva Boes, Head of the Freetime and Events Department, the working students Cata and Jana as well as Léonie from the Dijon Program.
Everyone is welcome
Whether students come from Mainz, the surrounding region or abroad, whether young or old: At the Language Café, many groups are represented. Most of them want to improve their speaking skills of their preferred language, while others want to help them in achieving their language goals. In the meantime, they also want to meet new people and various cultures.
On the evening of November 5th, next to many German and international students, there were also many non-students. For instance, parents from Ingelheim accompanied their daughter to the Language Café as she wanted to learn Japanese. She went home with a bright smile on her lips that evening.
Anyone can visit the Language Café for free and without prior registration. However, it does not replace a language course. Therefore, a certain level (A2-B1) is a requirement for participation.
First time at the Language Café
As prior registration is not needed, participation is easy: New participants are welcomed at a table near the ReWi 1 entrance. There, they receive a name tag to write their names on.
Various Language Tables
Then it is time to get started: Throughout the entire ground floor of the ReWi, tables are occupied by participants. A map in the entrance area demonstrates where the respective language tables are set up for each evening. (New) participants choose which language they want to speak and join the others at the table. However, they are not bound to stay at their table, and everyone can leave anytime during the evening or join another table.
Especially the tables in the comfortable part of the ReWi-canteen are popular and usually fully occupied. On November 5th, they were occupied by the languages English, Greek, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Mandarin, Russian and Ukrainian.
Changing offers
The Language Café is also run by volunteer moderators. Because they don't always find the time on Wednesday evenings to accompany a language table, the same languages cannot be offered every week.
However, Jana explained that the following “regulars’ tables” (in German “Stammtische”) are always represented: English, French, German, Greek, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
On November 5th, additional languages offered were Arabic, Latin, Persian, and Ukrainian. An attendee asked in the entrance area for the Ukrainian table and was very happy because “unfortunately, it wasn’t available last week.” WhatsApp groups and an email newsletter inform participants about which languages are offered each evening.
The “Free Time and Events” Team is also open for many more languages. This requires moderators who can regularly host this new language.
A Special Place for Internationals
Especially for international students, the Language Café offers an attractive opportunity to communicate in their native language. Cata, who is from Columbia, is happy she can talk to other people in her mother tongue. The Spanish table feels like home to her. She adores teaching participants from non-Spanish-speaking countries about her language. “This way, I can pass on a part of my culture, which is very fulfilling.”
Angelina, who is from Russia and the moderator of the Russian table, describes the Language Café as her first “safe place” in Germany. Here, for the first time she felt connected to other international students, other cultures and languages. This connection means a lot to her: “I am not alone here.” Thus, she did not feel alone in the process of adapting to a new country or in her intention to improve her level of education and knowledge. Nor was she alone in her eagerness to understand others and their experiences. “All these feelings were provided by the [Language Café] – confidence, determination, courage, and a simple sense of human connection.”
In addition to providing a sense of belonging, the German tables are also helpful in another way. People with a foreign background often have difficulties learning German in a simple and uncomplicated way. For this, the Language Café offers German tables at different language levels to support them in their learning. On November 5th, there were three tables where students from all over the world sat together: Germany, France, India, Iran, Marocco, Russia, various parts of South America, and Syria.
Too Big for the ReWi-Canteen
From initial 10 participants, the Language Café now has up to 200 every Wednesday evening. Due to such a high number, the Studierendenwerk has been forced to expand its offering in the canteen throughout the entire ground floor in the ReWi. This led to critique from the attendees of the Spanish table on November 5th: “We would like to go back to the cozy part of the [ReWi-canteen].” The “Freetime and Events” team is aware of the problem and is looking for a solution.
When the language café is very busy, participants have reported that they have difficulty understanding each other.
Why it is worth coming
First and foremost, it is worth it because you can communicate with others in various (foreign) languages. Jan, who is in the first semester and attended the Language Café for the first time on November 5th, said at the Spanish table that he did not have the time for a language course this semester. “Therefore, this is a fairly cozy opportunity to engage in a conversation with others, practice language skills, and just keep up with it.”
No matter which proficiency one has or what mistakes one makes, no one is judged at the language tables. Instead, the participants are open-minded and ready to help. Generally, people at the Language Café have a very global attitude, Cata said.
Many participants stated that the opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds in a relaxed atmosphere and to find new friends is a huge advantage. Cata confirms it: “All the other countries are around you and this makes this whole community so big and so special.”
