On July 3, around 15 people gathered at The Boxcar Wine & Beer Garden to practice languages, laugh at common mistakes and celebrate different cultures during the Language Exchange Party Bonanza, a free and open meetup for anyone, regardless of language or fluency level.
Since 2020, the event has grown steadily thanks to León Icaza, 48, a language instructor and one of its main organizers.
“People who are truly passionate about a language work really hard to learn it,” Icaza said.
His enthusiasm for connecting cultures led him to start the initiative during uncertain times, with the idea of offering something “positive for the community” in contrast to so much negative news, he said.
Each person receives flag stickers representing the languages they speak and want to practice, from more common ones like English and Spanish to others like Danish, Arabic, or Russian.
“What I love most is that it doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor,” Icaza said. “What matters is the effort you put in.”
The atmosphere is relaxed, people can stay for the full three hours or just stop by for 30 minutes. Sometimes games are organized, but the focus is always conversation.
“Many of our members have learned here and later traveled to another country,” he said. “Their trip was much better because they could speak the language.”
He recalled his own trip to Martinique, where speaking French allowed him to connect with a local host who took him to explore mountains he wouldn’t have discovered otherwise.
André Pérez, 46, a Jacksonville resident, drove to Gainesville for the event. He has attended similar meetups for several years and says they’ve helped him tremendously.
“It’s great to be able to practice the language, sure, but it also gives you the opportunity to meet people from all over the world and build relationships in places where you normally wouldn’t,” Pérez said.
In addition to the Gainesville meetups on the first and third Fridays of each month, there are Japanese conversation sessions called “Nihongo Kaiwa” twice a month. They also host French events titled “French, Anyone!?” semimonthly in Jacksonville and virtual gatherings every Saturday called “Heading into Language Land,” where participants practice through online card games.
Julio Muñoz, a 58-year-old web developer for UF and Gainesville resident, attended for the second time. What he enjoys most is meeting new people and practicing languages he might otherwise forget.
“It’s really great because it’s not just about languages, it’s also about socializing and learning from other cultures,” Muñoz said.
Events like this not only improve fluency, he said, but also create spaces where participants can use the language in real and spontaneous situations outside the structured environment of a classroom.
As noted by the specialized site EFLCafe, “Cultural exchange programs significantly improve language skills by providing students with opportunities to interact in real-life situations.”
This kind of exposure is key for developing language practically because it forces people to use it in authentic, natural settings.
Thomas Glenn, a 60-year-old retired Navy pilot, also values that aspect of the community.
“You can have lots of apps and learn vocabulary, but if you don’t talk to someone, it’s not very useful,” Glenn said. “Not everyone is extroverted, but people enjoy chatting a little and sharing.”
Contact Candy Fontana-Verde at cfontanaverde@alligator.org. Follow her on X @CandyFontanaV.
