ESCRITO FINAL

YEFRY ANDRES GARCIA GONZALEZ

Group: 103
CC. 1088010866
Cod 521212283

The virtual interchange language program is an innovate and an intelligent way to practice
English, for whom knows Basic English. Strengthens the intentionality of the University of
Caldas and its students. It is an alliance born between our university and others
prestigious American universities, that want their students to practice and gain Spanish
language skills. Allows to connect a couple of students, so that through socializing, they
can practice their second languages. Written activities are done to gain skills in writing and
semantics. Also, through video communication, listening and speaking can be reinforced.
It is an organic way to practice and learn a language. It allows the student to express
themselves with total freedom, and not be afraid of their mistakes when speaking or
writing, because there is no teacher around. It is a learning space that can generate new
friendships between people who in other circumstances would never have met. It gives us
the opportunity to know other cultures told by themselves.
I was lucky to meet a very kind girl from New York from Cornell University who studies
computer science. The first contact was through an email, had a lot of respect and
kindness, although there is always the curiosity about the other around your head: how
will it be? Will I like you? Will you understand me when I speak to you? At least that was
my case. In the first videoconference there was the opportunity to get to know each
other, to read us, to make an impression of each other, and to make the work plan. To my
surprise I meet a girl who speaks Spanish perfectly, and to my misfortune I was the least
talented in this game. We talk about the things we like to do in free time, about our
passion for pop culture, music and even the always complicated politics. It is interesting
how similar opinions can be about anything between two young people of so different
places. With this one remembers that opinions are what really unite us as people, no
matter how different we are.
She told me about her family, about her Central American origins, about her Nicaraguan
mother and her Puerto Rican father. I could hear of the drama that the island of Puerto
Rico faced in the face of the devastating passage of a hurricane, which left the island
without energy for more than a year. Hospitals didn't help much, people couldn't
communicate because there was no internet, schools didn't open, shopping centers didn't
open, and people scared of losing their lives. Fortunately, my friend's parents and her
family were able to travel to Nicaragua. Regarding her university life, my friend describes
me a beautiful university campus, where there are many foreign students, especially
Chinese ones. I learned about his preferences in sports, and I knew that she practices polo
in a professional way in her university team. The last news I had was that they won against
the Yale team. I think I did a good job leaving a good impression of Colombia and its
people, I think I could show the best things of my country that are “la gente”, culture, joy
and kindness. She described to me that the process of educating at an American university
is a bit more complicated than our way, it takes more time, more paperwork, and more
investment of time and much more money, and therefore, in this sense I am glad to be
covered under the Colombian education model. I was very attracted to American culture
as it differs from ours. They are very progressive, we are more traditional and attached to
our roots. But as they say, it doesn't matter if the cat is black or white, the important thing
is that it hunts mice.
Paraphrasing some of my mistakes I can say that I have difficulties in using all forms of a
verb, and how it changes depending on the present, past and future tense. I must have
more consistency in my writing, limiting myself to not writing sentences so long that they
lose meaning. The composed words and composed phrases were another surprise for me,
which are very useful and easy to use, with twenty that you learn you are well prepared.
In addition to the countless phrases, sayings or jargon that you don't find in the books,
right now I can remember some examples like: leaf peeping and lit.
For me this exchange program was very nice, I learned more than I expected, I could really
reconnect with English when I least thought about it, since having someone in front is very
stimulating, it sharpens the mind, and it takes you to speak English with what you have. It
allows you to lose your fear of trying to speak English. Language is a tool that allows
breaking down barriers, and doing so through English allowed me to connect with
someone in a totally new and different way than if I had been with Spanish. At the same
time being a teacher and student puts you in a new position for y ou.
There are many things to say but little paper remains. So in conclusion I believe that the objectives
sought with this program were met. I hope to have the opportunity to repeat this experience if I
could.