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Mundo Lingo is a global network of free language exchange events held in various cities worldwide. ^[1] The gatherings typically occur on weekday evenings in designated bars, bringing together individuals of diverse ages and nationalities to practice and learn multiple languages. ^[2]

Principle

Each participant receives flags to stick to their clothes.^[3] They are supposed to indicate their native language at the top, and the rest below (generally the languages they master and below the one they want to learn). Then, people are free to chat with each other while having drinks.^[4]

History

Founded by Benji Moreira, a UK native residing in Buenos Aires (Argentina), the inaugural Mundo Lingo event took place on July 7, 2011. Initially aimed at providing Argentines with opportunities to practice foreign languages and for internationals to learn Spanish, the concept quickly gained popularity. By 2014, events had expanded to cities including Cologne, London, Montreal, and Melbourne. ^[5]

Cities

As of September 2024, Mundo Lingo hosts regular events in 39 cities across 24 countries on four continents. ^[6]

Notable locations include:

Asia

As of September 2024, Mundo Lingo events regularly take place in Saigon (Vietnam), Bangkok and Chiang Mai (Thailand), Nanjing (China), Daegu (South Korea), Singapore and Yangon (Myanmar).

Oceania

As of September 2024, Mundo Lingo events regularly take place in Melbourne and Brisbane (Australia) and Wellington and Auckland (New Zealand).

Europe

As of September 2024, Mundo Lingo events regularly take place in Barcelona (Spain), Cologne and Berlin (Germany), Copenhagen (Denmark), Geneva (Switzerland), London (England), Paris (France), Belgrade (Serbia), Dublin (Ireland), Lisbon and Porto (Portugal) and Amsterdam (Netherlands).

Americas

As of September 2024, Mundo Lingo events regularly take place in Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza, Tucumán and La Plata (Argentina), Lima (Peru), Rio de Janeiro, Florianópolis, São Paulo and Sanja SP (Brazil), Mexico City and Playa del Carmen (Mexico), Montreal and Toronto (Canada), New York (United States), and San Salvador (El Salvador).

Mundo Lingo in Argentina

Córdoba

Mundo Lingo events in Córdoba have become a staple of the city’s social and cultural scene, attracting both local and international visitors. The events take place weekly at various venues in Córdoba. For the most up-to-date schedule and locations, participants are encouraged to check the official website.^[7] Locals and foreigners from all around the world come together weekly to meet new people, chat and to share drinks and ideas. The goal is to create bonds, through language exchange, between the people that attend the events.^[8] Córdoba is no exception to this, since the official Facebook group, Mundo Lingo Córdoba, which as of September 2024 has more than 3000 members.^[9]

Historical Background

Mundo Lingo was introduced to Córdoba in June 2018, marking the city’s entry into the global network of language exchange events.^[10] Since its inception, the event has been constantly growing in popularity as a result of the word-of-mouth and social media promotion spread. Martín Monteoliva is the one that started Mundo Lingo in Córdoba. He was encouraged by his cousin, who was in charge of the Mundo Lingo events in Buenos Aires, to begin the language exchange gatherings in the city.^[11] There was a lot of work involved in the process of making Mundo Lingo popular in the city. Monteoliva and some colleagues had to spread the word to several places such as hostels, universities and language academies.^[11] Since then, the events have been a success and are still taking place to this day.

The first Mundo Lingo took place in BroBar, which is located in the Güemes neighborhood in Córdoba and is still being used as a regular venue for the language exchange gatherings.^[10] The selection of BroBar as the initial venue required a great deal of previous preparation and deliberation. Monteoliva and his colleagues evaluated several bars before making a decision. After taking into account several factors, they decided to select BroBar as the venue’s lighting which creates an inviting atmosphere conducive to conversation, and the quality of the sound environment, ensuring participants can easily communicate without excessive background noise. Moreover, BroBar was chosen for its wheelchair accessibility, so everyone can take part in the events. The overall aesthetics and facilities of the bar also made an impact in the decision making process, since attendees can feel comfortable and sit anywhere they choose and have a great time.^[11]

Event Structure and Logistics

The weekly events are free of charge and do not require prior registration, making them accessible to anyone interested in learning more about languages and cultures. Each event is overseen by a city manager and a team of ambassadors who ensure a socially welcoming and inclusive environment.

The ambassador team is divided into three fundamental roles: the “flagger”, who greets attendees and distributes the flag stickers; the “cupid”, who facilitates the cultural and language exchange between locals and foreigners by encouraging conversation; and the “vulture hunter”, who is responsible for addressing any uncomfortable situations to maintain a respectful environment for all participants.^[12]

The organization of Mundo Lingo in Córdoba follows a well-established format that includes distributing small flags to participants upon arrival. This visual system facilitates easy identification of language preferences, helping to break the ice and initiate conversations among attendees.^[11]

The flag stickers represent the languages an attendee speaks. The flag on top indicates the person’s country of origin and, therefore, their native language. Below that sticker, all the other flag stickers are placed, indicating the level of fluency of the languages they wish to practice or learn.^[11]

Impact on Language Learning

Mundo Lingo offers a unique platform for cultural immersion, allowing participants to practice languages in real-world social settings. This approach complements traditional academic instruction by fostering organic language acquisition and enhancing cross-cultural understanding. ^[8]

Move to social networks after COVID-19

Due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the live events were temporarily suspended. The Facebook and Telegram groups began to increase in size. As of August 1, 2020, Facebook groups show a total of more than 135,000 subscribers worldwide^[13] while Telegram groups show more than 12,000 daily users.^[14]