Features
Do You Speak My Language?
New Chat Program pushes the right buttons to get people talking across campus
BY DAVID DICENZO
Lynne Mitchell wants to get people at U of G talking. And not just in English.
Mitchell, director of the Centre for International Programs, is spearheading an initiative called the Chat Program, which involves distributing buttons to help stimulate conversations across campus in a variety of languages. The buttons read: “Speak to Me in French,” “Speak to Me in Mandarin,” “Speak to Me in Ojibwa,” etc., leaving it up to the wearer to decide which tongue he or she would like to hear from game strangers.
For the recent annual Study Abroad Fair, Mitchell had 100 buttons made up, featuring a good sampling of popular languages — and they didn't last long.
“In two hours, they were gone. People were really excited. It was just the mix we thought we would get — native speakers proud to wear the button for their language and people who don't actually speak the language but have always wanted to learn.”
For Mitchell, the beauty of the program is that all it requires is to get buttons and awareness out there, leaving everyone to take it to whatever level they choose.
She first came across a version of the program at Queen's University a few years ago and figured it would be a great fit for Guelph as well, but wasn't sure how best to institute it. “The trick is, we want to involve the whole campus.”
That means faculty, staff, graduate students and undergraduates — anyone willing to share, teach and learn their language of preference. This all-inclusiveness is something Mitchell particularly likes about the program.
“The teachers could be the students and the learners could be the faculty. It mixes everybody up and says language is important, so let's just open that door to letting people know that it's OK if you want to try to speak this language with me.”
Before launching the Chat Program, Mitchell and program co-ordinator Monica Dyer talked to international groups on campus to get their input on what languages to include on the colour-coded buttons. They determined that Hindi, Mandarin, French, Arabic, Spanish, Farsi (Persian), Italian, German and Ojibwa were good ones to start with, but they also included some blank buttons for people not represented by those languages.
“I think there are a lot of people on campus who would like to learn, practise or teach a language but can't seem to find the time,” says Dyer, a Guelph student who'd like to improve her Spanish. “For me, the appeal of this project is that it's simple and doesn't require a lot of commitment. To participate, you just have to stick a button on your clothing or school bag.”
Despite the simplicity, however, there are many benefits to be gained from this program, including community building and fostering multiculturalism at the University, she says.
Following up on the positive response at the Study Abroad Fair, Dyer says the next step is to create a new batch of buttons at a button bee. The Aboriginal Resource Centre and the new Office of Intercultural Affairs — the home of the all-important button maker — have been instrumental in developing the initiative so far, she says.
Mitchell also hopes to form a committee made up of representatives from across campus to help determine the course of the Chat Program. She invites anyone interested in joining an advisory committee to get in touch with her. Members of the University can also help out by hosting a basket of buttons, making a donation ($50 is enough to create 100 buttons) or offering input on what languages should be on the buttons.
“The response has been extremely positive,” says Dyer. “I hope to see many chat buttons around campus in the near future.”
Mitchell adds that, although the program is primarily about learning languages, it also enables different communities to come together that may not have had the opportunity before. She specifically recalls the positive energy from those who eagerly dipped into the first basket of buttons.
“There were some international students who were surprised to find their language in the basket. It was really nice. They felt: ‘Here I am. I am represented.'”
For more information, contact Mitchell at Ext. 56914 or lmitchel@uoguelph.ca or Dyer at mdyer@uoguelph.ca.