The Online Reflector

Spanish Conversation Tables, which are designed to aid University of Indianapolis students at any level of Spanish, are hosted twice weekly by Instructor of Modern Languages Sarah Ohmer and student coordinators.

The meetings take place on Wednesdays at 4 p.m. and Thursdays at 5 p.m. on the second floor of the Schwitzer Student Center atrium. Participants usually play games such as Taboo or Pictionary on Wednesdays and receive tutoring on Thursdays, so the events are relaxed and open for students to lead.

Student coordinators for the events include junior nursing and Spanish major Kali Bonanni, sophomore engineering and physics major Kyra Monroe and senior Spanish education major Jordan Whisenand.

According to Monroe, the tables are designed to assist anyone who is interested in learning Spanish, even those who are not quite ready for complex conversation.

“We have conversations just to get… students to pick up Spanish naturally by speaking only Spanish,” Monroe said. “But if you’re a Spanish 101 student, we’ll help you out.”

While some classes offer a grade or extra credit for participating in the conversation tables, students often attend simply to brush up on their skills.

Ohmer said that she enjoys the cultural aspect of the tables as well. Those involved often watch YouTube videos and discuss certain aspects of culture both foreign and native.

The tables generally have from two to seven participants, with higher attendance on Thursdays. A lower attendance offers an opportunity for more one-on-one work with Ohmer, which proves helpful for studying, according to Monroe.

The low attendance does not seem to bother those involved. According to Ohmer, students who need help are getting it.

“It seems like it’s helping different types of students with different needs and providing more than they would get in the classroom,” she said.

The tables began last year, Ohmer’s first year at UIndy, when alumna Dara Byers approached her before classes and proposed a Spanish club or conversation table. This was one of Ohmer’s objectives upon being hired at the university, so she immediately agreed on the condition that the conversation tables would be student-led because of her busy schedule at the time.

“It was a bit spontaneous and a bit planned,” Ohmer said.

Led by two students, the conversation tables lasted 30 minutes twice a week and extended throughout the summer. Whisenand provided tutoring during this time, so when the tables began in the fall, tutoring was added to the proceedings.

On Nov. 1 and 2, frequent members of the tables, as well as Spanish students, will be creating las catrinas, or tiny skeleton figurines, for an altar which will be located in the basement of Sease Wing to celebrate El Día de los Muertos—the Day of the Dead.