The first Each One Teach One meeting was held on the 2nd of October near Rauhaniemen uimaranta. We decided to meet by the lake because the environment was open, calm, and peaceful, which allowed us to connect and communicate naturally without pressure. The meeting was not structured as a formal lesson, but rather as a friendly cultural exchange shaped by discussion, curiosity, and shared experiences.
During this meeting, we focused on learning basic words and expressions from each other’s languages. The Spanish participants—Andrea, Daria, and Lucia—learned how to greet and say simple sentences in Persian, while I practiced basic Spanish phrases such as greetings, numbers, and common everyday expressions. Most of our communication took place in English, which helped us explain meanings, pronunciation, and cultural context more clearly.
However, I quickly realized that this experience was about much more than learning vocabulary. Through our conversations, I shared information about Tajikistan, its climate, daily life, and what it feels like to live there. In return, I learned about Spain and cultural aspects that are common in their country of origin. Sharing photos of my city made the exchange feel more personal and real. This reminded me that language is not only a tool for communication, but also a gateway into another person’s world.
At the beginning, there was some hesitation, especially regarding pronunciation. Persian pronunciation can be challenging, particularly for beginners, and mistakes were unavoidable. Nevertheless, the open and relaxed environment helped everyone feel comfortable trying, listening, and repeating words even when they were unsure. I noticed that this helped build confidence and improved listening skills. One of the most important lessons from this meeting was realizing that communication is possible even when language skills are imperfect.
The learning environment played a bigger role than I initially expected. Walking by the lake, observing nature, and using words related to what we were seeing made the learning experience more engaging and memorable. It became clear that cultural exchange can feel much more natural and effective outside a classroom, simply through real-life conversation and storytelling.
Of course, there were challenges. Some Persian words were difficult to remember, and English often felt like the safest language to return to when clarification was needed. Although we originally planned to work more with full sentences, we focused mainly on introductions and open conversation since it was our first meeting. In reflection, this change turned out to be positive, as it helped us get to know each other better and build trust for future meetings.
Overall, this first meeting taught me that teaching and learning languages is a natural process when there is genuine interest and openness. It helped me become more patient and aware of how deeply language and culture are connected. I look forward to continuing this project and observing the development of both my language skills and cultural understanding as the meetings progress.
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